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Old 05-16-2019, 11:29 AM   #1
Sara H
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Default Vets Leeds

Hi everyone

I adopted Ray the robo hamster from PH last week and noticed whilst in store he had a large lump on his head. PH confirmed he had been abandoned by his pervious owner and they had taken him in and Vets for Pets had checked him and he was fine for adoption. I was in PH for over an hour and advised them that I didn't want to take him home if he was ill as I have other hamsters at home but they confirmed he was fine.

It all just didn't seem right and although he is exercising, drinking and eating the lump was bugging me so I made him an appointment with Vets for Pets. My boyfriend took him today and the vet weighed him and said he was very underweight at 20g and should be 60g. 60g for a Robo!!!!!!!!! He also said that he had lymphoma and needed another appointment to try and drain it.

I have now finished work and been into PH to air my upset at the situation after a very heated conversation over the phone with the manager and the vet said it could have appeared within the 7 days I have had him. They are just trying to cover themselves as they are the ones that checked him and said he was fine which was rubbish.

I want to get a second opinion as I have lost what little faith I had in PH and also now in Vets for Pets and wondered if anyone on the forum lives in Leeds and could recommend another vet please.
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Old 05-16-2019, 12:01 PM   #2
Coco61
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Default Re: Vets Leeds

Have a look at the sticky thread called Good Vet Finder in Healthcare.
On the last page there is a good recommendation for Holly Healthcare Vetinary Hospital with all the details.
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Old 05-16-2019, 03:14 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Vets Leeds

Also google exotic vets - they know a lot more about hamsters and there probably aren't many in Leeds. Holly House vets is one - probably the same place Coco mentioned. If you ring them ask to see an exotic vet that specialises in hamsters! I am not 100% sure that Robos get Lymphomas. And no he shouldn't be 60g. 30 to 40g seems about average for a robo.

Hope you get some help and a diagnosis.
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Old 05-20-2019, 05:51 AM   #4
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Vets Leeds

60g! No - 20g for a robo is fine weight wise. Generally 20-30g is a good weight for a robo, and even 30g is often pushing on the large side, much more and you're likely looking at an overweight hamster.

I hope you can find a good vets.
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Old 05-21-2019, 01:35 AM   #5
Sara H
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Default Re: Vets Leeds

Thank you so much for your advice as always.

I did take him to Holly House and the vet was amazing and very experienced in dealing with hamsters. She cut his overgrown nails, treated him for mites, listened to his chest which was clear and he now has a course of antibiotics and pain killers as she is unsure at the moment if the lump is a tumour or a cyst.

But boy oh boy what a nightmare trying to get him to have the medicine. The vet said try soft cheese but that was a no go. I have tried, porridge, peanut butter and two different types of baby food. I think he is just a fussy begger.

Fingers crossed I find something soon as I want to make sure he is taking all the medicine.

Last edited by souffle; 05-21-2019 at 02:21 AM.
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Old 05-24-2019, 11:38 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Vets Leeds

Hi. Glad you found a good vet. I had to give antibiotics and metacam (pain killer) to our robo recently - it is very difficult. Our robo is a "look don't touch" hamster as well - he got very stressed being handled.

So what to put the meds in. The Metacam is usually ok as it tastes of honey - you could probably put that in anything, or he may even lick it from the syringe (our robo hated the syringe so wouldn't lick it).

The Baytril tastes foul and they can avoid anything that it contains. I was very worried about getting the dose of that in our hamster daily. Vet said it was important they get the full dose each day or any infection can get worse.

So the options are - either pick them up and syringe it in the side of their mouth each day (wasn't an option for me!) or a great tip I received on here from Vectis, which worked really well - was to put it in a tiny bit of Country Hunter dog food.

That worked amazingly well - it's strong smelling and tasting and even with baytril in it was lapped up. In fact our robo liked it so much he started pushing the plate around wanting more!

It's a bit of wasteful expensive option if you don't have a dog, but honestly I found it a lifesaver. I bought this box of the dog food pouches and an open pouch could be used for 3 days (it says 48 hours in the fridge, so first night, then 2 consecutive nights, then I had to bin the rest!)

Just a teeny tiny amount - mix the baytril in a bit.

I did try other flavours but it was the beef that he liked and I think had the strongest taste to disguise the baytril.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So for a while our robo was having cordon bleu dinners! I'd put the baytril in the beef at lunch time and tea-time he'd have dessert - the metacam in a tiny bit of baby food!
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