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Post by yeti218 on Oct 17, 2021 22:12:27 GMT -8
This is actually about my hamster but I’m soliciting advice here anyway. My old Russian dwarf hamster (estimated to be just over 2 years old - which is the top end of their life expectancy) has a small growth on his side. It’s possible he’s scratched at it or something because it seems to be scabbed over, although I’ve never seen him bothering with it. It’s been there for at least a month, but at first I thought it was just a small cut or skin irritation that would heal on its own, but it hasn’t. I can definitely take him to a vet, but given his age, I’d be tempted to avoid a stressful vet visit if he’s not in pain, which he doesn’t seem to be, although I know these guys can hide pain well so I possibly wouldn’t know. any thoughts on this?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 18, 2021 6:38:51 GMT -8
My Russian dwarf hamster had or has something similar below her ear. It first appeared around the same time she also developed a lump on her chest, about 5 months ago. I had both checked out by a vet and the thing by her ear appeared to be just a scratch. However it never healed. One day it was really sore and inflamed, and she was scratching it and shaking her head, so I took her back to the vet. The vet prescribed metacam and asked to see her again in a week. After a week it was only slightly better and the vet prescribed baytril (an antibiotic) in addition though I don't think it was ever an infection. I kept giving the metacam (and the baytril, though as I say, I don't think it made any difference) and it did eventually heal over though there was still a warty skin tag type growth in the area. The other week it was sore and inflamed again so I gave her another course of metacam and it healed up. So it seems to be a chronic growth that occasionally gets irritated and when it does, metacam helps. My hamster is now 18 months old. Fortunately the lump on her chest has never grown any bigger than when I first noticed it and she's still really happy and well. I think it is worth taking him to the vet if only to obtain something like metacam which might help the growth heal or at least make him significantly more comfortable. They can hide pain. I never thought my hamster was scratching at her growth until that day it got really sore. I think she was only scratching it in her nest.
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Post by yeti218 on Oct 18, 2021 12:11:28 GMT -8
Thanks LilyandDaisy Yes, a warty/skin tag growth is an accurate description of what my hamsters looks like. I did make an appointment with him at a vets, but they cant get him in for another week Out of curiosity - have you had many russian dwarf hamsters? What's their lifespan been like in your experience? I've heard 1.5-2 years. When I got my little guy he was already 1 year 7 months, and had pretty bad care for his entire life, so I didnt expect him to last very long but wanted to give him a nice home for his remaining days. 5 months later and were celebrating his second birthday. I made him a hamster birthday cake.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Oct 18, 2021 12:51:58 GMT -8
I haven't had any Russian dwarfs throughout their lifespan yet. I currently have two: Bramble who is the 18 month old with the ear growth and Athena who is just over a year old. Bramble has the ear growth, the lump on her chest and a cataract in one eye but she's still really active and well. Athena appears healthy so far.
1.5-2 years is about right but it really seems to depend on whether they develop a health condition or not. They are not healthy animals in general and many begin to develop health conditions around the 14 month mark. In those cases they can often die or need to be put to sleep relatively young (around 18 months) but it seems that if they manage to dodge any major health condition they can easily make it to 2 years.
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