*WARNING* gavins "eczema" with pictures.

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 05:56 AM

i am really very worried about gavins apparent "eczema".. i am not being funny but i have never ever seen eczema like this in my life.. i know hamsters and humans are not the same but i thought they would be slightly similar.. since putting the cream on last night gavins "eczema" looks awful and raised.. like a lump. i really do not think the vet has diagnosed this correctly. its looks oozy because i only properly got a look at it as i was putting her cream on this morning so the ooze is the cream.. do you think this is a case of the cream working (which i doubt) and should continue with usage or stop? i want to take her back to the vets but i dont know any other vets in the area but i do not want to take her back to the vet from last night...

anyway here is the picture (sorry it looks disgusting i dont want to put anyone off their dinner)

the thing i dont understand is that she doesnt seem to be in any pain and she is eating, drinking, pooing/weeing and sleeping fine.. everything seems normal.. except this blumin sore.

souffle · 01-26-2011, 06:10 AM

That is not eczema.
I have never seen eczema in my life in a hamster and I have had them over 40 years.
I think you should stop using the cream right away and return to the vets or see another vet. The ham may well have had a reaction to unsuitable cream. If it licks the cream it will do it no good either. Vets do not normally give cream to hams for this reason.
I think that this is an abcess. It may need draining, flushing and then treated with antibiotics (definitely needs antibiotics) They should give you Baytril (0.1ml by syringe into the mouth once or sometimes twice a day). (don't accept 'put it in the water' as they do not get the right dose.)
If it does not clear with Baytril or at least improve in a week then there is a chance that this is in fact a tumour which has started to break down on the skin surface. Can you feel any firm lumps in the area. An isolated tumour like this can be removed but it is quite a large lesion and would need a few stitches. Still worth a go though in a younger hammy. We have had a few lumps removed with good results.
Get the Baytril asap. Phone the vet and say your hamster has gotten much worse on the cream. Ask about an abcess? It is important to keep an abcess open and draining till the pus has stopped coming out so it does look bad but it heals from the inside out.
Keep the cage very clean to try and avoid infection.
Wish I'd seem the pic last night

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 06:14 AM

it didnt look like this AT all last night, thats why alarm bells started ringing when i looked at it this morning. i'm so worried about her

i am going to ring the vets now. i'm really angry. its supposed to be his job to get these things right. he didnt even hold her to have a look he seemed so sure what it was.

souffle · 01-26-2011, 06:20 AM

Try not to worry. I was just thinking that actually it could be a small skin tumour because these can be itchy so the hammy licks at them and this causes fur loss and dry skin.
Vets don't really see many hamsters and he may not have known that your little one would react badly to the cream which I'm sure she has. It may have brough the abcess, if it is this, to a head. Is there any oozing or pus? They don't really feel pain in tumours as they have no nerve supply and abcesses are contained within a capsule till they burst. Hamsters hide pain well as they are prey animals so must appear 'fine' to any predators.

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 06:23 AM

there is no oozing or pus it just looks like a massive scab.. the reason it looks shiny is because i started to put the cream on this morning when she turned around and i saw it properly i stopped and tried to dab it off. i didnt want to rub it incase it caught the scab... right about to ring the vet now and try and get in again this afternoon.

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 06:37 AM

have got gavin in for 10 past 5 this afternoon so hopefully more light can be shed on what is wrong with poor little gav. unfortunately i wont be able to get a lift there so will have to walk with gavin in her carry case.. it is about a 15 minute walk. do you have any suggestions as to what i can use to keep her more covered from the cold and wind?

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 06:38 AM

i dont have any cardboard boxes so shall i cover it slightly with a towel or something?

**Hope** · 01-26-2011, 06:39 AM

Do you have a carrier? Put the carrier flat in a large plastic bag (a bag for life or similar), this will keep most of the wind out, be sure to put in pleanty of bedding so he can keep himself warm.

gav100 · 01-26-2011, 06:42 AM

yes i do have a carrier for her i will do this, thankyou Hope. i really hope she will be ok... is it something i may have done wrong that could have caused this

**Hope** · 01-26-2011, 06:44 AM

No not at all, its nothing you have done. Souffle has given some fab advice and she really knows her stuff, so suggest what she said to the vet. I have everything crossed for you and Gavin.