vaginal discharge

[hammy_mumma]

My lovely Syrian girl Chloe is about 20 months and I've had her for around 8 months. She's never been one to clean herself up and being white she quite often has urine staining around the tail. She has always tended to get swashy poos too and is as a result frankly a bit niffy at times (but obviously we love her just the same ). The other day I noticed she had a small amount of vaginal discharge but I know this can be normal when they are on heat. I read the pyometra info on this site. She doesn't have a swollen belly or seem unwell so I've just been keeping an eye on it over the past few days and it varys but isn't much. The trouble is I'm not sure if she's always had this and I've not noticed. I may be worrying over nothing as I have just lost a hamster under tragic circumstances and it's made me a bit neurotic. What do you think?

[linford27]

It is hard to diagnose online, but I would clean her up and then you can monitor how much there is a day and such. Also if you clean her every day you can see if it is just when she's on heat (which is about every four days).

If it seems to be going on too long or be too much to be heat, I'd suggest a trip to the vets to check everything is ok.

[Jodzie04]

It's so easy to worry and I do the same. However I think at this stage the vets would just say to keep an eye on her.
Best sign is for swollen stomach like you said. Make sure she's eating etc but if in doubt just take her. It's so horrible and quick that you want to go to the vets asap if it's the case.

[Vectis Hamstery]

Does the discharge smell? I have noticed that a pyo discharge has a particular smell to it - and is very persisitent. There are two types of pyo - open, where the pus drains out so you see it, and closed where the pus remains inside and so the belly swells a lot. I've had hams with both as well as hams with open pyos that don't look that swollen as the pus is draining. If she becomes less well in herself, the discharge carries on for several days in a row or has an offensive smell then I would advise a vet trip (although she may not be fit for surgery at her age, antibiotics and other medications may help).

[souffle]

Another sign of a pyo is that the hamster will often drink a lot more than normal. We too detect and odd and distinctive smell with a pyo. If you are feeling at all worried then take her in for a check up for sure.