Sundae has a lump

[alpacassei]

My robo Sundae’s developed a lump on his tummy, just in front of one of his back legs. Its aboout 1cm wide and 5mm tall . It feels more like an infection than a tumour. he’s hunched over and hyperventilating and walking slowly with a limp. he seemed completely fine just yesterday though, i hate how hamsters can be so good at hiding their pain until it seems like its too late

I’m calling the vets first thing tomorrow morning but honestly I’m not sure what’s going to happen tbh. He’s almost 2 so I doubt surgery is an option, if its a cyst or abscess then they might be able to drain it but thats still quite traumatic for such a tiny hamster and theres a possibility it’ll come back, antibiotics might work but they could also just prolong his suffering, but euthanasia doesnt seem lole the right option.

I feel like no matter what choice I make, I’ll feel like I’ve made the wrong decision tbh. I guess I’ll just have to see how he is in the morning and hear what the vet has to say

[mangoandmimi]

Sorry to hear this, hope you can get some sort of diagnosis at the vets, it is difficult when they are so small and treatment options are limited. Poor boy hope he is doing ok.

[alpacassei]

He’s got an appointment for 2pm this afternoon. I really really hope it’s nothing too serious and he just needs some antibiotics.

[mikatelyn]

Did the vet visit go ok?

[alpacassei]

Originally Posted by mikatelyn

Did the vet visit go ok?

As okay as it could’ve gone tbh. He’s on antibiotics and painkillers for two weeks and if that doesn’t work it’s between surgery and palliative care until its time for him to cross the bridge

The painkillers have already made a lot of difference thankfully, its too early to know if the antibiotics are doing anything though.

[mikatelyn]

In humans antibiotics typically take 48-72 hrs to start to see a turnaround. I assume it's probably works similarly in hamsters? In humans warm wet compresses can be helpful for abscesses, and spontaneous drainage can be just as helpful as a surgical incision and drainage (I'm guessing if the vet prescribed abx then infection/abscess is high on the differential). Maybe there's some kind of hamster equivalent?
I don't know much about hamster health care, but I have to imagine at least some of the principles of treatment have to be similar, particularly as a lot of treatments/medications are first tested on animals before testing on people.
Fingers crossed for Sundae!

[Isleofhamsters]

Poor you! I hope your hamster gets better soon.
Wish you luck

[Pebbles82]

Oh so sorry to hear this. It's been similar with Nugget (Robo) who also has a lump - more than one it seems - antibiotics and Metacam with the idea that if it's an infection it'll get better and if it isn't an infection it'll most likely be a tumour, whether benign or cancerous, and Metacam will be the palliative care.

My Vet said she would be prepared to do surgery initially, which I had also been prepared for - until I saw him underneath in a glass - and as the vet said - it is a large area of his little body to operate on. So I am fairly sure he either wouldn't survive that or it would be too big an op.

Antibiotics didn't seem to make any difference with Nugget so he's on the Metacam palliative care - but he seems busy and active Hope you get sorted soon and fingers crossed he shows some improvement.

[alpacassei]

Sundae’s finished the antibiotics, unfortunately they havent made a difference and his health is still declining. He’s still on Metacam as palliative care until its time to pts (which wont be long tbh)
He’s eating and drinking less than usual but he ate a good amount of the strawberry slice I gave him (his favourite). Other than 10 minutes here and there, he’s sleeping most the time and he’s stopped using his wheel completely.

[alpacassei]

I’ve downgraded him into a retirement cage (mini Duna) and he’s settling in well