PLEASE HELP: to operate or not?

Vierville · 07-16-2019, 09:33 AM

Hello. My beloved little old man Admiral Lord Nelson is about 2 years old and has had a very tough life, losing an eye to a cat and subsequently being abandoned in a pet shop.

We rescued him and to be honest I love him more than I do most of my family.

Last week we discovered a tumor the size of a small marble on his side and took him to a vet who does see hamsters and rodents. The vet took a sample and said it was cancerous. She said that she wouldn't operate. He seems OK for now, still eating as before and still running on his wheel though he is a little slower than before and he does look like a little old man now.

This is breaking my heart.

I want to ask the following:

1) Do you think I should seek a second opinion from another specialist vet about operating to remove the tumour?

2) If another vet is willing to operate, would operating to remove a big tumour at his age be a kind thing to do considering the risks, the pain of surgery and post-surgery and the fact that it may cause him to spend his last days in pain?

I don't know whether to pursue a second opinion or if I must just resign myself to the fact that this will be how he goes?

Am absolutely heartbroken

mangoandmimi · 07-16-2019, 02:29 PM

I’m so very sorry to hear this. It is heartbreaking when they get unwell, their bodies are so tiny it is often difficult to get them better. At two years old he is getting on a bit. Many vets do not have the means to operate on such small animals and when you factor in his age the risk becomes even larger. I don’t think anyone can tell you what to do really. I generally choose not to put an elderly ham through surgery as it is just too much for them, especially when the operation is unlikely to cure them entirely. Life post op isn’t of the highest quality either unfortunately. Sometimes it is kinder to keep them comfortable and allow them to have a more peaceful end, and sometimes it eventually becomes clear that they need help to cross over. It is always heartbreaking I know. I’m sure you will be able to make the right decision for him.

Pebbles82 · 07-16-2019, 03:18 PM

I am very sorry too. He sounds amazing and much loved. Two years is a very difficult call. With any operation on a hamster, there is always a risk, especially when older, that they may not survive the anaesthetic. But then at least they don't die of cancer. On the other hand surgery is a lot for an older hamster to go through and the cancer often comes back.

I think the worst thing in these situations is the uncertainty - as to how long they can live with a tumour and how long before they suffer. And he may die of something else first if he is older.

I had something similar with our robo this year, who had "lumps". He was 18 months old and the vet would have operated, but it was risky as they covered such a large body area. I suspected he may not survive the operation. So made the decision to go with "palliative care" and he is on daily Metacam pain relief.

I don't know if his lumps are cancer or benign - but he is still active and enjoying his food and has no idea what is wrong with him!

My feeling would be, that even if you found a vet who would operate, the cancer would come back, and it may be best to let him live out his life. I would ask your vet for Metacam in case he has any pain (they hide it well as they are prey animals).

He may pass peacefully in his home one night, of old age or organ failure (common in old age) or he may begin to go downhill and suffer and then you would need to think about helping him on his way.

So -you could seek a second opinion but if you don't know if the cancer has spread then it may not make any difference having surgery.

Pebbles82 · 07-16-2019, 03:24 PM

But ultimately, it is your decision. If you think he is well and active now then a second opinion wouldn't do any harm. I do remember a hamster on here (also called Nelson I think!) who had a lump removed/surgery at about two and lived out his life for another few months and passed peacefully. I don't know if it was definitely cancer or not.

Hamsters do tend to recover well from surgery, if they survive the anaesthetic although the anaesthetic can affect them as well. Our 2 year old syrian had a whiff of anaesthetic for a tooth trim and wasn't so good afterwards.

I think only you know how he is in himself. In removing the lump it may cause cancer cells to spread elsewhere which is why it often comes back.

It may be a slow growing cancer and not bother him for some time. Very difficult decisions. Although you know, and are distressed by the diagnosis, it can help to remember that the hamster doesn't know

Vierville · 07-16-2019, 05:57 PM

Thank you everybody for your replies.

I had a long talk with my wife this evening (she has great empathy with animals and has lost many beloved pets before from dogs to birds to horses) and after many many tears from me we've decided not to put him through the trauma of what is major surgery at his age.
At best we'd be getting him a few months more if we had him operated on but we'd be causing him pain, distress and discomfort in doing it with no guarantee of removing the cancer. He's had enough pain in his little life already and doesn't deserve his last days to be spent in pain.

We will spoil, love and respect him and make him feel as loved and as comfortable as we possibly can and as soon as we see he's beginning to decline we will help him to go to rest peacefully.

I honestly don't know how I'm going to cope with his loss when he goes...I feel like such an idiot but I've never cried like this over anything before. I'm a responsible grown man and an airline captain yet I've cried my eyes out since Thursday over my poor little Nelson.

Vierville · 07-16-2019, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Although you know, and are distressed by the diagnosis, it can help to remember that the hamster doesn't know

This is really comforting to know...thank you Serendipity7000

Pebbles82 · 07-17-2019, 08:29 AM

It is very hard - they become part of our lives and family and there are close bonds. He is lucky to have such a loving family to care for him. Our little robo is still enjoying his food and wheel 5 months after his "lumps" appeared and he has them virtually all over now - he just drags them along with him! He is on Metacam daily as I do think they were causing him some pain and discomfort initially but he seems fine on the pain relief medication.

I would definitely ask your vet about prescribing daily metacam for your hamster. It is an anti-inflammatory, similar to Ibuprofen for humans, but does help with pain relief. There aren't really any medicines specifically licensed for hamsters (which I think is terrible!) - but the dog or cat metacam is usually prescribed for hamsters, with the correct dose being worked out by the vet.

Apart from anything else, once they get to two years old they can have aches and pains - and get a bit of toothache or arthritis so some pain relief would not go amiss.

Do keep coming on here - it's a friendly community and we all love our hamsters. When our last Syrian passed I was grief-stricken for some time - and it left a sad "hole" in our family. However we were very happy when a new whizzy baby hamster came along and needed us too.

Absolutely treat him! Whatever he enjoys. I hope he continues to live out his life comfortably. The diagnosis is sometimes worse than anything - and the uncertainty as to how he will be. You will know if he is suffering.

Pebbles82 · 07-17-2019, 08:34 AM

Just to add - he is very old - two is a very good age for a hamster (about the equivalent to 80 in human terms). Not that that helps, but as they age, their health does deteriorate. as with humans and they can succumb to illness, or just gradually decline due to organ failure. Often their kidneys start to fail first so you may see him drinking and peeing more, but that is common. So he may be in his twilight time generally. It's good that he is still so active and enjoying his wheel.

Vierville · 07-18-2019, 08:31 AM

Thank you for the kind answer Serendipity7000.

I'm glad to hear that your little one is doing ok despite the lumps. I really hope my little Nelson can hang on and stay comfortable for a bit longer...he is the sweetest little chap.

I will definitely ask the vet about Metacam. My wife's horse has been on it before.

Can long-term use of Metacam not be damaging?

Thank you so much for the kind and compassionate advice.

Pebbles82 · 07-18-2019, 09:15 AM

I am not sure about that. I know my vet said if I noticed any signs of drinking or peeing excessively after some time on it then he may need to come off it but that there was another drug they could use then. Our little Robo has been on it 5 months with no ill effects.