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Old 01-01-2022, 09:57 PM   #1
juliaandhammy7
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Join Date: Dec 2021
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Default What can I do to help my hamster?

Hello,
I have a Syrian hamster named Fluffy he is about 8 months old. A week ago, I noticed a bump above his left leg and it looked like a tumor at first but upon further look, it appears to be a skin abscess. The reason is that it looked like it was filled with puss or discharge and it was darkening in color like a burn or scab. Well, two days ago the area seemed to either "pop" itself or my hamster might have bit it off. There was a little discharge today and the scab has almost fallen off. Underneath the area which is quite large, there is pinkish skin similar to a human with a scraped knee and scab area. I can't take my hamster to the vet due to COVID. I clean the area with salt and warm water and put a small amount of Neosporin. It has improved alot since a few days ago but it does look pretty nasty. I was wondering if there is anyting else I can do to help him heal? He eats, drinks and runs around when taken out of his cage. Normal behavior.. He does have diarrea too.
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Old 01-02-2022, 09:33 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

Hello and welcome to HC!

You could still email a vet and include photos. That's what i did during a lockdown. Your hamster may be in pain and need antibiotics to clear it up.
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Old 01-02-2022, 11:09 AM   #3
Lilafernim
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

You’ll definitely have to contact a vet someway, I’m pretty sure none are completely closed. I know it’s not the same but I did my work experience in a vet and there was a rabbit with a massive abscess. It took them nearly two hours to get all the puss out and if you don’t remove it all it can becomes infected again. It hadn’t been eating and was in a lot of pain. To be honest the fact your hamster has popped it itself is kind of concerning as you don’t know if all the puss is removed, also it could be in his bedding and could’ve ingested it.

I’m not saying 100% a hamster has the same reaction as a rabbit but I don’t see much difference in the importance of seeking treatment in case there is infection. Also if they have the abscess on their side, their pouches actually go quite far down so they could’ve put wet food in their pouch and not been able to remove it meaning the abscess could also be located where there pouch is caused by food. I think a vet is definitely needed to definitively say what you’d need.
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Old 01-02-2022, 02:48 PM   #4
Charlie Dunn
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

I agree that you should try and get Fluffy to a vet. Ours are still open - I went on Friday to pick up a repeat prescription of metacam. Fluffy may be in need of some antibiotics and/or painkillers and only a specialist vet will know. Good luck x
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Old 01-02-2022, 03:07 PM   #5
juliaandhammy7
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

Hi everyone! Thank you for your replies! To further explain, my household has COVID and we cannot leave at this moment to see a vet.
Fluffy is still happy, eating and drinking and even trying to poke his head out of his cage to come out and play. I was just wondering what else I could do other than the salt and water solution to clean up the area and other than neosporin?
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Old 01-02-2022, 03:39 PM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

I thought you had covid or were self isolating which is the reason i suggested to email and send photos to a vet.

Someone else could collect medication and put it through your letter box.
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Old 01-02-2022, 04:27 PM   #7
juliaandhammy7
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

Unfortunately We don’t have anyone to collect medication. I appreciate the idea to email the vet. Any home medication suggestion? I saw someone recommended healing natural drops. I Forgot the name but it might have been something like thyme drops.
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Old 01-02-2022, 04:51 PM   #8
Lilafernim
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

Normally only Vets have hamster specific medications, or in some cases give other animal medications such as cat medications and adjusting to the appropriate dosage based on their knowledge. If it was an abscess unfortunately you’ll need a vet. As Ria said you may have to email them or see if they’d set up a zoom call, then potentially post the medication to you.

Someone on here may know something to calm your hammie or reduce infection rate but anything on the market won’t clear the problem and you may accidentally end up overdosing if you try to find over-the-counter medication. Since it’s been popped as well and probably not drained all the fluid he may even need it to be surgically removed but you’d have to contact a vet to know, they will have protocols set up during these times.

I’m only concerned as abscesses are painful for them, and if an infection spreads you could have even more problems.
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Old 01-02-2022, 06:16 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

Hi. I just posted on your other thread - but reading above the wound sounds nasty and it will need oral antibiotics. The hamster could get septicaemia and die otherwise.

The vet can post the meds out to you (I had to do this earlier in the year) after a phone or email consultation. I know you were asking about thyme, which is a natural antiseptic with apparently slight antibiotic properties for humans - if drunk, not externally - and it’s no substitute for oral antibiotics. It’s like putting savlon or germolene on a badly infected wound that needs IV antibiotics eg.

Is it the cost that’s worrying you? The meds aren’t too expensive and a phone consultation shouldn’t cost much either. I would take photos and email them to the vet now and you should get a response on Monday. Explain you can’t leave the house due to Covid and ask if any meds can be dropped off to you or posted.
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Old 01-04-2022, 09:56 AM   #10
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: What can I do to help my hamster?

If it was a genuine abscess, you are best letting them drain and heal from the inside out. Usually warm compresses but sounds like it has already drained, in which case you are better to leave the scab and not put anything over it that would seal it. However, what concerns me is you mention he also has diarrhea.

Many vets are still doing zoom appointments anyway, it would be worth contacting a vet, explainign the situation and going from there rather than trying to pre-empt things. Problem shared is problem halved and all

Keep us posted
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