Hamster - operate or say goodbye?

[TeenPlusTwenties]

15yo DD's beloved Syrian hamster is 2 yrs 3 months.
He has developed a lump under his armpit.
We took him to the vets 2 weeks ago, she said at that time she couldn't tell what it was, could have just been a knock, and to monitor it and him.

Lump has grown. Hamster is generally OK but not walking all that freely, not losing weight or anything, still eating well. Going back to the vet on Friday and trying to be prepared.

If they say they could operate for whatever it is, will that cause distress to him given he is already a reasonable age?
DD (who doesn't do loss well at the best of times) is preparing for the worst.
If the vet says PTS, will they let me bring him back later with DD so she can say goodbye?

This is our first pet.
Any insight / guidance on this would be much appreciated.

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Time to say goodbye,it's sad but hammy is a good age. Lumps and bumps on hammies are very common as they get older one.

[curiouscatgotkilled]

I wouldnt operate on a Hamster, surely the risk of anethesia on an animal so small is too high risk anyway? he is coming towards end of his natural life and if he seems happy enough with his lump cant you just leave it for now and monitor?
I think that part of the point of having pets with children is so that they can learn to deal with loss and at 15 your DD will be old enough to deal with this, with your support.

[Postmissposte]

I think it would be kinder to PTS, that's a good length of life for a hamster, and the surgery will be traumatic. You will be able to take the nosy home to bury, or choose a pet cremation service through the vet's. You and DD can choose to be present, it sounds like a dreadful experience but I have found that it makes grieving easier and the end is quick and peaceful, it can be helpful to see that.

[Postmissposte]

The body!!! Not the nosy. Sorry about that.

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

Your poor DD but hammy's don't live much longer than that.

I would not operate on a hamster-especially one that age.
(and I have had two elaborate hamster funerals for DD)

Probably kinder to say goodbye.

[Whatsnewpussyhat]

Getting past 2 is a good innings for a hamster. I loved mine but in this situation I would PTS if needed.

[GeePipe]

Pts sorry. Hammys only live 2 to 3 years and hes come to a good age. An op would likely kill him or at least distress an already old hamster to the point of dying days later. If hes not in pain and the vet says let him troop on longer thats one thing but be prepared to say goodbye. I know its hard when mg hammy died i was devestated but she was super frail and ill at the end.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Thank you all.

DD will find it very hard, she is emotionally young for her age and is adopted so has had some big losses already.

It's good to know that PTS is an OK decision to make at his age.

[Branleuse]

At that age i think either leave it till he dies of it, or PTS.

[BeardedVulture]

Afraid it sounds like Hammy's time to go to the big Rotastak in the sky.

[Cloudane]

Hi, keen hammy fan here who just said goodbye to our second (we're adults actually) and this thread popped up on my Google recommendations.

Do as the vet advises - they will know better than the internet what is best for the hamster. Forums have different worldviews and biases - If you ask here they will tell you PTS. If you ask on Hamster Hideout they'll say things like you must ask for second and third opinions and that they should live to be 4. A vet, particularly if they're experienced with small animals and have good certifications, will give a much more objective response IMO based on what they see individually in the hamster rather than reacting from emotion or over-the-internet diagnosis.

If he's still in high spirits, still eating and drinking and breathing easily then they may well say just let him carry on and say keep an eye on his health. Hamsters get lumps but far as I remember reading they're only malignant in something like 1 in 4 cases so it might not be much of an issue beyond preparing for what could be coming.

If they think operating will help then they'll offer it and I'd say take it IMHO (I'm of the view that they're a family member and that "not putting a price on life" is a good lesson too - it can be expensive but it's not bankruptcy). But I have my doubts that a vet will offer to operate if the hamster is weak as if you combine that with the good age then the likelihood of them pulling through is a bit slim.

If they say the kindest thing to do is PTS then yeah.. you'll know then that it's the right thing to do.

Ours was 2 and had been breathing a little more heavily lately which I still don't know is just an old age thing or not but took a sudden big deterioration, very unsteady on her feet, mostly just huddled up shaking and trying to breathe. There was also blood from her rear end in the last day. I sometimes wonder if we'd gone soon as we saw any sort of changes they could have stopped whatever it was in time but you just never know. Anyway the vet spotted bruising on her underbelly so I think it had been developing for a bit and made it quite clear that surgery would sadly not help, nor would it be kind to take her home and make her struggle on until natural death. It was the hardest thing ever as you absolutely can form a strong bond with a hammy (parents often leave it to their kids and don't realise) so DD will need lots of love and support.

All the best for whatever happens...

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Saw the vet. He's now on anti-biotics to see of that helps as the lump of unknown cause is infected. We've to see how it goes this week. Feeding the anti-biotics via syringe was interesting.

[ChipInTheSugar]

Yeah, we've had two lots of antibiotics (two hamsters) - and it's fun and games! I think I put it in yogurt on a teaspoon and let her eat it off there.

[kitk]

Sorry OP. I'm not sure if this helps but little sis had emotional difficulties (not adopted tho) and lost a hamster at 6. We had 10 mins of wailing and then asking when we could get another. I know it's not the same but she might respond better than you think x

[Cloudane]

Sounds like a well experienced vet and that the hammy is being given the best chance! Yeah the antibiotics are hard work. Sadly we only had a couple of days of that this time around (that was our vet's first port of call but to be honest for that visit the vet seemed a little inexperienced and didn't really examine her much, and it was only on spotting bleeding and returning to the same practice a couple of days later it was a different vet who inspected her properly and concluded there was something serious internally that has been developing and it was time to put her to rest)

It can help to try and gently restrain the hammy in a towel 'burrito' if he'll let you and then drop the antibiotic (it's only a teeny drop usually) into the side of his mouth, then reward with a treat afterwards. Don't worry about any treats being "too sugary / unhealthy" at this stage :)

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Well, antibiotics seem to be working
The wrapping in a tea towel helps with giving the medicine, thank you Cloudane

Hopefully DD will be happier when she comes home from school.

kitk when he does pass away there's no way she'll recover in 10 minutes, it will likely be revisited on and off for months.

[Lllot5]

Pts and get another hamster.
Your daughter will be upset but that comes with having a pet I’m afraid.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Lllot5 Did you see the update? Medicine is helping.

We certainly won't just 'get another hamster'. I'm not getting one 18 months out from GCSEs and DD2 will need time to grieve.

[Lllot5]

But for how long will the antibiotics work?
Surely you don’t grieve for 18 months over a hamster?

[TeenPlusTwenties]

I am happy as long as the hamster is happy.

No you don't grieve for 18 months for a hamster (though actually I wouldn't put it past DD). But 18 months old is within my 'risk window' for a hamster dying, and I don't want that happening when DD is in mid GCSE revision/exams.

[Lllot5]

But this hamster is going to die in your risk window? Or not?

[TeenPlusTwenties]

No, this hamster is sadly going to die in the next 3 months or so, whilst DD is still in y10.

[Lllot5]

Oh now I understand sorry being a bit thick.
Well hope he’s ok. Best wishes to your daughter.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Thanks.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

RIP our 'beautiful boy'.

Thanks for all the advice.