Blood coming from rear end, please help :(

Graciee · 03-01-2019, 06:12 PM

Hi, my female robo dwarf has blood coming from her rear end, I think it's from her vagina but it's kinda hard to tell, and i'm not a hamster expert (I'll attach some pictures)

Anyone have any ideas what this could be? I'm going to call my vet first thing, but i'm doubtful they'll have exotics cover tomorrow

So just wondering if anyone has any ideas? She's completely normal in herself, she's eating, drinking and running around like normal. I don't know how old she is, she was supposedly 2 years old when adopted her around 6 months ago, so supposedly quite old!

Any advice welcome, I'm really worried about her

https://i.imgur.com/sAsrC9g.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bA4BMpP.jpg

Pebbles82 · 03-02-2019, 04:36 AM

Hi. I can't tell much from the photos, but any blood needs urgent attention from a vet. I would call the out of hours number at the vets and ask to see someone over the week-end and book in a further appointment with the exotic vet if needed, when you're there.

Graciee · 03-02-2019, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hi. I can't tell much from the photos, but any blood needs urgent attention from a vet. I would call the out of hours number at the vets and ask to see someone over the week-end and book in a further appointment with the exotic vet if needed, when you're there.

Hi we did exactly that.

Non exotic vet didn't really say much, he didn't want to give baytril incase it upset her stomach.. But thinks she looks fine, doesn't know why there's blood, I've booked in to see the exotic vet next week, so hopefully she'll be able to figure it out, I just hope the hammie can wait til then

Pebbles82 · 03-02-2019, 08:54 AM

That doesn't sound much help - sorry to hear that. When is the appointment next week? Assume you could go Monday as an urgent case. I am no expert - Souffle will know more - but I would think it's either infection or some kind of internal rupture. Either way it will need looking at and diagnosing. If she seems ok in herself all you can do is monitor her until Monday.

souffle · 03-02-2019, 10:39 AM

It does look to be coming from her vagina rather than her anus. This could also be from the bladder as the two vents are very close. It's worrying that the vet didn't give an antibiotic. Baytril or Septrin are well tolerated by hamsters and if she needs treatment then the sooner it is started the better. Could she have scratched it at all because her nails are quite long so possibly an injury rather than an infection. Check the potty for red stained urine and also check if light pressure on her tummy leads to any discharge from the vent. I might wipe the area gently with some sterile water on a cotton ball and see if it restains again quickly. If she continues to bleed she does need attention sooner rather than later so call up the vets and explain your concerns.

I've made the images in to links as they were too large to clearly see what is going on.

Graciee · 03-02-2019, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

It does look to be coming from her vagina rather than her anus. This could also be from the bladder as the two vents are very close. It's worrying that the vet didn't give an antibiotic. Baytril or Septrin are well tolerated by hamsters and if she needs treatment then the sooner it is started the better. Could she have scratched it at all because her nails are quite long so possibly an injury rather than an infection. Check the potty for red stained urine and also check if light pressure on her tummy leads to any discharge from the vent. I might wipe the area gently with some sterile water on a cotton ball and see if it restains again quickly. If she continues to bleed she does need attention sooner rather than later so call up the vets and explain your concerns.

I've made the images in to links as they were too large to clearly see what is going on.

Thanks for doing that

Yes i'm pretty sure it's her vagina so was the vet. So where she pees there's no red blood. It just seems to be on her, and the bedding, I've been checking her lots and there doesn't seem to be any blood now.. so it's not constant, but still not good. Sadly as there's no exotics available on the weekend etc

Her nails are very long, they grow ridiculously quickly, they get clipped every 2 weeks -1 month, it's really weird, they were only last clipped 2 weeks ago - very short. No one seems to know why this happens, I was going to book her in again, but then this happened

Also it's only the front paws that seem to grow very very quickly. If you have any ideas why that's happening, that'd be great haha

souffle · 03-02-2019, 12:06 PM

I find they grow quicker as soon as you start clipping them. As they get older and are less active that lets them grow more quickly too. Can you clip them yourself? It is tricky with such tiny creatures.
Another thing that can cause bleeding is a tumour in the womb or on the ovaries. Sadly this is not usually operable.

Graciee · 03-02-2019, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

I find they grow quicker as soon as you start clipping them. As they get older and are less active that lets them grow more quickly too. Can you clip them yourself? It is tricky with such tiny creatures.
Another thing that can cause bleeding is a tumour in the womb or on the ovaries. Sadly this is not usually operable.

Ah so we only started clipping them because when we got her they were curled over, so we had to clip them. She's very active and has granite and wood which she climbs over lots, I was hoping this would wear them down naturally once we got them clipped but they just seem to keep growing! It's crazy. I take her to the vet for it, because I can never see the quick, if I could i'd do it at home though haha

Yea I thought that may be a possibility, how would my vet ascertain that? I'm guessing they can't X-ray her..?

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it

souffle · 03-02-2019, 03:07 PM

Sometimes they can do a scan but she is very tiny so it would be tricky. You can sometimes feel it inside if there is a discrete tumour but if there is a cyst or the lump is bleeding it's often not possible. I would give her some time and see if she does OK. It may have been a scratch. Ask the vet to show you how to clip the nails. If you just take the tip off you should be fine.

Pebbles82 · 03-03-2019, 02:19 AM

Hope you get sorted tomorrow

I haven't had a dwarf hamster but have heard they have more problems with nails growing long quickly than a Syrian. I did manage to clip the nails on our syrian, carefully - just taking the very very tip off, but I'm not sure I'd attempt it with a dwarf

I found it hard with a wriggly syrian! The tip given was wait till they're sitting still and just do it on one foot at a time - but by the time I'd done the first food he was not having it! I guess she'd need swaddling in a blanket.

Anyway if you're going to the vet they can do the nails at the same time maybe.