
Hamster with a Swollen Abdomen
I'm writing to you about my two year, 4 month old male syrian hamster Frankie and I really hope that you can help me (I know that he is very old). For the past 3 months he's been growing larger and larger, his whole abdomen is very, very swollen and hard, especially his sides, while his head remains little. He has a big appetite but sleeps alot, but always has been lazy and greedy. I have taken him to two vets who of course were interested when I called and told me they treated hamsters but I left both of them without an answer (They actually laughed at him, because of his funny freakish shape) and I am now feeling desperate, I so much want to help my little buddy. He can no longer run fast anymore but still does not seem in any discomfort, but he is so big his testicles have vanished. I feed him and his brother a very healthy diet of quality hamster seeds, carrrots, cucumber, radishes, tomatoes etc (he only gets a few seeds now) and they both have healthy coats.
Hamsters can become obese, but this is usually more uniform fat all over the body, symmetrical and soft to the touch. In Frankie's case, an abdominal tumor is most likely. Hamsters, like rats and mice, are very prone to cancer. Tumors can get quite large, even doubling the rodent's weight. Diagnosis can be made by palpation, x-rays and fine needle aspiration or biopsy. Treating such a large tumor is difficult. Surgical removal of such a large tumor would likely be unsuccessful due to prolonged anesthesia and blood loss. Radiation and chemotherapy are out of the question due to fatal side effects.
Return to Petsdoc.com home page Return to Ask the Vet Index page
Back to Question List Petsdoc Main Page * Mobile Vet * Useful Information * Fun Pages * Links * Contact Us * Search Copyright © 2000 - 2010 petsdoc.com. All rights reserved.

Hamster with a Swollen Abdomen

I'm writing to you about my two year, 4 month old male syrian hamster Frankie and I really hope that you can help me (I know that he is very old). For the past 3 months he's been growing larger and larger, his whole abdomen is very, very swollen and hard, especially his sides, while his head remains little. He has a big appetite but sleeps alot, but always has been lazy and greedy. I have taken him to two vets who of course were interested when I called and told me they treated hamsters but I left both of them without an answer (They actually laughed at him, because of his funny freakish shape) and I am now feeling desperate, I so much want to help my little buddy. He can no longer run fast anymore but still does not seem in any discomfort, but he is so big his testicles have vanished. I feed him and his brother a very healthy diet of quality hamster seeds, carrrots, cucumber, radishes, tomatoes etc (he only gets a few seeds now) and they both have healthy coats.

Hamsters can become obese, but this is usually more uniform fat all over the body, symmetrical and soft to the touch. In Frankie's case, an abdominal tumor is most likely. Hamsters, like rats and mice, are very prone to cancer. Tumors can get quite large, even doubling the rodent's weight. Diagnosis can be made by palpation, x-rays and fine needle aspiration or biopsy. Treating such a large tumor is difficult. Surgical removal of such a large tumor would likely be unsuccessful due to prolonged anesthesia and blood loss. Radiation and chemotherapy are out of the question due to fatal side effects.

Return to Petsdoc.com home page

Return to Ask the Vet Index page

Back to Question List

Petsdoc Main Page * Mobile Vet * Useful Information * Fun Pages * Links * Contact Us * Search