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Old 07-26-2019, 02:11 AM   #1
Sara H
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Default Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

I am just looking for a bit of help please.

I adopted a robo called Ray nearly 3 months ago from PAH who had a large lump on the side of his head. He has been having antibiotics and pain relief on and off for all this time. The lump did at one point come out and looked like an encapsulated abscess and I thought that might be the end of the story.

Unfortunately the lump has started to increase again, and it looks like there is now another one next to it. He is drinking, eating and exercising and seems quite happy although he does scratch the area a lot.

We went for a check-up yesterday and I have been putting off have him anesthetized as we don't know how old he is, and I don't want to lose him after all we have been through.

I take him to Hollyhouse Vets in Leeds who are amazing and specialised in exotic pets which is great. The vet yesterday suggested they anesthetized him and have a look around and see what the problem could be.

Would anyone recommend this? have you had to go through the same? and are the risks to high.

I am just so worried
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Old 07-26-2019, 06:23 AM   #2
Vierville
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

I really understand your worries and I applaud you for adopting a little ham who needed care and love. We have recently had exactly the same concern...our little Campbells dwarf male who I love dearly and who is around 18 months to 2 years old (we're not sure exactly how old) had a tumor develop and we took him to two specialist exotic vets who both said that anasthesia and surgery would pose more of a risk than just leaving him be.

Our vet (and a number of very knowledgeable and kind people on here) reminded me that as long as he is behaving as his usual self and is not showing signs of distress or pain or discomfort, he most likely doesn't know that there is anything amiss.

On the other hand, last week our 1 year old Campbells female was anesthetized in order to examine a superficial skin lesion on her chest which the same vet could not get close enough to examine as she is just so wriggly (he thought it might be an infected splinter or skin growth but it turned out to be exzema).

I think that you should be guided by what your vet advises, if you trust that your vet has your animal's best interests at heart.

They will most likely weigh up the hamster's age and general condition against how invasive the procedure will be.
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Old 07-26-2019, 07:03 AM   #3
Sara H
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

Thank you Vierville.

I just feel sick with worry and really don't know what to do. The vets are amazing, and she said that unfortunately hamsters can seal off infections that then make it difficult for antibiotics to get in and do their job properly. She did advise that operating would be very difficult as it is just by his ear and very close to a lot of things that could cause problems, but she did think it was a good idea to put him under very briefly to look in his mouth and put a needle into the lump to see if any puss comes out. Unfortunately this would need to be done under anesthetic as he is tiny at 27g and it couldn't be done any other way.

I just don't want to make the wrong decision for him.
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Old 07-26-2019, 07:34 AM   #4
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

Sarah H, having just had my Luna been put under for tests recently I can understand where you are coming from. She is a syrian and is approx 1 year 9 months old (maybe older as she was adopted). It is a horrible situation to be in and I know you don't want to make the wrong decision, that is exactly how I felt about it. In the end the tests had to be done to try and find out exactly what we were dealing with for Luna. I went into it with the knowledge that the vet said they had to do it, and it anything happened to her I knew I was doing it to give her a chance. It paid off for me and luna, but it doesn't mean it was an easy thing to do. I'm not sure my rambling is helping you any. But know that what ever you decide you are only trying to do the best that you can, and unfortunately sometimes we just don't know what the outcome is going to be with our little hammies. Would it help if you talked to the vets again? Ask them questions like what could happen if you carry on as is and don't do this? What do they think of the risk? and the question that they probably hate/or get all the time - what would they do if it was their hamster?
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Old 07-26-2019, 07:53 AM   #5
Sara H
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

Thank you LunaTheHamster1
I just feel given he was abandoned in a flat and was taken into PAH with cuts to his back and head that he deserves to have a good life and I have been spoiling the little man every day since I have had him. I know this sounds stupid, but I think he deserves to be happy and healthy because of what he has been through (I know everyone feels the same about their tiny ones).
I asked the vet if she could tell the age of a hamster and she said there is no possible way, not even by looking at their teeth. I asked what would happen if we did nothing and she advised that it could keep spreading. She said there is a risk as they cannot do any pre-tested prior to giving him aesthetic. I did ask her what she would do, and she said, she would just put him to sleep very quickly just to have a very quick look.
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Old 07-26-2019, 08:04 AM   #6
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

I only know mostly about syrians, and obviously not knowing what his life was like before he was abandoned but normally as a hamster gets older you can tell by their fur. For example when they are younger it looks more glossy/shiny/sleek and I know as Luna has got older it just doesn't look as shiny, it looks more ruffled, a little bit of an unkept look. Does that help at all, maybe someone else on here knows a bit more about ageing hamsters? I know it's a tough decision but t does sound like you only have 2 options, 1.) do nothing and see if it gets worse or 2.) put him under and see if they can help him.

Just know that whatever you choose to do and whatever happens you have been spoiling him and given him a lovely home. I am sure he couldn't ask for more than that.
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Old 07-26-2019, 08:09 AM   #7
Sara H
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

Thank you again.

I think everyone I know thinks a grown woman getting so attached to a tiny hamster is stupid and that's why coming on here really helps.
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Old 07-26-2019, 08:17 AM   #8
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Needle aspiration Is it a good idea?

Sarah H, if it helps, my friends all know me as the crazy hamster lady and I have had a whole month and a half of ups and downs with Luna, thinking this was it, the end was near, was I being cruel, was doing more tests being cruel, would she make it thru the tests etc - i think she has been at the vets 5 times now. so many tears have been shed. I came on here and the people here really helped me and I am so glad I did as it helped me get thru it all. I am normally the type that just gets on with and deals with it no matter what but when it comes to our little animals it can be a trying time.
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