My Hamster is ill. Can anybody help me.

[scopecreep]

Hello,

I have a cream and white syrian hamster who seem sto be having some problems. He has either abscesses or tumours on his back, but I am not sure what, as they don’t seem to be causing him any distress.

The lumps are very red and bleed, they dry up, but the skin doesn't seem to get better. I‘m not sure if they are lumps, the best way I can describe them, is that they look like a pizza.

Can anybody tell me what these are and what needs to be done to treat them. I just wonder why my hamster doesn't seem to be feeling any pain. They look really sore.

Bob.

[flowerpage]

Take him to a vet!

[yodelinghamster]

Yeah DUDE!!! Right NOW!!!!

[SnowPrincess]

oh my goodness! i think that may be an absccess...yes, take the little guy to a vet asap!
keep us updfated on his condition.

i also found some into about abcesses on google...


Hamsters: Hamster Care: Health: Abscesses
Abcesses occur when a bite, scratch or wound becomes infected and pus forms under the skin resulting in a lump. Often the bite or scratch may go unnoticed. Indeed by the time the lump is noticed the bite or scratch which originally became infected may have healed so it is often difficult to establish whether the lump is an abscess or a tumour.

If a bite or scratch can be seen on the lump then it is almost certainly an abscess. An abscess will require the pus to be drained and a course of antibiotics may be needed to treat the infection and so veterinary treatment must be sought. In extreme cases it may be necessary to visit the vet regularly as the pus may need to removed more than once whilst the infection clears.

Some abscesses may burst and this can increase the chances of infection making the hamster very ill. Therefore even if an abscess should burst before you have the opportunity to take the hamster to a vet it is still advisable to seek veterinary advice as antibiotics may still be required to help fight the infection even if drainage of the abscess is not required.

Sharp objects or pieces of food that the hamster stuffs in its cheekpouches may pierce the lining of the pouch and become stuck. This in turn can cause the pouch to become infected and an abscess to occur. This can initially be mistaken for the hamster carrying food or bedding in its cheekpouch as the cheekpouch area is swollen. However, if the hamster seems to continuiously have its cheekpouches full it may be that the pouches are impacted or an abscess within the cheekpouch has occurred and veterinary advice should be sought.

Hamsters usually recover from abscesses well and fairly quickly when treated.

[Jiffykat]

definately take him to the vet, he may not seem to bi in pain but don't you think you would be if you had something like that on your back?

[KiTTyStiches]

my brothers old hamster had that, it was cancer... he died im not saying thats what it is, but in his case it was. we took him to the vet.