What do testicular tumors look like on male Syrian hamsters?

[h.Beth]

If anyone has had experience with a hamster who has had it and/or has pictures of it could you please post them?

Reason being is I want to make sure that Fudge & Ringo's boys don't have them. They had a litter of 10 babies. 6 boys and 4 girls. We sold all the girls and 3 boys already. And now that they are about 4 months old (born in October) and becoming more mature down there I want to make sure that they don't have it. Because one of them had a lump at the end of one of the testicles. And I felt it and it was like a ball and firm. I believe it's just their testicles drawn up a bit. I see it like that when they are sleeping but on both. You know? And it went away after awhile like it retracted. If I ever see it again I'll post a photo. But right now it's not there. Now it just looks like a teeny tiny patch of loose flabby pink skin.

Thanks!!

[souffle]

That sounds quite normal. The testicles are quite mobile and can move up and down depending on the temperature and can push out like peanuts under the skin at some very odd angles! A tumour is normally hard and always there in the same position. It grows quite rapidly usually and becomes noticeable. Tumours in such young hams would be possible but very rare. Hams can also get orchiditis which is an infection and the testicles become red and swollen. This is treatable with antibiotics. Just keep a close eye on them for anything worrying and have it looked at quickly by a vet if you are worried.

[h.Beth]

Thank you for clarifying this for me!

I think maybe I'm just being paranoid.