Sheldon's tumor (GRAPHIC)

[ILSMarki8]

WARNING: PICTURES OF A HAMSTER TUMOR, SOME MIGHT FIND IT DISTUBING!

Hey all. First off, I want to say sorry for not being active around here for quite a while and it seems I only talk to you when I need advice/help. Well, this post is not different.

So, after I discoverd Sheldon's got glaucome sometimes last year, his eye did actually get better. It seems only a tiny bit larger then the other one now. However, soon he started developing a tiny scab, and as he was living with Peanut, his girlfriend, I thought she attacked him so I separated them. Anyway, they stopped eating for three days they spend apart, and after putting them back toghether both started eating. Meanwhile, the scab seemed not to change.

It got larger over time so we payed a visit to the local (BTW, robend disliking) vet, who said it is a tumor. Now, some month after, Sheldon developed a tubercle under the scab. I am 100% sure it is in fact a tumor.

What shall I do next? What can I do? Sheldon is 17 months old, and I just don't feel like I have enought experience to say; Yes, I do want a surgery, or shall I rule that option out?

[racinghamster]

Hi ILSMark. That does look like a tumour that has advanced and mastasized. Surgery probably wouldn`t help now. One of my Roborovskis a while back had a similar mass to this and it was almost making him topple over. My vet just said to leave it. He passed away later. If you really want this removed, the time is now. Look at it this way, if Sheldon doesn`t come through the surgery, at least you will have given him that chance, so don`t feel bad about that. If you re-consider and just want to leave things as they are, his quality of life will fail at some point and he will either pass at home, or need help from your vet.

He looks to have lost weight but it`s difficult to tell from the photos. But tumours will affect the body weight and weight loss can be part of this. Really sorry Sheldon has developed a tumour but if surgery is on your mind, then go with your gut instinct. If Sheldon is well in himself and eating and running around, he may well come through it. x

[chinesehammy]

My Minnie had a tumour and the vet says it was cancerous however it was under her skin. She was only 3 months and the vet operated and removed the tumour. However she passed naturally 2 months later as the cancer spread. I am thinking it may be a bit late to operate (???) however if you want to give it a try and like racinghamster said, if he doesn't recover you will know you have done everything you possibly could. Also consider his quality of life. Is he still active? Does he fall over with it? Is he eating ok? Ultimately this is a decision only you can make, and you are the best person to make the decision, and you know him best.

PS. Send my and the hammies love to Sheldon. x
PPS. Nobody feels like you only come here when you need help, people's lives are very busy, and everybody has different amounts of free time. Hamster Central is a resource for hamster owners and to help everyone, so we are happy to help whenever you need it

[souffle]

At this stage. when the tumour has started to break down on the surface, it has most likely spread internally and I would say that is would be very hard to remove this especially at his age. What normally ends up causing the hamster to pass is infection of the open sore so treating with antibiotics could keep this as bay however it also stops them digesting food as well so they become more frail.
Sheldon has trusted you with doing what you know in your heart is right. If you feel he wants to try with an op then try but I would ask the vet to really examine him and try and see if he feels there is a spread. He does look quite frail there and he may not want to have his twilight times spent trying to get over an op.
Tumours like this don't actually tend to be painful until they affect or press on another organ as they have no nerve supply. When they get large like that the blood supply also struggles to reach the outside and this is why they degenerate as this one has done.
Take everything in to account - quality of life, is he doing hamstery things? how strong do you feel he is? Vets advice? Spread? and make your choice - whatever that is , made from love it will be the right one.

[ILSMarki8]

I do have a free morning today, so Shells is by my side, currently with Sevan, and he is running in his Silent Spinner, wondering around playpen, and he did drop few little "brown bombs", which I guess is the sign of him being normally active and eating. Also, his water income has increased in past few days.

Oh, reading all your comments makes this situation even harder. racinghamster; He did lose some of his weight, as a 50 grams hamster, he used to be the largest of my dwarves, and now he is weighting only 31 grams. But, that parialy happened before it was noticable he had a tumor. Also, I am afraid to just leave him for one single reason: I don't want to be in a situation in which I will be bringing Shells to the vet to put him asleep. I don't know, mybe it's my young age (I'm 17, BTW), but to me now, it seems like it would be a sign of how I failed as a hamster owner and I would feel really guilty.

