Opinions - bladder flushed or see how it goes?

[ToastieHammy]

Hi all!

Some of you may remember me mentioning in a couple of posts a few months back my little Syrian hammy was unwell with spots of blood appearing in her bedding. After many vet visits including x-rays, ultrasounds, a urine test and a course of antibiotics (baytril) and metacam, the vet called me today with the urine test results. From the x-ray she found a thickened bladder lining and the urine test showed high levels of a type of streptococcus resistant to all hamster antibiotics. She said she would refer me to a specialist to get her bladder flushed which has worked before in other hamsters (involves a catheter from what I can tell but don't know the details of the procedure!) Here's my predicament - my hamster doesn't travel well and with no car my only transport is the train for 30 minutes, and my hamster is absolutely fine otherwise (no change in behaviour, eating drinking etc). Also I'm not 100% sure the diagnosis is correct since the blood is not mixed with urine so my gut says it's not to do with urinary tract, but my vet is a specialist in exotics so I'm not sure if another vet could give me a better diagnosis, and exotic vets are hard to come by!
I'm going to talk to the vets again tomorrow, but if you were in my position would you put your hammy through the stress and risk of this procedure? Especially if she's not showing being in pain or ill other than a few spots of blood appearing every day? I just feel like I'm being pressured to make a quick decision when I'm not sure it's the best thing for her!

Thanks

[cypher]

I can't say I've ever had to make a decision like this but I can imagine how difficult it is, I do think you're right to talk to the vet again if you are feeling pressurised to make a quick decision, no one likes putting their hams through any kind of procedure unless absolutely necessary & it must be particularly difficult when she seems fine in herself, I would ask the vet about how this might develop in the longer term if you don't go ahead with the treatment that's been suggested, if there are any potential complications with the treatment & if there are any other alternatives although it doesn't sound as though there are, if you have a good exotic vet with experience with hamsters then it may well be best to take their advice.
Your hamster would probably be ok with the travelling, most will settle down if they're in a decent sized carrier with plenty of substrate to burrow down into.
Sorry not to be more help but I wish you all the best for her & hope she'll be ok.

[ToastieHammy]

Had a chat with the vet, she pretty much said to me the only two options are this procedure or euthanasia, which just doesn't feel right to me. I asked if the test showed blood in the urine and they didn't test for that since they could only do a bacterial culture with the small volume. It just boggles my mind how those are the only two options I've been given when they're not even sure that's where the blood is coming from. This procedure also hasn't been done much at all in hamsters since most people don't bother with doing it for their hamsters, so I'm pretty much stuck at the moment. This whole thing doesn't sit right with me so I think I'm going to get a second opinion and maybe more tests done, I'd be much more comfortable if they could actually prove that's where the blood is coming from!
Thanks cypher, this is definitely a decision I wasn't expecting to have to think about! I think it must be so difficult for vets to diagnose such little creatures, but my judgement doesn't believe euthanasia or this procedure are what's best for her at this moment in time since she's probably had this for a long time and hasn't shown any signs of being ill. Will see if I can find another exotics vet to talk to!

[cypher]

I find that a bit odd that they couldn't test for blood in the urine, as far as I'm aware testing even a small sample with the same test strips used to test for diabetes will show protein levels in the urine & if there is blood the protein level will be higher than normal, not a conclusive test as to what's wrong but an indication if blood is present or not & easily done at home so a vet should have no problem even with a small sample I wouldn't have thought.
I think it sounds like a good idea to get a second opinion at this stage.

[ToastieHammy]

I've booked an appointment with a different exotics specialist for the end of next week, fingers crossed I'll be more comfortable with this vet's advice! Will keep this thread updated

[mangoandmimi]

Oh dear I’m sorry things didn’t go well at the vets. Fingers crossed this next one will be better, hopefully she’ll be okay.

[cypher]

Good luck with the second vet, hope you get some helpful advice.

[ToastieHammy]

A little update! Went to this other vets and I'm so relieved it went well. She had a very good look at Summer and asked me loads of questions to get more of an understanding, and she pretty much concluded neither euthanasia or bladder flushing are the answers to the problem at this stage. Our plan of action is to give her some dewormer in case it's bladder worms since she's never been dewormed before, and if that doesn't work then just to leave her as she is unless she gets worse since she's acting like the perfect healthy hamster at the moment. She thinks Summer could have bladder polyps since she hasn't shown any signs of feeling unwell (which would be linked to intestinal problems or this resistant bacteria or pyometra). Not much can be done about them if that is the problem but as long as she's comfortable for the rest of her life. She was a bit sceptical about the antibiotic resistant bacteria my other vet found as the urine sample wasn't taken directly from the bladder which could mean the bacteria was a contaminant, so no point in treating her for that if the bladder flushing is going to cause unnecessary strain on her. The vet also mentioned she thinks Summer is younger than a year old, so hopefully I'll have her for longer than I previously thought!
Anyway thanks for all of your support, I'm hoping if this illness can't be cured she can at least have a good quality of life I'll be keeping an eye on her, and it's comforting knowing I've got this other vet to go to if something happens!

I wish all of you and your hammys happiness and health for the new year

[cypher]

Good to hear you had a better experience with the second vet, fingers crossed Summer will stay well in herself & not need any more treatment.

[HamsterLife77]

Hopefully your hammy will be okay!