What is this on my hamsters paw?

snugglesbagels · 06-20-2018, 04:52 AM

Hello! My hamster has a big bump on its paw, for 2 weeks now. I went to the vet a few days after i found out and heard it was inflammation and my hamster got some antibiotics. 1,5 weeks later and i saw its was actually bigger than it was at first, so the antibiotics did not help. Now im wondering, is this an inflammation? Because it looks more like a wart or tumor to me. Hope someone can help me! I wanted to add a link of a picture but the post got denied? I’m new here so i don’t kniw how i can insert a pic then!
Bye!

souffle · 06-20-2018, 05:27 AM

It is not easy to heal these sort of lumps on the feet as infections get in to the bone and the antibiotics don't reach them well. The infection may be cleared but the abcess full of pus sounds like it may need lanced and drained then flushed out or they may be something embedded in the foot like a wood splinter that is continuing to irritate. I would say you need to return to the vet for re examination. I have had a hammy with a lump on her foot which was successfully removed (by laser actually) by our vet so that is also possible if it is a wart or tumour.

snugglesbagels · 06-20-2018, 08:15 AM

Hello,
Thankyou for the help! I think im going to go back then, i added the pic of it too, did your hamsters foot also looked like this? And i hope it is a wart, because a tumor would be a lot more painful for him, no?

souffle · 06-20-2018, 08:59 AM

It does look like a warty type thing. They are not uncommon in dwarves and often seen inside the ears. It looks like it could be removed easily and would make her more comfortable too I'm sure

snugglesbagels · 06-20-2018, 09:54 AM

Okay then i will get it removed! I have just one more question, i read somewhere that doing an operation with small hamsters is very dangerous because a lot of times the hamster doesnt come out of the narcotizer, do you maybe know more about that?

souffle · 06-20-2018, 11:22 AM

It's always a risk but you and your vet need to work together to assess the risk and decide if it is worth it to improve her quality of life. How old is she? Younger hamster will tolerate it better and it is worth the risk to let them have a good life in the future where as an older hammy may be better left especially if they are less active and enjoy sleeping a lot. They vet will also want to be sure that it is removable and that they feel confident in doing it or they may want to refer you to someone who is. Our hammy had a very short anaesthetic and she had the wound laser cauterised so that she had no stitches.

snugglesbagels · 06-20-2018, 04:50 PM

Snuggles is almost 2 years. Last time i went, my vet told me that it’s common for old hamsters to have more complications like these. I would want to take care of everything Snuggles needs to be happy, but if cutting this bump away would maybe cause even more complications... I’m going to call for a vet tomorrow and listen to what they have to say about this. Snuggles doesn’t seem to be in pain, he’s still as active, eating as much and drinking as he used to, so that’s already a great thing!