(no subject)

[whiskas]

Hi, whiskas's owner here. LJ just ate my post, so I'm trying again in a condensed version.

1. Whiskas is very old, having arrived here around Nov. 2000 from a petshop.
   
2. He has been losing hair and color. He is not as spry as he used to be.
   
3. My sister noticed this week that he has some kind of sac, growth, *something* between his right cheek and right leg, where the fur is sparse.
   
4. It does not seem to cause him pain, even when I pick him up and touch it.
   
5. It feels soft-ish but hard like a lump.
   
6. I fear that it's getting bigger.
   
7. I have no car, so taking him to the vet takes a great deal of preparation and pre-planning.
   
8. I'd like to get more info on what this might be, preferably from people who have a great deal of experience with hamsters and aging.

If anyone has any advice or intelligent questions, please let me know. I have taken some pics of the *thing* but they haven't turned out well, given that Whiskas is a hamster and his natural state is "fidgeting".

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Comments

[lil-m-moses.livejournal.com]

I have no experience with hamsters, but I know that both dogs and people get fatty cysts, which are usually harmless. If that's what it is, it should be a fairly simple surgery to take it off, or it may be fine to leave it.

*hamster hugs enclosed*

[miss_tish]

While this post contains no educated information or advice......... it does contain all the well wishes in the world for Whiskas. Hoping it's nothing and he's back dominating the world soon!

[whiskas]

Thank you.
*hamster hugs back*

[vonbrigthi.livejournal.com]

My rabbit had the same problem (and he was, um 7+ at this point, also losing hair, had arthiritis, cataracts, etc), but I can't remember if the vet ever removed it. I'll see if my brother remembers what it is, but I don't think it's anything life-threatening. Still, it's probably a good idea to go to the vet at some point for a checkup anyways.

At any rate, it was a glorious funeral pyre. :p