Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-24-2020, 03:04 PM   #1
Engel
Hamster Addict
 
Engel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
Exclamation Impacted pouch or something else?

Hi all, hope you are well and coping with lockdown.

I have a little...well big problem with Athena. She's roughly a year old now and yesterday I noticed something different with her top half but no matter how much I stared at her I couldn't figure out what. Tonight I know.

I think her cheek pouch is impacted but it's difficult to tell as her pouches don't look huge. She does have a squishy lump below where her pouch is though. Like maybe (from reading) saliva gland? Like a build up of saliva?

Her teeth look fine. Consistent size colour and shape.

I've attached some photos which hopefully will help. If anyone knows what it is please let me know! If not consider this an educational post.

If it is an impacted pouch, how do I help her? Will massaging the pouch help loosen it up?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20200524_224128172.jpg (3.36 MB, 18 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20200524_224100998.jpg (2.29 MB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20200524_224207674.jpg (3.12 MB, 17 views)
Engel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2020, 09:35 PM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

It's hard to tell if it's an impacted pouch or not from the photos, have you had a look in her mouth, you may be able to see it & sometimes but not always there can be a smell with an impacted pouch.
If it is you can try massaging it out, I tried that when one of mine had an impacted pouch & got absolutely nowhere! The vet fished it out very easily though.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 01:32 AM   #3
Vierville
Hamster Addict
 
Vierville's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

I'm sorry about this problem, its not nice when our hammies are ill.

My vet told me when my dwarf Monty had an impacted pouch that the surest sign of a problem is if their breath smells bad. An impacted pouch can really cause an awful smell from their mouth. I was there when the vet checked Monty and can confirm it.

If possible, gently try to put something like a Q-tip across your hamster's mouth behind her teeth (sort of like a bit in a horse's mouth). Smell the part of the q-tip that was in her mouth and if it smells bad then may be something up.

I think a vet check is best as impacted cheeks can turn into nasty infections.
Vierville is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 04:24 AM   #4
Engel
Hamster Addict
 
Engel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

Right I've checked the pouches. They're empty. No smell. I can't see anything from looking in the mouth (teeth look normal too) and Ive felt the outside of the pouches. I can't feel anything

It appears that the lump is more between her front legs and feels fleshy? It doesn't hurt her either.

For comparison purposes. The first photo is 7 days ago. The second is last night

I'm not the only one that can see there's a lump am I ? Lockdown doesn't have me going mad does it?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20200517_002057624.jpg (2.19 MB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20200524_224149856.jpg (3.90 MB, 12 views)
Engel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 05:31 AM   #5
Vierville
Hamster Addict
 
Vierville's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

I must be honest I can't see anything but that certainly doesn't mean it's not there. Their coats can hide a lot.

I'm sorry to say it but it might be a growth...they can be soft and fleshy.

I'd get it checked.
Vierville is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 06:52 AM   #6
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

I can't really see anything either but it can be hard to show that kind of thing in a photo, much easier to see when you're there with them.
If you can feel anything abnormal it's best to get it checked by your vet as soon as you can.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 09:32 AM   #7
LunaTheHamster1
Cosmic Hamsters
 
LunaTheHamster1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,593
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

I can;t really tell from the photos, if you can feel something maybe get it checked out or at the very least keep an eye on it for a few days to see if it is something. I know how thorough you are at checing these things. BTW she is gorgeous colouring.
__________________
Cosmic Hamsters YouTube Channel
LunaTheHamster1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-25-2020, 02:29 PM   #8
Vierville
Hamster Addict
 
Vierville's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

She is an absolutely beautiful hamster.
Vierville is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 04:51 AM   #9
Engel
Hamster Addict
 
Engel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
I can;t really tell from the photos, if you can feel something maybe get it checked out or at the very least keep an eye on it for a few days to see if it is something. I know how thorough you are at checing these things. BTW she is gorgeous colouring.
It's obvious when you see it in person but difficult to get on a photo. Doesn't help that the lighting in my room is terrible anyway. She is a beautiful sunset orange colour. She also has the most amazing temperament out of all the Syrians I've owned. Very forgiving and patient with me poking and prodding her. Believe it or not it's something the rescue noted about her, despite everything she's been through she has an amazing temperament
Engel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2020, 05:01 AM   #10
Engel
Hamster Addict
 
Engel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
Default Re: Impacted pouch or something else?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vierville View Post
I must be honest I can't see anything but that certainly doesn't mean it's not there. Their coats can hide a lot.

I'm sorry to say it but it might be a growth...they can be soft and fleshy.

I'd get it checked.
I understand that it's difficult to see. I was thinking it's a growth too. I've read that the majority of lumps on hamsters are benign so let's just hope that it's the same for Athena. Thankfully it hasn't grown since and doesn't have a stalk or appear to be attached like something nasty.
Engel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
pouch, impacted, saliva, size, fine, consistent, teeth, reading, gland, colour, build, educational, post, loosen, massaging, photos, attached, lump, shape, roughly, shes, athena, problem, year, noticed

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:27 AM.