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06-04-2022, 05:41 AM
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#11
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 228
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000
Good luck at the vets. I hope it's something simple. It could be a number of things.
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Thank you, but today his scent gland looks even better than yesterday, no redness and pretty much back to normal. I decided to leave taking him to the vets today, but if it happens again I will contact them straight away. I am obviously still concerned why it was bleeding in the first place, have you experienced this before? He has been acting a little different these last few days, instead of chomping on his veg straight away he leaves it and comes back to it later. Also he hasn't been as interested on nibbling on his favourite sticks. I think I just have to accept he's an old little guy and changes are to be expected.. probably the extra fussing from me hasn't helped either! He's just such a special little guy and I want to do everything I can for him.
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06-04-2022, 06:25 AM
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#12
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
I would have taken the same course of action. If you can't see anything amiss, the vet won't either. At Loki's age you don't want to put him through any invasive tests etc. I'd keep a close eye on the scent gland and take him to the vet if it flares up again. Good thing is that he's on Metacam already.
I know how concerning it can be when they act differently. The other night our Rory didn't ask to come out for feeroaming time. I was immediately like, why not, what's wrong with him, is he ill, Rory always wants to come out etc.
There's nothing wrong with Rory whose an old man now and felt like a night in.
Just keep in mind that you ARE doing everything you can for Loki. He's a very lucky and very well looked after little old man.
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06-04-2022, 06:56 AM
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#13
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
If he is quite old and on Metacam, there is not a lot you can do except avoid suffering. Glad the bleeding has stopped. As mentioned before, it could be any number of things and none of them are fixable at his age, except infection possibly but it doesn't sound like he is showing signs of that. Just keep an eye on him.
He may well be in his twilight time now, with various organs starting to fail, or unknown medical conditions, so just keep him comfortable and loved and treat him. Any sign of suffering though and it would be best to take him to the vets. Hamsters are hard wired to hide pain and discomfort, as prey animals. Metacam will help, but if he has cancer for example, that may not be enough eventually. Hopefully he doesn't and lives out his life peacefully.
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06-04-2022, 07:06 AM
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#14
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
Having said that, bleeding from a scent gland is usually something that does need a vet visit. It could be a sign of infection and they'd probably prescribe antibiotics just in case it is infection. While older hamsters really don't need a lot of kerfuffle with syringe feeding (the antibiotic tastes nasty) there are ways of disguising it in particular strong tasting foods they like, so they don't have any stress and upset during the course of treatment.
Maybe if there is any blood again you could take him to the vets. If he bleeds heavily however, it would be an emergency, and he will be suffering, and you may need to prepare for the idea that he might need to be helped on his way at some point, to avoid suffering.
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06-06-2022, 06:17 AM
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#15
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 228
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P
Just keep in mind that you ARE doing everything you can for Loki. He's a very lucky and very well looked after little old man.
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Thank you for your very kind and comforting words. X
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06-06-2022, 01:34 PM
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#16
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 228
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Update - scent gland bleeding
Sadly Loki's scent gland is bleeding again tonight. Only a little bit, but when I got him out there was a small amount of fresh blood there. I will definitely contact the vets tomorrow morning. Would you advise taking him in or just asking to talk to a vet. I'm so worried about him getting stressed and is there anything a vet can actually do by looking at him. I guess from past experience I don't have a lot of confidence in them. Unfortunately I am yet to find a vet that knows much about hamsters, they just seem concerned about getting bitten!
As he is an old guy and not using his wheel as much I have noticed his nails are a little long. Could he possibly be scratching himself and making his scent gland bleed or is it not possible for them to scratch their tummies. I have noticed he is scratching himself a little bit or maybe I'm just over analysing everything at the moment...
I'm just so worried about my little man.
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06-06-2022, 02:47 PM
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#17
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House of Hamsters
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
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Re: Scent gland bleeding
The covid regulations have been lifted and vets no longer prescribe and consult over the phone. That's the information i got from my vets a few days ago.
It's a real problem when you don't have confidence in a vet and it's so important to locate one who knows about hamsters. I'd see a different vet within the same surgery.
I think the only thing a vet can do is to try a course of antibiotics to rule out an infection unless they can see or feel something obvious like a tumor.
You could email them a photo of Loki's scent gland and request a call back from a vet. See what they say.
Personally, i would take an old hamster with a bleeding scent gland to a vet but i have good vets closeby so it's easy for me to say.
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