Can anyone help with advice for a hamster with a huge lump

[FusionChefGeoff]

Can I ask for any advice please from those of you who have experienced with hamsters? New sentence is 18 months old and Today has developed a huge swelling or lump on her side about the size of a cherry tomato. She is a Russian dwarf hamster so quite small and this huge lump has come out of nowhere.

The kids are distraught and I have no idea if it’s appropriate to take hamsters to the vets? Would an emergency vet now be a complete waste of money and emotion? Should we just let nature take its course?

Any words of wisdom or advice on what to do next would be greatly received.

Of course it’s appropriate to take a hamster to a vet! You need to go as soon as possible as your hamster is likely in pain and distress with a lump that size. Letting nature take its course is not appropriate in times like this. Managing the difficulties with care and kindness is a sad and difficult but very important part of responsible pet ownership.

This happened with my hamster and he died the next day, he was 18 months old and I thought he would live to 2 years old.

My son’s hamster suddenly developed a big lump, I took her to the vets and they said there wasn’t anything they could do and that she would die soon, decided to euthanise so she didn’t suffer.

Definitely contact the vets, no animal should suffer or be in pain (not saying yours is, which is why its best to get checked) x

You must know you can take hamsters to vets? You need to take it to the vet first thing tomorrow. They probably won’t be able to do anything but if it’s suffering then it may be kindest to put to sleep. You can’t leave an animal suffering no matter what type of animal you have

Please take to the vet.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this is what happened with ours. He was 2 1/2 and he outlived his expected life range! He developed a lump and died a week later 😕

I’ve got a Russian dwarf hamster she’s a year old, I’m gonna be extra vigilant from now on 😭

Take it to the vet and have the poor thing put to sleep.

I absolutely wouldn’t be paying out hundreds to treat it though.

Just for anyone else who might search we did take her as soon as they opened on Monday and from
what he could tell it was a massive agressive tumour so we had her put to sleep that day. Cost nearly £100 (had 2 appointments so kids could say their goodbyes before the final one) but was the right thing to do and thank you everyone for encouraging me.

We have had hamsters, they are dear little things aren’t they. The last one died of old age at 3 which is pushing it for a hamster. DS was very little only around 8 so we had quite an elaborate funeral at home which he wanted. If they want to have a little memorial or plant some flowers or something it may help them.

💕 🐹 ours was Syrian & funnily enough I was looking at photos of her tonight, wishing we'd had her PTS. It would have been kinder in hindsight. She'd pick up & be her usual happy chatty self, then go downhill rapidly & back up to her happy chatty self up & down like a yo yo. Until one day she didn't. Looking at her photos tonight I felt terrible I hadn't had her PTS, but she always seemed to perk up & love life, it never seemed like the right time. She was a little darling of a wee thing that loved her playtime & then conking out on me for a fuss & a nap. Miss our wee girl.