I don't know, mybe it would be the best to pay the visit to exotic pets veterinarian who might give me the professionsl oppinion.

[chinesehammy]

Originally Posted by ILSMarki8

I do have a free morning today, so Shells is by my side, currently with Sevan, and he is running in his Silent Spinner, wondering around playpen, and he did drop few little "brown bombs", which I guess is the sign of him being normally active and eating. Also, his water income has increased in past few days.

Oh, reading all your comments makes this situation even harder. racinghamster; He did lose some of his weight, as a 50 grams hamster, he used to be the largest of my dwarves, and now he is weighting only 31 grams. But, that parialy happened before it was noticable he had a tumor. Also, I am afraid to just leave him for one single reason: I don't want to be in a situation in which I will be bringing Shells to the vet to put him asleep. I don't know, mybe it's my young age (I'm 17, BTW), but to me now, it seems like it would be a sign of how I failed as a hamster owner and I would feel really guilty.

I don't know, mybe it would be the best to pay the visit to exotic pets veterinarian who might give me the professionsl oppinion.

I totally understand what your saying about not wanting to take him to the vets, and what your waging about your age (I'm 18 btw!) but I want to express my opinion regarding PTS. Sometimes it is the right thing to do because if an animal is in pain and/or it's quality of life is so bad, then sometimes PTS is the kindest thing to do. But if your saying he is still eating,pooing etc, then he doesn't sound like he needs to be PTS at the moment. By all means go to a exotic vet and discuss with him/her about your opinions and what would be kindest to wee Sheldon.

Hope you get something sorted, keep us updated if you can x

[souffle]

Letting him live out his life with the tumour as long as he seems well enough is a perfectly good choice and one I myself have made many times. The knack is to know in your heart if and when the time comes when they do need help to pass to the bridge because their life has become a burden to them and the greatest gift is to give that help xx

[racinghamster]

Please don`t feel you have failed anywhere ILSMark, these tumours can be genetically occurring and nothing you do can stop that. The fact that you are a member of this forum is proof enough that you are a good owner and love Sheldon. Go with your instincts on this, but soufflé is right about the stage the tumour is at, so going for surgery might not be the right route now due to the advanced stage. But as I said earlier, Sheldon has nothing to lose whatever you decide. x

[Queen Of The High Teas]

Just before Christmas I had a hamster with a tumour on his front leg. It had literally erupted overnight and when I found him in the morning it had practically detached his leg, with a gaping open wound all around it. I took him straight to the vet and asked them to put him to sleep there and then, because even though he was only 8 months old, I couldn't stand the thought of him suffering/ in pain. I will not put my hamsters under surgery to 'try' and mend them for a few more months, I know some people do so successfully, but I personally feel that its too much for such a tiny creature and would rather leave them go painlessly knowing they had a great life up to that point. I see people with rats and mice that have tumours on them and they say their leaving it until it gets worse, well sorry, but why would you want to leave it until it goes worse? Personally, I'd want to make sure my pet never got to that stage and never knew what it was like either, I'd rather have a few less weeks with them and know I'd saved them having to be in that state for even a day. To me, its one of the things you sign up to when you take on a pet, that you will make all the decisions, and that includes the heartbreaking difficult ones not just the cute fluffy easy ones.

[racinghamster]

I also admire that point of view as well, especially with mice because they are so prone to mammary tumours it`s almost part of ownership with mice, moreso the females. However, mouse tumours can become quite large if left to the `end` and if ulcerated, can become painful, so it`s a judgement call with each individual mouse really. Mice tend to carry on regardless a lot of the time, but if the lump is positioned in an area (example would be under a hind leg or tummy area) these can start to inhibit mobility, so need careful monitoring. It`s all about quality of life, whether the animal is actually showing signs of weakness, pain or rapid weight loss or isn`t able to cope anymore, but rightly said, it shouldn`t get to a stage where the animal is physically not doing well. x