My hamster has a lump?

Question

I have had him for about a week and a half
and he is a male teddy bear hamster.
He is gray and white but a few days ago I
noticed like some brown hair in an area of
his back. I lifted the hair and there was and is
a small pink lump.
Its not really hard but not really soft.
I know it coud be a tumor but what are
the other possibilities? Longest and most informational
get the best answer.

Answer 1

If there is indeed a tumor present, it probably should be removed. Just as in people, the signs of malignancy (cancer that grows and spreads) are a lump that changes in size, shape, color or consistency, a sore that won't heal, a lump that bleeds. Your veterinarian may be able to make a diagnosis by sticking the lump with a small needle and removing some cells. He/she will look under the microscope to determine the cell types present. It is also possible that the lump is not a tumor, but an abscess. This should be drained and treated with antibiotics. You really should take the hamster in for a check-up.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

My hamster has a lump?

I have had him for about a week and a half

and he is a male teddy bear hamster.

He is gray and white but a few days ago I

noticed like some brown hair in an area of

his back. I lifted the hair and there was and is

a small pink lump.

Its not really hard but not really soft.

I know it coud be...

Answer 3

I had the same problem, except the lump was on my hampsters belly, but closer to it's neck. I'm sorry to say, but my hamster had a tumor. I went to the pet store and an employee had a look at her. She said it doesn't seem to cause her pain, but it's a tumor. She said my hamster, Miley, could live another year, or a few monthes. Vet's wouldn't do anything to my hamster. I paid over $150 just to get my hamster checked on and a "I'm sorry but we can't perform operation." from the vet. Miley, died nearly two monthes later as the tumor progressed. I really hope your hamster could be the one to live another year. Sorry, and I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 4

Check it again and feel the lump. Does the lump feel smooth or bumpy? If it is bumpy there is a chance that it is a tumor and your hamster has cancer. If it is smooth, it could be a benign tumor that will go away or the lump could be a abscess. If it turns out to be an abscess you could either wait until it drains on its own (In other words: bursts open) or could pay to have it surgically drained. You'll know when the abscess has burst when your normally nice smelling hamster smells necrotic (like a corpse).

Answer 5

I i think it might be a tumor but im not a vet so i looked it up....



Lumps



There are a number of types of lump your hamster could develop. Some are fatal and cause severe symptoms and some are relatively mild. A lump may be a cyst or blocked gland or it can be a fatty mass or cancerous growth. Most small surface lumps can now be fairly safely removed by a competent vet if caught early. Some lumps aren’t dangerous and may not need removal.



The most common site for lumps is the cheeks and neck but they may occur almost anywhere. Adult females especially nursing mothers have a risk of developing a mastitis. The area around a nipple and breast may become red, hard, and swollen. The hamster should see a vet for medication and in extreme cases surgery. If the mother has nursing pups and they are older than a week, carefully take the whole cage to the vet. If the pups are younger, I would probably wait to take her. Scent glands can also become infected and swollen. Dwarves have a scent gland on their bellies about where their naval should be. Syrians have scent glands on their hips, the outside of their lower waist and thighs. Young pups are most susceptible to this type of infection.



Internal lumps can be more difficult. Most internal lumps are usually inoperable mainly because the hamster can not survive long enough under general anesthesia. Then too, there are conditions under which you may never see the lump until your hamsters passes away. The best advice I could give here is play with your hamsters routinely; pay attention to the way they look and feel. Every time I clean a cage the hamsters in that cage get a physical exam. If I find a lump, which thankfully is very rare, the hamster goes to the vet to have it checked.



Remember anytime you have any trouble with your hamster a good veterinarian can be you and your hamster’s best friend. I try to learn something new every time I visit a vet. Since I’m paying for the visit, I expect the vet to communicate with me. You should too.



that info is from http://www.geocities.com/calhamassoc/HamsterHealth2.html



heres more info on hamsters having lumps



Hamster illnesses and diseases - skin problems

Lumps and bumps - if you discover a lump on your hamster don't just leap to the conclusion that it's cancer (it could be), more often than not, it could be an abscess. Abscesses are usually caused by bite wounds from fighting. These often form hard painful lumps under the skin where the puncture wound has closed up. Hamsters can also get abscesses in their cheek pouches - these would've resulted from puncture wounds from food or bedding materials. If you suspect an abscess in your hamster, you will need to take it into the vet to have it drained and antibiotic therapy started.



i got this info from http://www.ask-the-vet.com/hamster-illnesses-diseases.htm



and heres a little more info ion hamsters having lumps



Parasites

Symptoms Scratching. Possible malaise. Red patches on the skin, flakey skin. Spots and small wounds.

Causes A variety of organisms can live on your hamster. Ticks, lice and mites.

Treatment Firstly, higher parasites (the ones you can see) are unlikely to kill your hamster as they will be killing themselves by killing their food. If your hamster does die, there are either a very large number of parasites living on it or it was weak or it died of an unrelated cause.

However, noone likes parasites. Firstly, if they are skin parasites there are plenty of shampoos and lotions to kill parasites for pets. ONLY use medication that says you can use it on hamsters or birds, everything else will be too strong and WILL kill your hamster. After washing it in the lotion/shampoo then rinse thoroughly to prevent them licking any off, then put in a completely clean cage i.e. nothing that hasn't been cleaned is given back to the hamster. eParasites can come in via bedding, sawdust, food and other pets. Be sure that the cage is completely clean. Secondly, medication from the vets can be used that tends to be given orally.Medication Small animal sprays such as Johnson's Anti-mite & insect spray for cage birds.



i got this info from http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wrath.voti/ill.htm



so it could be cancer, parasites or just a wound from itiching. eaither way i woul see a vet just to be sure i would hate for your hamster to die.

Answer 6

hmm, it might be an abscess, an abscess is like a big lump of puss, ew, i know but its treatable by a vet, or it could be a tumor, which is really bad, those are rare...or it could be a skin tag, my dog had that, they surgery took it off, it can be many things, take it to a good vet in your area, immediately

Answer 7

Are you sure its just not his scent gland if its on his back/hip area? People often see those and mistake them for something like a scab or lump as they are dark. If it is then its nothing to worry about.

Answer 8

I agree with CareyBeary, get him to the vet. I had a hamster with a lump on her paw, and she ended up dying a few months later. Get him to the vet asap before this turns into a big problem, or return him to to the store where you got him. Most stores offer a 2 week guarantee, and they will help you if there's a problem with your pet, or exchange it.

Answer 9

TAKE HIM TO THE VET.



and i think that is so discriminative. a good answer isnt always long. not for me, but for others too.

Answer 10

It may have cancer. Go take it to a vet just in case.

Answer 11

yeh.take it 2 the vet quick,i new a dog that had the same thing under its stomic, it means sumthin but i dono wat?? u should realy take em' to the vet ,it could be serious.

Answer 12

http://www.hamster-club.com/article.asp?ID=67

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20060725215436AAIu95u

I really hope I helped and hope your hamster gets along fine!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 13

It's growing an extra head.