we found out on saturday last that our female syrian hamster (patches) has a large cancerous growth which has overtaken her front left paw and leg.
she is bright and bubbly at the moment but appetite is not up to much.
the vet has said that they could remove the paw and leg but there is a high risk she would not survive and advised me to take her home and give her what quality time that i could - this is what i am doing at the moment.
i hate to think that she is suffering but she seems to be her normal self at the moment.
she is walking around okay on her leg at the moment and when down the vet was climbing all over him - did not like him i think?
what do you think would be the best thing.
patches is the first hamster i have had since my daughter was born 9 years ago - we are trying to get catherine to like furry animals starting with the very small as she is nervous of them and she loves patches. please please give me some advice
2007-01-14 20:27:36 · 21 answers · asked by julesjayjay 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
patches is 16 months old
2007-01-14 22:07:59 · update #1
Well this is really sad and I can understand your dilemma. Every living thing is entitled to a quality of life and your hamster is no different. I would suggest that you simply take each day as it comes. If the vet's advice is definitive and correct, then you can leave the animal to enjoy it's life. And you will know in your heart when the animal is distressed and ill enough to warrant the next kind step of putting her to sleep. That may not be far away, sad though it may seem. Your daughter will be distraught but she needs to learn life is not forever and this will give her first lesson. But when the animal goes, make it a celebration of her little life ... bring her home and bury her in the garden if you have one. And when you lay the body in the ground, celebrate by adding flowers and a favourite cuddly toy for company on her next journey. You could also erect a little wooden plaque ( or get one made ) to mark the spot and give you fond memories. And remember, this will all be very sad, but time does heal! I hope this helps ....
2007-01-14 20:40:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Patches has done well to reach the ripe old age of 16 months. Take each day one at a time but get it clear in your head that when Patches seems like she's in pain or is starting to show signs that the cancer is getting too much for her, you must take her to the vet and have her put to sleep.
As for your daughter, as sad as it is, we all have to experience the pain of losing a pet or something/someone we love. Now might be a good time for her to learn that nothing lives forever and to teach her about death.
When anything does happen to your hammy, go to the rescue centre with your daughter and hopefully there'll be something there that you can give a new, loving home to.
2007-01-15 02:40:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm very sorry to hear tham your hamster has cancer. Mine had cancer too - she had several lumps all over her body -
I think that it won't be good taking it to a vet and removing the lump because there is a high risk that your hamster won't survive....I think that it's better to leave it as it is, from your question, your hamster does not seem in pain, just avoid pointed objects - example my hamster only lived 1 year and 2 months and then died becuase one of her lumps exploded because she hit it with the ladder (the ladder was made of wood) - so avoid wood - if you use plastic and no pointing object I'm sure that yours will live longer...
If it makes you feel better, my hamster died of cancer but she died peacefully - she lived 1year and 2 months happily and then one day all of a sudden she did not want to move - and remained in that position for 2 days only breathing and no other sound :( she didn't seem to suffer - she seemed as if she died while asleep:(
I know that it is very hard for you at the moment with your hamster having cancer, but try to accept it as it is and enjoy his company for now ..... I'm sure that hamsters deserve good attention at all times. Good luck!
2007-01-16 01:37:15 · answer #3 · answered by Hamster-Club.com 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put the animal to sleep. The next best lesson to teach a kid besides how to care for and love small animals, is how to let go and not to allow them to suffer. The easiest and best way to move on is to buy another hamster, and don't think of it as replacing so much so as giving another hamster a happy home like you gave your last one, in memory of the one that passed away with cancer. That's the best way I would look at it, not to say it's a positive experience but to make it positive and the best out of it you can.
2007-01-14 20:37:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do what your vet says and give her a good quality of life, as soon as she looks to be suffering take her back to the vets and have her put to sleep (i know this is a hard thing to do), buy another hamster for your daughter (try and get one that has been hand reared ) they are less aggressive i know this because i am hand rearing hamsters at the moment. Also a lot of people who have left messages for you have left good advice, and are nice people, ignore the morons who have left nasty messages for you.
2007-01-14 23:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by kevina p 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
touched if this surgery would have large effect on life span of said hamster then go for it if not very expensive however if the hamham is over 4mos old do not proceed is waste of money my loving friend has gone thru like3 hamsters in the past year so like 4-6 mosavg lifespan send my regards to patches
2007-01-14 21:27:48 · answer #6 · answered by sammi91910 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hamsters do not have an overly long life expectancy to begin with. I would keep her fed and keep her comfortable. As sad as it is, having a sick animal may be the best way to have your daughter introduced to them. The extra care and love the hamster needs will be a life lesson your daughter will learn much from.
2007-01-14 20:37:54 · answer #7 · answered by Cherry_Blossom 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was about to reply with have it put down .. until i read that it seems happy enough .. did the vet say that the hamster would be in pain ?
If it is in pain then the most humane thing to do would be to have it put to sleep .. if no pain .. let it live , until nature takes it course
:( sorry i couldn't offer any better advice.
2007-01-14 20:35:07 · answer #8 · answered by ll_jenny_ll here AND I'M BAC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Give her some quality time and your daughter time to say goodbye. Give her some love and if you think she's in pain then take her to the vet and he can put her to sleep. Sorry if that's a bit blunt but just think about what you'd like yourself. Nobody wants to suffer so why put her through an op that is so high risk...
2007-01-14 20:36:41 · answer #9 · answered by ammie 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You are probably doing the best thing but as long as she is not suffering otherwise be grateful for the time she gave you and let her go in peace and without suffering. You dont want your last memories to be of her being so ill do you
2007-01-14 20:39:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