Does anyone have experience with bloated hamster

[ChowKelvin]

Hi everyone this is my first time posting here. Recently I discovered that my 2 years old female Syrian hamster looks a bit bloated and has become less active.i thought that she might have urinary tract infection/ womb infection so I brought her to the vet today. My vet performed a scan on her and he said that he didn’t see any signs of inflammation so the fluid build up is most probably not due to infection , but maybe related to cancer, and if that’s the case there’s not much he can do. I wanted to ask if there are any other health issues that causes the fluid build up in her abdomainal ? And is there really nothing that can be done? It’s not like I do not trust my vet as I believe that he is very experienced and professional, I just find it hard not to ask this question here.

[Pebbles82]

Any sign of bloating is not good. It is quite common in a 2 year old hamster for them to develop something - some kind of disease of old age. There are so many things that can cause bloating - but not things that can be fixed, if your vet has ruled out infection. Basically as they get older, all the organs start to fail (as they do in humans!) so fluid can be from liver failure, kidney failure, heart disease, Cushings disease (unlikely to be Cushings or she'd have other symptoms), or cancer.

I think really it is a case of palliative care and preparing for the fact that she may be in her twilight time.

I completely understand though, about not having a clear diagnosis. Did the vet prescribe any Metacam? (That is anti-inflammatory and also a pain reliever). I think it would be reasonable to give that, if there is uncertainty about whether she has pain, and the anti-inflammatory action may help whatever it is. Metacam may help keep her comfortable. But sadly it does sound like she is nearing her time and treatment isn't an option other than keeping her comfortable.

Keep an eye on her over the next day or so in case she begins to suffer other symptoms. Personally I would ask the vet to prescribe Metacam saying you want to know she is comfortable and see how she goes.

[ChowKelvin]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Any sign of bloating is not good. It is quite common in a 2 year old hamster for them to develop something - some kind of disease of old age. There are so many things that can cause bloating - but not things that can be fixed, if your vet has ruled out infection. Basically as they get older, all the organs start to fail (as they do in humans!) so fluid can be from liver failure, kidney failure, heart disease, Cushings disease (unlikely to be Cushings or she'd have other symptoms), or cancer.

I think really it is a case of palliative care and preparing for the fact that she may be in her twilight time.

I completely understand though, about not having a clear diagnosis. Did the vet prescribe any Metacam? (That is anti-inflammatory and also a pain reliever). I think it would be reasonable to give that, if there is uncertainty about whether she has pain, and the anti-inflammatory action may help whatever it is. Metacam may help keep her comfortable. But sadly it does sound like she is nearing her time and treatment isn't an option other than keeping her comfortable.

Keep an eye on her over the next day or so in case she begins to suffer other symptoms. Personally I would ask the vet to prescribe Metacam saying you want to know she is comfortable and see how she goes.

Thanks serendipity7000 for your reply and the advice you gave. The vet didn’t prescribe Metacam as he believes that my hamster is still doing okay and the swelling is still in it’s early stage, maybe I’ll ask my vet again about it during the checkup next week. It’s devastating to have received such news because before visiting the vet I thought that the swelling might just be caused from comstipation or some kinds of infection that can be cured but I suppose preparing to say goodbye with our beloved pet is also an important part of the relationship

[Pebbles82]

It doesn't mean your hamster can't go on happily for some time Our last Syrian began to get a bit bloated but was still running around the living room until he was 2 and a half years old - he couldn't climb but he was ok on the flat. Vets vary on this. Some will give Metacam because they think a hamster may have some pain as they're getting older (they can get arthritis and toothache too). I think it is worth asking for it, just in case he has any pain. It can be given in a bit of baby food and they love that as a treat. Hamsters, as prey animals, are very good at hiding pain, so I think I would want to have some just to keep them comfortable in their old age.

On the other hand if he seems fine in himself, you could wait, but then it's not great for them to have the stress of a vet visit when they do show signs of pain.

[ChowKelvin]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

It doesn't mean your hamster can't go on happily for some time Our last Syrian began to get a bit bloated but was still running around the living room until he was 2 and a half years old - he couldn't climb but he was ok on the flat. Vets vary on this. Some will give Metacam because they think a hamster may have some pain as they're getting older (they can get arthritis and toothache too). I think it is worth asking for it, just in case he has any pain. It can be given in a bit of baby food and they love that as a treat. Hamsters, as prey animals, are very good at hiding pain, so I think I would want to have some just to keep them comfortable in their old age.

On the other hand if he seems fine in himself, you could wait, but then it's not great for them to have the stress of a vet visit when they do show signs of pain.

Sorry I’ve been away for a while, I’ve been a bit busy with my school work and taking care of my sick hammy. But after about 3 weeks from her initial appointment things has just gotten worse because the fur around the bottom of my hammy looks matted up as well , the vet took some samples of her feces to the lab . It turns out that she was infected two types of antibiotic resistant bacteria in her female part. I was shocked to hear this as I’ve always kept the hygiene of my hamster quite well and I always wash my hands before handling her, plus she ever only took antibiotic before once due to an abscess on her cheek back in October last year. The vet suggested that I could try doubling the baytril dosage (which she is already taking when the sample of feces was being checked at lab) from 0.07 to 0.14 ml to see if it works. But right after feeding her the dosage she felt ill almost immediatelay, she ate little and would just lie around in the corner . What worries me the most is that after the dosage she doesn’t seem to be able to pass out any feces. This situation lasted till the next night after i fed her the 0.14 baytril. After passing out 6 pieces of feces she felt a little bit better and started eating a little more. But after an hour or so she became unwell and couldn’t pass any feces again. I ringed the vet to ask and he said it might be due to the tumor previously mentioned that’s causing her to bloat and I’m gonna have an appointment with him tomorrow. It’s just sad and mentally exhausting to look at my hammy being unwell and I can’t do much to help her🤧🤧

