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Ria P · 03-08-2021, 05:07 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your hamster but can't comment on his condition because i don't know why a big lump would appear overnight.

I have been in the situation where i had no or little confidence in the vet treating my hamster so went to see two more vets within the same surgery until i found one who i felt confident with so now i will always ask for that vet.

I must admit that i wouldn't go to a p@h vet which doesn't mean that all their vets only know about cats and dogs but i lack faith in this particular shop in general.

One of my hamsters, a 16mths old dwarf also has a swelling on her throat which appeared very suddenly and partial balding on her underside. She is sometimes quite shaky, has always been a bit shaky which got worse as she got older. Her vet suspects a problem with her lymphatic system causing a build up of fluid but thinks that she's not in pain. The swelling has gone down and some of her fur has grown back. She also had a one off bleed which was treated with Loxicom (anti inflammatory/pain relief) so the problem could also be kidney related.

The vet and i are both of the opinion that any further investigation and invasive tests at the exotic animals hospital would maybe give a diagnosis but not achieve anything and the aneasthetic itself would be a risk.

I monitor her closely and administer PRN Loxicom but aside from that let her live her life until the day when i think that she may be suffering in which case i would have her euthanised.

Opinions will vary because some people think that absolutely everything should be tried including surgery whereas others like myself are of the opinion that its kinder for a hamster of a certain age who only has another 6 month to live going by the law of average to live it out without the pain and discomfort of surgery or invasive procedures.

03-08-2021, 05:07 AM
Ria P House of Hamsters Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,103	Re: Throat tumour I'm sorry to hear about your hamster but can't comment on his condition because i don't know why a big lump would appear overnight. I have been in the situation where i had no or little confidence in the vet treating my hamster so went to see two more vets within the same surgery until i found one who i felt confident with so now i will always ask for that vet. I must admit that i wouldn't go to a p@h vet which doesn't mean that all their vets only know about cats and dogs but i lack faith in this particular shop in general. One of my hamsters, a 16mths old dwarf also has a swelling on her throat which appeared very suddenly and partial balding on her underside. She is sometimes quite shaky, has always been a bit shaky which got worse as she got older. Her vet suspects a problem with her lymphatic system causing a build up of fluid but thinks that she's not in pain. The swelling has gone down and some of her fur has grown back. She also had a one off bleed which was treated with Loxicom (anti inflammatory/pain relief) so the problem could also be kidney related. The vet and i are both of the opinion that any further investigation and invasive tests at the exotic animals hospital would maybe give a diagnosis but not achieve anything and the aneasthetic itself would be a risk. I monitor her closely and administer PRN Loxicom but aside from that let her live her life until the day when i think that she may be suffering in which case i would have her euthanised. Opinions will vary because some people think that absolutely everything should be tried including surgery whereas others like myself are of the opinion that its kinder for a hamster of a certain age who only has another 6 month to live going by the law of average to live it out without the pain and discomfort of surgery or invasive procedures.