What causes swelling in hamsters?

[hamsworth]

Most of my hamsters have passed away from swelling. This has been described to me as internal tumours or cancer that's growing until it damages organs or puts too much pressure on organs and the heart. The swelling is often gradual, starting out as difficult to tell and then growing into obvious swelling over months or weeks. Paradoxically, the hamster can also weigh less as they swell, either because they can't eat as much or the cancer drains them. My hamsters with the most swelling have lost weight by the end, while the others have weighed the same or only a little less.

Vets have said that a hamster's weight is the most important indicator of health. If a hamster has lost ~10 grams of weight, they might be coming down with something even if they're currently about as active as they normally are. I need to weigh them more often. I feel that every two weeks would be a good goal.

Is there anything that can be done about this? Exotic vets I've seen have told me that when a hamster gets to a year old, their risk of getting a sudden illness and passing away is high. If the swelling is cancer, I doubt there's anything that can be done. If you have a human that's 60+ years old, their risk of cancer goes up and up. Even the hamster I had that passed away from old age also exhibited some mild swelling even if it was unlikely to have caused his death.

I'm feeding each new hammy better food and they've all gotten fresh vegetables and a little fruit. And I've even got supplement drops that I can put on their food. I feel that nothing can be done. I'm already doing a lot. I just figure it would be worth asking.

[ForgetfulBreeze]

Spoiler

Most of my hamsters have passed away from swelling. This has been described to me as internal tumours or cancer that's growing until it damages organs or puts too much pressure on organs and the heart. The swelling is often gradual, starting out as difficult to tell and then growing into obvious swelling over months or weeks. Paradoxically, the hamster can also weigh less as they swell, either because they can't eat as much or the cancer drains them. My hamsters with the most swelling have lost weight by the end, while the others have weighed the same or only a little less.

Vets have said that a hamster's weight is the most important indicator of health. If a hamster has lost ~10 grams of weight, they might be coming down with something even if they're currently about as active as they normally are. I need to weigh them more often. I feel that every two weeks would be a good goal.

Is there anything that can be done about this? Exotic vets I've seen have told me that when a hamster gets to a year old, their risk of getting a sudden illness and passing away is high. If the swelling is cancer, I doubt there's anything that can be done. If you have a human that's 60+ years old, their risk of cancer goes up and up. Even the hamster I had that passed away from old age also exhibited some mild swelling even if it was unlikely to have caused his death.

I'm feeding each new hammy better food and they've all gotten fresh vegetables and a little fruit. And I've even got supplement drops that I can put on their food. I feel that nothing can be done. I'm already doing a lot. I just figure it would be worth asking.

What are you feeding your hamsters? The only thing I could think of would be something like diet. Such as a hay-based diet maybe could cause swelling, since they become bloated with indigestable matter, like hay.

Another possibility is just coincidence and by chance. Depending where you are getting your hamsters, such as a local pet store where they breed their own stock, they may already have that in their genes. Or a petsmart/petco that the hamsters come from a specific rodent mill that has the swelling bred in.

Sorry for the late response, I was waiting for a more experienced person to answer.

[hamsworth]

Thank you.

Yeah, I'm not sure. When I've taken my hamsters to the vets, they say that it's tumours growing under the skin. I think all of my hamsters must have originated from pet stores. All my hamsters have been from previous owners who probably bought them from pet stores except for one who was probably from a backyard breeder or accidental birth. You're right. It's probably just poorer health from being from rodent mills?

I've offered my hamsters hay, but none have done more than nibble and disregard it. I think as I've given each of my new hamsters better food, the tumour swelling hasn't been as bad, so switching away from most hamster food mixes may be a good idea. Especially getting away from bags of hay-based pellets. Selling an entire bag of hay pellets feels as bad as offering those tiny cages as homes!

It's been awful quiet lately! I've got a bunch of things to post about soon (foods I've found, a couple treatments for things). Maybe tonight.

[ForgetfulBreeze]

Spoiler

Thank you.

Yeah, I'm not sure. When I've taken my hamsters to the vets, they say that it's tumours growing under the skin. I think all of my hamsters must have originated from pet stores. All my hamsters have been from previous owners who probably bought them from pet stores except for one who was probably from a backyard breeder or accidental birth. You're right. It's probably just poorer health from being from rodent mills?

I've offered my hamsters hay, but none have done more than nibble and disregard it. I think as I've given each of my new hamsters better food, the tumour swelling hasn't been as bad, so switching away from most hamster food mixes may be a good idea. Especially getting away from bags of hay-based pellets. Selling an entire bag of hay pellets feels as bad as offering those tiny cages as homes!

It's been awful quiet lately! I've got a bunch of things to post about soon (foods I've found, a couple treatments for things). Maybe tonight.

I'm pretty sure that its genetic. I would just give them the best lives and love them until they pass. I'm sure you are giving them very very happy lives!

If you are looking for food reccomendations, this is what I use:

50% robins gourmet food (etsy)
50% higgins
+ some matching percent of dried chicken.

I made mine work by doing: 2 bags of robins (either dwarf or syrian), a whole bag of higgins, and 3oz bag of dried chicken. But I only used this big batch for when I had 7 hamsters!!

If you have one hamster, I would recommend only using robins! I personally dilute mine with higgins because it makes it much cheaper, for my 7+ hamsters.

[hamsworth]

Spoiler

If you are looking for food reccomendations, this is what I use:

50% robins gourmet food (etsy)
50% higgins
+ some matching percent of dried chicken.

I made mine work by doing: 2 bags of robins (either dwarf or syrian), a whole bag of higgins, and 3oz bag of dried chicken. But I only used this big batch for when I had 7 hamsters!!

If you have one hamster, I would recommend only using robins! I personally dilute mine with higgins because it makes it much cheaper, for my 7+ hamsters.

Oh, I'll have a look at that! You got me thinking that I should make a post about all the dry food I currently have. I have like 6 bags right now. My boy was eating a lot and I had just bought some new stuff (along with that oxbow critical care pouch) to try to help him before he passed.