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01-29-2021, 12:29 PM
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#1
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Edwina went to the doctor's.
Edwina has a swelling on her upper chest and fur loss in that area. It's not a hard or firm lump more of a soft and movable mass/swelling.
The vet prescribed an anti inflammatory for a week to see if it makes any difference before looking into more invasive investigation at the animal hospital.
Edwina absolutely hates being held on her back and always has done. She wriggles like mad but never bites. Edwina expressed her displeasure by spitting the contents of her pouches on the vet.
Administering medication is a challenge. She doesn't like porridge or babyfood and prefers crunchy foods so i might try a cornflake. I tried via the syringe but holding her is the problem because of the swelling and i don't know how to scruff a hamster correctly so don't want to try that.
Henry grabbed the syringe with both paws and gobbled it up but Edwina needs a different approach.
I'm obviously very worried because at the moment we don't know what caused the swelling and what exactly it is. Edwina is only 14 months old so its not age related.
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01-29-2021, 12:33 PM
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#2
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Dwarf whisperer
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
Sorry to hear this Ria, I hope it’s nothing too serious & she makes a full recovery.
If she doesn’t like porridge or baby food have you tried egg or even meaty dog food, a tiny bit of that works for some hams, it’s difficult though I know as you won’t want to waste any meds, hopefully she’ll go for the cornflakes.
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01-29-2021, 12:41 PM
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#3
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Hamster Overlord
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: London
Posts: 763
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
If the anti-inflammatory is metacam, it isn't usually too hard to administer as it tastes sweet (Baytril is a completely different affair!) I would try it on a cornflake to begin with. I used to give it to Pumpkin on a bit of bread sometimes.
Hopefully this will turn out to be nothing serious.
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01-29-2021, 04:38 PM
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#4
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
So sorry to hear this Ria. It sounds like what Moo had and out vet said it was a mammary tumour/tumours. She also said they were quite common. The mammary glands in both male and female hamsters cover most of their underside up to their chest area.
I was also given Metacam to see if it would shrink it but Moo’s lumps were quite large so too late for surgery and they didn’t shrink noticeably. The Metacam will help with pain though.
I wouldn’t try to scruff her - it might hurt her. I had to scruff moo to get a good photo for the vet but it really distressed him and that was the only indication I got that he may be feeling pain - they hide it so well. I felt terrible afterwards.
If the lump isn’t too big it could be removed but one they get quite large it is too big a body area to operate on really, with any chance of survival.
They can be benign or cancerous but either way the main issue when they get bigger is mobility. But Moo soldiered on till the end. Our Robo also had them.
I hope the Metacam helps and consider if surgery is an option.
As others have said, they usually like the taste of Metacam but our first hamster Charlie wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole. And if I put it in the food he sussed that, rejected the food and gave filthy looks as if to say “are you trying to poison me?”
You will probably need to put it in something strong flavoured and irresistible. Anything meaty is usually popular. Have you tried the chicken based baby foods? Just a tiny pea sized amount on a mini dish with the drop of Metacam on top.
Or chicken applaws cat food was recommended to me too. Another tip I saw was a bit of prawn cracker with the meds soaked in.
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01-29-2021, 04:54 PM
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#5
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
Hi all. Thank you for all the good and helpful advice. I know that egg will work because she likes egg. It's not the taste that's the problem it's getting her to eat it. Edwina doesn't do things on demand and i must try and find foods that are irresistable to her. I'll write a list of things suggested and will go shopping tomorrow.
If it is a mammary tumor and could be removed surgically, are they likely to grow back?
They'd do a biopsy first to find out what it is.
I'm annoyed with myself that i didn't notice it earlier but it appeared so quickly. I didn't see it last time i checked her over which wasn't that long ago but it mist have been there.
Last edited by Ria P; 01-29-2021 at 05:20 PM.
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01-29-2021, 05:37 PM
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#6
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Cosmic Hamsters
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 2,593
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
sorry to hear this Ria. Don't beat yourself up, things in hamsters can be fast growing, and can come on in days/or a week or so. You spotted it now, that's the main thing.
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01-29-2021, 05:47 PM
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#7
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
That’s why I think it could be a mammary tumour. Moo’s grew incredibly quickly and I also kicked myself for not noticing sooner. But it can be well hidden under their chest fur and hanging down so not easy to see.
Did your vet say they would do a biopsy first? Lumps do grow back sometimes but maybe not for a while. At 14 months I would probably opt for surgery as long as the surgery wasn’t going to be too drastic if the tumour covers a large body area - but the vets will advise. If it’s not possible then 18 months is still a good average age for a dwarf hamster and she could live out her life comfortably.
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01-30-2021, 09:49 AM
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#8
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000
That’s why I think it could be a mammary tumour. Moo’s grew incredibly quickly and I also kicked myself for not noticing sooner. But it can be well hidden under their chest fur and hanging down so not easy to see.
Did your vet say they would do a biopsy first? Lumps do grow back sometimes but maybe not for a while. At 14 months I would probably opt for surgery as long as the surgery wasn’t going to be too drastic if the tumour covers a large body area - but the vets will advise. If it’s not possible then 18 months is still a good average age for a dwarf hamster and she could live out her life comfortably.
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The vet i like wasn't available till tuesday so i saw another who was alright and mentioned investigating the swelling under gas if still the same in a week's time.
If still the same or bigger in a week i'll make an appointment with the regular vet who seems to have a good knowledge of hamsters and take it from there.
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02-18-2021, 04:25 PM
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#9
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Edwina went to the doctor's.
I gave Edwina the medication on a small piece of shreddie which she ate every time.
I took her back to the vet who was very good with Henry. He said that he could not feel a lump or mass but strongly suspects that the swelling is fluid caused by her lymphatic system not functioning as it should. He thought that drainage under gas carried quite a high risk. He's convinced that Edwina is not in pain because she didn't react to him prodding and poking her. He thought that even the friendliest hamster would bite, squeak or try to hide if in pain but Edwina sat on his hand having a wash when he was finished.
His advice was to keep an eye on the swelling and her quality of life and to take action as and when needed. I still have the painkiller should i ever think that she's in pain.
He did give me the option of a referal to the exotic animal hospital but i haven't quite decided yet which way to go.
Edwina is now 15 month old and she has always kind of vibrated which has increased over the last few months. She's a petsathome hybrid so possibly genetically disadvantaged.
I have seen more of her lately and this morning she was keen to come out of her cage. Edwina free roamed and run around on the floor, sat under the helmet washing and scrunched on seeds in her favourite corner, something i haven't seen her do for a while. I haven't noticed the swelling but didn't want to spoil her fun by turning her over so will check another day.
She's not old but she has this look of a little old lady with Parkinsons about her. Hard to explain. There's a fragility about her.
I'm inclined to let her live out her life for as long as she comfortably can and give her a helping hand if and when needed.
Or should i take up the referal and subject her to invasive tests trying to find out what is wrong with her?
I'm not looking for answers but opinions are always appreciated.
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