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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if there’s a vet in the house?

31 replies

ThatchersCold · 28/06/2018 22:57

Sorry for shameless posting here for traffic.

Our much loved hamster has always had unfeasibly large testicles, but just got him out tonight and one of them has swollen massively, and has black and sore areas on it.

Obviously will take him to the vets first thing, but posting here in case anyone can offer me any advice or idea of what is wrong? Got him out last night and he was fine.

He seems quite happy in himself, eating well and currently racing around on the kitchen floor.

Dd is sobbing in bed thinking he’s going to die. I’m rather attached to him myself too Sad.

OP posts:
ImSuchABigIdiot · 28/06/2018 23:08

Sorry to hear this OP :( poor little mite. I’m so sorry I haven’t got any advice, but definitely agree you should take him to the vet as soon as you can tomorrow Flowers

JustLurkingAway · 28/06/2018 23:09

No advice here either, but bless his heartSadThanks

SchrodingersCaterpillar · 28/06/2018 23:13

That is indeed an enormous bollock. I heard they descend more in hot weather so maybe that’s it and it’s normal but best to take him to the vet i think, just in case.

Storminateapot · 28/06/2018 23:21

Poor thing - it looks like maybe it got caught or something & the hamster chewed at it and it's swollen up - the black looks like a scab.

Poor little thing, we've got through our share of hamsters here - they're adorable but quite short-lived & a bit fragile.

Hope your vet can sort it.

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 28/06/2018 23:23

I hope so too, he’s 18 months old now and I really hope this isn’t the end for him Sad

OP posts:
Peterrabbitscarrots · 28/06/2018 23:23

Looks like possible testicular torsion. I’m not a vet but have seen this in humans! It’s an emergency, do you have access to an out of hours vet?

Mummaloves · 28/06/2018 23:27

Looks more like a tumour to me, our Syrian hamster (female) had one on her bottom.

DancingLedge · 28/06/2018 23:30

Former Vet nurse.
Sorry, that looks like a tumour to me. Although I could be wrong.
Surgery in v small animals is a bit of a lottery, not v fair to them.
If he's happy, I'd be letting him carry on till he's not so bright, then pts.

Best of luck, do come back and let us know what Vet's diagnosis is.

DancingLedge · 28/06/2018 23:32

Torsion is the other obvious diagnosis- but very unlikely if the animal is currently happy. Torsion is painful.

Polymamas · 28/06/2018 23:37

Don't have hamsters but do have rats.

That looks like a testicular tumour to me. Malignant tumours are often black. If it was a torsion I think he would be in pain. Does he wince at all if you go near it?

My doe has a mammary tumour at the moment. She's only young but I don't want to put her through surgery so I'm just keeping her happy until the time comes.
I think vets ASAP :(

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 28/06/2018 23:52

Oh dear, it not looking good then.

It’s weird how it’s come on so suddenly, yesterday he had a perfectly normal pair of bollocks!

He definitely doesn’t seem in pain, was just running around downstairs for an hour or so, and nommed back a green bean before I put him back in his cage.

I gave his balls a spray with some colloidal silver before I put him back.

OP posts:
WetsTheVet · 28/06/2018 23:55

Hi if you brought him to me I'd certainly be calling that a tumour. I wouldn't recommend treatment, just keep him happy until it's his time.

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 29/06/2018 00:04

Thanks wets. Do you think I should save myself £60 tomorrow and not take him to the vets as the consensus seems to be a Tumour? Have just ordered some Manuka honey to put on his sore bits.

OP posts:
VetOnCall · 29/06/2018 00:08

Ah poor little thing. That looks like a tumour to me too I'm afraid. I would recommend getting him examined in case of possible infection and beyond that, keep an eye on him for signs of discomfort - is he able to move and toilet properly and eating and drinking normally? I don't usually recommend active treatment in cases of tumours in hamsters and other small pets, just whatever is required to keep them happy and comfortable and monitor closely for any signs of pain or distress.

