Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My hamster just developed what seems to be a fatty tumor on her side, behind her front paw. She seems very nervous. She is about a year old. Is there anything I can do? What would cause this? Our family has had many hamsters over the years and we have never seen this before.

My deceased hamster had a tumor too. It's an external tumor, which looks like a tiny lump growing outside his body. Is the tumor on your hamster growing outside or the tumor is inside? If it's an external tumor(a lump growing outside), it won't be as threatening. My hamster was diagnosed with external tumor last year July, and he died this year in late April because of old age. He was 2 yrs old when he passed away. I had another hamster who had tumor(internal) and it was more life threatening, she dies about 2-3 months later. She was 2 yrs old too when she dies. Internal tumor tends to spread faster. I brought my hamsters to the vet, there's nothing much you can do, unless you want to operate them and remove the tumor. But your hammy is 1 yr old, which is considered quite old, he may now survive the operation, n he may have to face lots of side effects after the operation. My vet suggested me to leave my hammy alone, since my hammy(the one diagnosed with external tumor) was not affected at all by the tumor. He still ate, played and was as active as usual. Even on the day he left, he still ate a lot. I think that your hamster is diagnosed with external tumor. I was told it could be a genetic thing. If you bring your hammy to the vet, let me know what the vet says, okay. Good luck!

I don't know if it is external or internal. It looks like someone put a grape under the fur. It feels kind of squishy. I am not going to bring her to the vet because I know it would require surgery, and the vet we had in our area that took care of small animals is no longer here. She doesn't seem to be in pain. Thanks for your imput.

I think the tumor on your hamster is an external tumor. The tumor on my hamster looked like a grape too. He didn't show any sign of pain at all during the 10 months he had the tumor. If your hamster is as active, then he may not in pain. But once in a while, there will be some blood coming from the tumor. Not very much blood, just a little. Especially when your hamster is active, he may just accidentally scratch/hurt the tumor. During those times, i just put some warm water on a piece of cloth and wipe the discharge off. Yo do not need a vet if you don't want to operate your hamster. Antibiotics don't work on tumors. As long as the tumor doesn't spread to the main organs of your hamster, he'll be fine. My vet told me that a hamster can live up to 1 year without problem if the tumor is an external one. Don't be too worry, my prayers r with you!