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Pebbles82 · 05-25-2021, 09:14 AM

Hello. I think you may need to be prepared for the fact she is very old now and organs will be failing. She is probably in her twilight time. Any abdominal swelling tends to be fairly serious. It is often fluid (from kidney failure or heart failure or ascites from a tumour). Your vet probably won't know exactly which of these it is unless she finds a tumour.

It is such a hard time when it is a much loved pet, but preparing ourselves helps. Your vet should be able to let you know whether she is suffering. If there is some blood that doesn't sound good, but it may be an infection. She is already on Metacam so there is not much more can be given for pain relief.

I would think your vet is likely to try antibiotics in case its a urine infection. If she is active and doing normal hamstery things. But as you're saying she is just resting most of the time she maybe doesn't feel that well so be prepared for the vet suggesting she may be suffering and helping her on her way may be the way to go - although you don't have to decide there and then.

If she does give antibiotics, those can make them feel a bit unwell sometimes and affect their gut so it can be good to give probiotics at the same time. But at a different time of day - or after the antibiotics if it's just a short course.

The blood could indicate a urine infection but I don't think the swelling would, and it may be something more serious. Keep talking to your hammy. She may give you a sign.

Does she seem unhappy at all or hunched up? Or slitty eyes? (Those are signs of pain), or just exhausted. Good luck at the vets. She is a grand age - the lifespan for a Chinese is usually 3 years maximum. She has done so well to recover from the stroke as well. Sometimes they pull round with treatment, sometimes we have to accept they are dying x

If they seem to be suffering and have no real quality of life - unable to be active or enjoy eating and drinking, then it can be a kindness to help them on their way. Metacam is good for pain relief, but not enough if it happens to be cancer.

05-25-2021, 09:14 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Advice on when to say goodbye Hello. I think you may need to be prepared for the fact she is very old now and organs will be failing. She is probably in her twilight time. Any abdominal swelling tends to be fairly serious. It is often fluid (from kidney failure or heart failure or ascites from a tumour). Your vet probably won't know exactly which of these it is unless she finds a tumour. It is such a hard time when it is a much loved pet, but preparing ourselves helps. Your vet should be able to let you know whether she is suffering. If there is some blood that doesn't sound good, but it may be an infection. She is already on Metacam so there is not much more can be given for pain relief. I would think your vet is likely to try antibiotics in case its a urine infection. If she is active and doing normal hamstery things. But as you're saying she is just resting most of the time she maybe doesn't feel that well so be prepared for the vet suggesting she may be suffering and helping her on her way may be the way to go - although you don't have to decide there and then. If she does give antibiotics, those can make them feel a bit unwell sometimes and affect their gut so it can be good to give probiotics at the same time. But at a different time of day - or after the antibiotics if it's just a short course. The blood could indicate a urine infection but I don't think the swelling would, and it may be something more serious. Keep talking to your hammy. She may give you a sign. Does she seem unhappy at all or hunched up? Or slitty eyes? (Those are signs of pain), or just exhausted. Good luck at the vets. She is a grand age - the lifespan for a Chinese is usually 3 years maximum. She has done so well to recover from the stroke as well. Sometimes they pull round with treatment, sometimes we have to accept they are dying x If they seem to be suffering and have no real quality of life - unable to be active or enjoy eating and drinking, then it can be a kindness to help them on their way. Metacam is good for pain relief, but not enough if it happens to be cancer.