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05-24-2020, 03:04 PM
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#1
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
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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?
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05-24-2020, 09:35 PM
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#2
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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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 ❤️
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05-25-2020, 01:32 AM
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#3
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
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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.
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05-25-2020, 04:24 AM
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#4
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
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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?
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05-25-2020, 05:31 AM
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#5
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
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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.
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05-25-2020, 06:52 AM
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#6
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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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 ❤️
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05-25-2020, 09:32 AM
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#7
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Cosmic Hamsters
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,593
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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.
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05-25-2020, 02:29 PM
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#8
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,010
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Re: Impacted pouch or something else?
She is an absolutely beautiful hamster.
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05-26-2020, 04:51 AM
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#9
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
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Re: Impacted pouch or something else?
Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1
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.
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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
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05-26-2020, 05:01 AM
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#10
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Hamster Addict
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 923
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Re: Impacted pouch or something else?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vierville
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.
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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.
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Tags
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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 |
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