[souffle]

I'm sorry to hear your hammy is unwell.
It sounds like a pyometra or womb infection and at her age and in her weakened condition it sounds as if it may be time to ask her if she wants to keep fighting or if she has had enough. Setting her free is a great gift.
In my experience pyo is never curable with antibiotics. You can get a brief remission but it always returns in full force and giving rest before this is a great gift.
It's nothing to do with your care or hygene and can happen to a female of any age. It's just bad luck. Females come in to heat every few days which means they are much more likely to get bacteria able to move up in to the womb and start an infection. Bugs are everywhere always. As they get older they are less able to fight them off.
Look at you little ones quality of life and what the future holds and decide if you would want to keep fighting. I have never had a female recover from a pyo. Unless they are young and relatively fit and you have a spay operation with no complications then a pyometra is very serious and my choice is always to give rest before they become critical.
I hope her path is gentle whichever road it takes. You have done a wonderful job in caring for her and giving her the best chance and my heart is with you x

[ChowKelvin]

Originally Posted by souffle

I'm sorry to hear your hammy is unwell.
It sounds like a pyometra or womb infection and at her age and in her weakened condition it sounds as if it may be time to ask her if she wants to keep fighting or if she has had enough. Setting her free is a great gift.
In my experience pyo is never curable with antibiotics. You can get a brief remission but it always returns in full force and giving rest before this is a great gift.
It's nothing to do with your care or hygene and can happen to a female of any age. It's just bad luck. Females come in to heat every few days which means they are much more likely to get bacteria able to move up in to the womb and start an infection. Bugs are everywhere always. As they get older they are less able to fight them off.
Look at you little ones quality of life and what the future holds and decide if you would want to keep fighting. I have never had a female recover from a pyo. Unless they are young and relatively fit and you have a spay operation with no complications then a pyometra is very serious and my choice is always to give rest before they become critical.
I hope her path is gentle whichever road it takes. You have done a wonderful job in caring for her and giving her the best chance and my heart is with you x

Thank you for your support, it meant a lot to me. And I think you’re right. Apart from the infection in her vulva the vet also mentioned earlier that she might have cancer that’s causing her to bloat up. Given her weak condition I think my dear hammy is unlikely to make a recovery. She’s probably in her last days now as she doesn’t seem to be eating / drinking a lot and all she does now is laying Idown in her house😵😵 She’s the first hamster that I have owned. The decision to have her put to sleep is gonna be very difficult (

[Pebbles82]

I am so sorry. It is incredibly difficult. The thing to ask yourself is, right now, is she having any kind of happiness or quality of life at all. And is she showing any interest in anything. If she shows no interest in food and water or her wheel or doing any normal hamster things, then she is very unwell. The difficult bit then is deciding whether to help her on her way. She isn't on Metacam and I think she should be, so she will almost certainly be suffering and feeling pain. So my view would be that either pain relief now, or helping her on her way, would be the thing to do.

Within that also, may be the issue of what the condition could do - and what kind of ending she could have. That is partly unknown but it does suggest something may rupture. Everyone hopes that their hammy will pass peacefully in their own home and their own cage. But sometimes endings are not peaceful and help is needed. As Souffle says, saving them from the very worst suffering at the end is a kind gift.

I know how hard it is. Our last Syrian seemed to be close to dying for some time, but kept hanging on. Sometimes they have a strong heart I am told and it keeps them going. In the end he became unconscious but still did not go. But he then had a prolapse and I knew that, even if unconscious, he could be suffering or feeling pain and took him to be helped on his way. Incredibly hard.

Talk to her - she may give you a sign.

[ChowKelvin]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I am so sorry. It is incredibly difficult. The thing to ask yourself is, right now, is she having any kind of happiness or quality of life at all. And is she showing any interest in anything. If she shows no interest in food and water or her wheel or doing any normal hamster things, then she is very unwell. The difficult bit then is deciding whether to help her on her way. She isn't on Metacam and I think she should be, so she will almost certainly be suffering and feeling pain. So my view would be that either pain relief now, or helping her on her way, would be the thing to do.

Within that also, may be the issue of what the condition could do - and what kind of ending she could have. That is partly unknown but it does suggest something may rupture. Everyone hopes that their hammy will pass peacefully in their own home and their own cage. But sometimes endings are not peaceful and help is needed. As Souffle says, saving them from the very worst suffering at the end is a kind gift.

I know how hard it is. Our last Syrian seemed to be close to dying for some time, but kept hanging on. Sometimes they have a strong heart I am told and it keeps them going. In the end he became unconscious but still did not go. But he then had a prolapse and I knew that, even if unconscious, he could be suffering or feeling pain and took him to be helped on his way. Incredibly hard.

Talk to her - she may give you a sign.

My hammy passed away today , at the age of 2years and 2 months. I was prescribing medicine to her as usual but after the meds she collapsed and started to breath heavily using her mouth. She’s been breathing with her mouth for a few days already and the vet suggested that it might be the cancer spreading to her lungs causing her to have difficulties to breath. Anyways after the meds she collapsed and breathed heavily for a few more times before she departed this world. I was with her and stroked her when she was passing. Thank you all for your replies and I really hope that she’s in heaven now. Farewell my dearest friend.

[Pebbles82]

I am so sorry for your loss. She was ready to go but you will miss her. She is playing free over the Rainbow Bridge now - no more pain.