VetOnCall · 29/06/2018 00:16

I wouldn't put Manuka honey on him without seeking vet advice in person. It's not possible to make absolute diagnoses over the internet, small animals can be especially tricky, so do get him checked. Don't risk him licking or worrying at himself if you put something on there and potentially causing damage to the skin - infections and abscesses can set in quickly.

crazycatgal · 29/06/2018 00:16

It looks like a tumour to me. One day my hamster looked fine and then before I knew it he had quite a big tumour on his face. I took him to the vets hoping it was an abscess and was told it was a tumour. They can grow very fast in small rodents.

I hope it is something less sinister with your boy Thanks

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 29/06/2018 00:17

Yes he’s toileting, eating and drinking normally. He has a bowl of water as he seems to prefer it to a bottle. Thanks for the advice, will get him checked out tomorrow. He could do with his nails clipping anyway so hopefully can get that done at the same time.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatchersCold · 29/06/2018 10:58

Update - took hammy to the vets this morning, and it’s not looking good. She thought it is probably a tumour which has become infected. She gave him a shot of steroids and antibiotics, and tried to drain any fluid but it was all tissue with nothing to drain. She said the manuka honey was a good idea so will use that. Just got to keep an eye on him over the next few days but she wasn’t holding out a lot of hope...got a feeling he will be making a final trip to the vets next week Sad

OP posts:
Peterrabbitscarrots · 29/06/2018 11:06

Sorry to hear that OP Flowers

VetOnCall · 29/06/2018 11:30

Sorry to hear that OP. You did the right thing taking him to the vet.

ZolaShepherd · 29/06/2018 11:32

I’m sorry to hear this, my son had his pet mouse put down at the vets yesterday after having a stroke. I’ve never been a ‘pet’ person, but it really was heartbreaking!

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 29/06/2018 12:46

Sorry to hear about your mouse zola. I actually cried at the vets this morning when she was talking about having him put down Blush.

He’s not doing well, thought he was actually dead just now as he’d gone to sleep in one of the tubes in his cage. I’ve put him back in the penthouse bit of his cage and he’s snuggled down now, but my feeling is he’s on his way out.

OP posts:
VetOnCall · 29/06/2018 17:25

Does he feel cold to touch? I don't mean 'dead cold', but chilled or clammy. If at any point he stops eating and moving and can't really be roused it would be kinder to have him pts. Sometimes nature can be slow and painful in taking its course. It's heartbreaking but you can say a proper goodbye and give him a quick release from any pain or suffering.

Original poster
ThatchersCold · 02/07/2018 00:11

He seems to have perked up, I think on Friday he was probably a bit tired and traumatised by his trip to the vets. He is bright and eating and drinking well, his poorly bollock looks fucking horrible, but other than that he’s his normal self. I’ve been putting manuka honey on it the last couple of days. Will just have to keep an eye on him.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatchersCold · 05/07/2018 01:50

So here’s a happy hamster update.

His bollock continued to look grim, huge and black and horrible, for most of the last week. He seemed happy enough in himself and every night I was smearing copious amounts of maunuka honey on his poorly ball (which was not a pleasant job, I’d be a terrible nurse).

Anyhoo, tonight I got him out, and I’ll be buggered if his bollock hasn’t gone back to its normal size, all the black bits have gone and the sore bits have scabbed over. I can’t quite believe it. I would have had him pts last Friday if dd hadn’t been there losing her shit at the prospect! I really thought we just had a matter of days before he went downhill and we’d be back at the vets.

Anyway, here he is tonight, bright as a button! The dark bit you can see on his ball is a bit of bedding that is stuck to the scab. It’s all a bit of a mystery as to what was wrong with him but fingers crossed he will be ok Smile

To ask if there’s a vet in the house?
To ask if there’s a vet in the house?
To ask if there’s a vet in the house?
OP posts:
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