Ernie has a lump :(

Nikkigrace · 04-30-2013, 11:53 AM

Tonight while giving my hybrid boy Ernie some cuddles, I found a lump on his side. It is slightly bigger than pea sized and isn't visible to look at him (although he is quite a chunky boy) but I can definitely feel it under his skin. It's fairly hard to touch and I can actually move it around a little with my fingers. He doesn't appear to be in any pain at all, even when I'm touching it. He isn't off his food at all (he never is!!!!) and is still as active as he usually is.

He's only around 10 months old and has already had a nasty chest infection earlier this year so I'm hoping he's not about to suffer anymore with this! I am 99% sure that it wasn't there on Sunday when I had him out for a while, so I do think this has developed recently.

I plan on phoning my vet tomorrow to see what his advice would be and whether he wants to see him asap or whether i should monitor any changes in its size first. But I just wondered if anyone has had anything similar with their hams and what it turned out to be?

shiny · 04-30-2013, 02:26 PM

Oh dear, poor Ernie

at least it's not bothering him. Sometimes lumps can be aspirated on guineas with a fine needle to see what they are, not sure if this is possible with hamster lumps though especially given the size of hamsters.

Hope the vet can help

**kyrilliondaemon** · 04-30-2013, 02:42 PM

Oh no

I hope he's ok... And one of our vets would do that for us shiny - he mentioned it as a possibility if Scamps lump grows but to be honest if it does we'll probably just let it take its course - Scamp is too old for an op now. Hers is believed to be a harmless fatty lump though.

I'm afraid I'm not sure what his lump would be Nikki

Bozly's Family · 04-30-2013, 08:34 PM

Oh no! Hopefully it's just an isolated bump and doesn't spread. I went to the vet recently when Bozly's lumps appeared and they tested it with a needle and saw abnormal cells, but he had several bumps pop up and they're visible. I really hope for you and Ernie don't have to go through a cancer together, but if you do you should feel free to reference my recent thread: Lymphoma :(

Bozly and I will pray for lil Ernie. <3

Nikkigrace · 05-01-2013, 02:56 AM

Thank you BozlyFamily, i had read your thread recently and I hope Bozly is doing okay.

I have phoned the vets this morning and they are going to arrange for my vet to give me a ring back when he has some time to talk. They were lovely on the phone when I explained the situation and told me she would make sure he phoned today and would ensure I get an appointment tomorrow if the vet advises he needs to be seen.

I will let you keep you all updated.

**Pompompoms** · 05-01-2013, 02:39 PM

Aw Ernie, your lump sounds like it matches Rolo's. I really hope your lovely little guy is ok, a small lump is often not as worrying as it first seems to be on further investigation. may he be happy and healthy a long time yet xx

Nikkigrace · 05-01-2013, 04:57 PM

I spoke to my vet today, who is lovely and very helpful. He suspects from my description of the lump, that it is a cyst. He is very keen to not put Ernie through a vet visit unless necessary so has advised that for now I just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't get any bigger. If it does increase in size then he wants me to take Ernie in for a better look. If it doesn't increase in size over the next 7-10 days, then he wants me to ring him to update him and discuss what to do next, even if that is just leave him be for now

I have my fingers crossed for him and he's been spoilt tonight

Nikkigrace · 05-15-2013, 07:16 AM

Update:

Ernie's lump hasn't increased or decreased in size, from what I can tell it has remained exactly the same. However he is now losing weight. In the last 2 weeks he has gone from 77g to 69g. I am trying to maintain his weight now and not let it drop anymore. I spoke to my vet again who has advised to take him in next week if his weight can't be maintained as it is, so that he can examine him fully.

I'm hoping that its nothing serious, he will stay his little podgey fluffy self and there will be no need to stress him with a vet visit.

**DrKMcK** · 05-15-2013, 07:36 AM

I hope Ernie's okay. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

shiny · 05-15-2013, 07:36 AM

Hope Ernie can put a bit of weight back on again. It's so difficult when you don't want to stress them out with a vet visit

. Half the time unless you have other investigations done, all they can do is confirm it's a lump! I would definitely watch that weight loss though, 12g doesn't sound much but the % loss from original weight is what I always try to think of it as.

Hugs to Ernie x