Surgery, Abscess, Enrofloxacin, Hammy is not active.

[Coolbazuca]

Here is information about my hamster -
Age:Almost 2 years (Our first hamster, we adopted her when she was about 1 year)
Gender:Female
Species:Syrian

These are the details of my hamster's ailment -
When did it start:About a month ago.



Description of Ailment:

Well, this is kind of long, sorry if I don't explain myself to well I'm from Mexico City.



About a month ago, a little more I noticed a lump next to her lady parts of my baby girl , Hammy (she was suuuuuuper active, actually we named her Hammy after the character Hamilton from the movie Over the Hedge 'cause she was crazy and hyperactive), she was acting normal, drinking, eating, playing, but as the month went by, she wasn't so active and crazy as always, but still eating, drinking, peeing but had some constipation. Then she didn't ask to get out to play, for about 3 days but still eating, drinking and peeing and pooping normal so we made an appointment to the vet on March 27th (I was soo stressed) and he told us that it looked like a tumor 'cause it was hard and he had to take a biopsy to send it to the lab. We agreed and he told us that she needed to be gas sedated and the risks of it (I knew that, but my heart stopped ), he proceed to did that but while he was looking the tumor, he squezed and the tumor just "pooped out" through the vagina ( ) he called us and show us the little tumor (my heart stopped again when I saw her sedated and with that thing coming out from her lady parts ) and asked us for authorization to remove it, we agreed again. We went out and some minutes later she get out so dizzy (my poor baby ), and he told us that he only removed the part that pooped out 'cause maybe it was attached some some blood vessels, but he thought that maybe was cancerous, but that we hoped that with the part that he removed maybe it won't regrow and she will be fine. We take her home, and some minutes ago she went out to drink water and pee, she looked just fine (thank God). After that she still was not comming out only for eat, drink, and pee. So on April 1st I noticed that the stiches got infected or something (in matter of hours) I I called every 24 vet clinic but they don´t treat hamsters and in the clinic told me that the doctor who treated her, didn't come until 10:00 am, so we had to wait until morning (it was the worst night of my life). So the vet told us that It wasn't infected that actually is like a result of what she have, the first lab results indicates an abscess, the green part the Vet told us that is part of it, but is ok without secretion, so we started with the antibiotics (enrofloxacin for 8 days) and an orally probiotics Sinuberase (bacillus clausii). She's doing fine, eating, drinking, pooping and peeing normal, but still she's sleeping a lot and not asking to go out, she looks lethargic, she comes out about 3 hours to drink water, pee and grab some food but she goes to her house again even at night (she sleeps in my bedroom next to me). It's a more thatn week since the surgery. She also lost some weigth (she was 124 grams, she's now 113 grams). Now we are expecting the other lab results, hopefully to know if it's only the abscess or a tumor. In your experience, in what period of time the hams are like themselves again?, do you think is a secondary effect of the antibiotics?, do you experience something like this?. I miss her so much, her craziness. Thanks for your help.

[bgfloyd]

8m sorry I do not have the answers to your questions. You must be feeling awful, I hope she recovers soon

[Snowz]

I think my Snow had that! She only came out for food, water and she would sleep again! Snow was so active and then she just slept all day.. I noticed her sides were big but just thought she was a little chubby. One day I picked her up and she had cream white stuff come out and her fur was wet around the private area. I'm not sure but it might be what your hamsters got? Hopefully not. Sadly Snow passed away. I'm sorry I'm not that much help to your questions and I hope she feels better soon!

[cypher]

Your poor girl has been through a lot & she's a good age too so it will take time for her to get over that, she really just needs lots of rest which is why she's not active again yet, the antibiotics can make them feel lethargic & maybe a bit ill too so don't expect too much too soon, give her time.
If you can get some probiotics for small animals & give her those it could help & try her on some baby food (no onions or garlic) or a little porridge to help get her weight back up.
I hope she recovers & the lab results are positive, good luck with her.

[souffle]

At 2 years old she really is an elderly lady hammy and slowing down and weight loss are quite normal aging processes at this age as is sleeping more. On top of this she has had a major operation so will need rest.
It is hard to tell what is going on inside but there may be an issue, Internally hamsters systems are so tiny that operating is very tricky and damage may have occurred or a tumour regrown. As she seems to be doing things normally otherwise I think you maybe just need to accept her as she is as an older more settled hammy and that her crazy youthful self may not return but she is just as lovely this way. You have done everything you can to get her well so keep monitoring her and see how she does. Some meds do have an effect on the system in making them lethargic but if she needs these to keep her comfortable then best to keep them going.
I hope she brightens up a little soon x

[Pebbles82]

Sorry to hear your hammy has had all this, but she sounds like she is doing well. Yes she will need lots of rest and all the things the others have said. You could still stroke her with a finger now and then even if she doesn't want to come out of the cage, as long as she doesn't seem to mind it. And tell her she's doing very well. Hopefully the antibiotics will be finished soon and have cleared any infection and then you can see whether she starts to improve or not, but meanwhile just keep her comfortable. Giving her extra treats like sunflower seeds or cheese might help increase her weight as well as they are fatty. But protein too. The odd piece of cooked chicken or other meat (not with gravy on, just dry meat). Anything she will eat really. Be prepared for the fact she might not survive and just keep her comfortable, but if she starts to seem in pain or distressed, it might be kinder to have her put to sleep. Although she doesn't come to the cage to come out, does she mind you picking her up? Because if she doesn't mind that, you could lift her out and put her in the crook of your arm and stroke her - she might like that.

[Coolbazuca]

Thank you guys, for all your tips and good thoughts. Actually we saw some improvement yesterday, her ears are alert, in the night she walk around her cage a little bit. She stills is eating, drinking and going to the bathroom fine. The scab from the wound came off and the skin looks closed and just fine.
Today is the last day of the antibiotic, and we will continue with the probiotic for a few days more.
She walks kind of funny, she doesn't look in pain, I thinks is because she is sleeping a lot and not moving too much.
I'm going to give her pasta, tomorrow some organic egg (sorry, no chicken or any meat, I'm a ovo-lacto vegetarian).
We still are waiting for the other results, I will keep you updated.

Thanks for everything, these days has been very stressful, If she is fine, I'm fine.

Blessings to everyone.

[Pebbles82]

That's lovely to hear. Fingers crossed for her and it sounds like she is doing well.

[Thin Lizzy]

Great to hear about Hammy's progress. She's been through so much but she's a little fighter.
What a stressful time for you also, but you're love and care for your little girl is truly felt by us at the forum.
Got my fingers crossed for you and hammy xx

[Coolbazuca]

Hi, I haven't wrote because my baby past away on April the 20th, I'm sooo heartbroken, she was my first and my only hamster, my heart ham, I'm still very sad, I cried so much, I can't believe she's not with me. I made a video tribute of her and I want to share it with you. Also before she past I made a page Hámsters México with information about hams 'cause there's nothing like it in this country, after my baby past I wanted to close it but I made a promise to her to help this little fellas, so on Monday there was a girl in trouble, we pick her up and now she's with us, she is healthy but she lived in a hoooorrible cage (I will post some pics later) and it looks like she's pregnant, I wanted to keep her only until we find her a good home but now with the babies I have to stay with her at least 2 weeks and she's over a year so it's more difficult to put her in adoption, she's adapting well, but my heart is so broken now I don't want to repeat the horrible process of saying goodbye but I know that I'm going to give her a good life. So many emotions now. Thanks for reading me and to watch my baby's video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13vhYJoOheA