Hamster Central - View Single Post - Red sore / lump on my female Syrian's bum. Need advice!

Pebbles82 · 03-01-2022, 08:10 AM

I absolutely agree with the option you've chosen. Keep her comfortable with the Metacam - and you will know if she gets to a point that she needs more than that. I am so sorry about this. I've had this a couple of times with a hamster. I did have surgery on our 21 month old syrian (it was a very small scent gland lump which did turn out to be cancerous), in the hope that might stop it, but a few months later he had an eye condition which they thought was secondaries - and he did need to be pts in the end. I probably wouldn't have had the surgery if he'd been 24 months.

That is the hard thing with this kind of diagnosis - it means they are less likely to just pass in their sleep and may need help on their way. But - that is not always the case - anything could happen and hamsters can just die suddenly suddenly of something else.

It's a shock isn't it. But the main thing is that she is well right now. And she will be kept comfortable on Metacam for some time. I give it in a bit of baby food and they love licking the baby food off a tiny plate (aka jar lid).

I'm not so familiar with that antibiotic so don't know if it tastes bad like the Baytril but you could probably disguise that in food as well.

The cost you paid was quite high but I expect at least half of that was for the medications. I usually reckon about £40 for a consultation with an exotic vet.

At two years old she is a very great age - about 80 in human years, so she is in her twilight time and I am sure will enjoy more happy weeks or months with you.

And you never know it might clear up with the antibiotics. Our robo had something similar though. Just keep an eye on her and give her plenty of treats.

I wouldn't clean out too much though, to avoid stressing her. I know you said she pees in her nest, but you could try something. Not sure what your cage set up is like, but if you give them a large house - about 30 to 40cm by 16 to 20 cm (or shoebox house) and put a corner litter tray inside, they will usually use it - they build a big nest at one end of the house and use the litter tray at the other end. That will help. They seem to like having an ensuite bathroom and if the house is big enough they usually keep the pee away from the nest.

Best way to do it would be just swap out her existing house for a larger one over that area and add the litter tray.

03-01-2022, 08:10 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Red sore / lump on my female Syrian's bum. Need advice! I absolutely agree with the option you've chosen. Keep her comfortable with the Metacam - and you will know if she gets to a point that she needs more than that. I am so sorry about this. I've had this a couple of times with a hamster. I did have surgery on our 21 month old syrian (it was a very small scent gland lump which did turn out to be cancerous), in the hope that might stop it, but a few months later he had an eye condition which they thought was secondaries - and he did need to be pts in the end. I probably wouldn't have had the surgery if he'd been 24 months. That is the hard thing with this kind of diagnosis - it means they are less likely to just pass in their sleep and may need help on their way. But - that is not always the case - anything could happen and hamsters can just die suddenly suddenly of something else. It's a shock isn't it. But the main thing is that she is well right now. And she will be kept comfortable on Metacam for some time. I give it in a bit of baby food and they love licking the baby food off a tiny plate (aka jar lid). I'm not so familiar with that antibiotic so don't know if it tastes bad like the Baytril but you could probably disguise that in food as well. The cost you paid was quite high but I expect at least half of that was for the medications. I usually reckon about £40 for a consultation with an exotic vet. At two years old she is a very great age - about 80 in human years, so she is in her twilight time and I am sure will enjoy more happy weeks or months with you. And you never know it might clear up with the antibiotics. Our robo had something similar though. Just keep an eye on her and give her plenty of treats. I wouldn't clean out too much though, to avoid stressing her. I know you said she pees in her nest, but you could try something. Not sure what your cage set up is like, but if you give them a large house - about 30 to 40cm by 16 to 20 cm (or shoebox house) and put a corner litter tray inside, they will usually use it - they build a big nest at one end of the house and use the litter tray at the other end. That will help. They seem to like having an ensuite bathroom and if the house is big enough they usually keep the pee away from the nest. Best way to do it would be just swap out her existing house for a larger one over that area and add the litter tray.