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Ideally yes, luckily my vet has excellent general knowledge for the little furries and has exotic staff to refer to if needed and will happily reach out to specialist practices for help if the situation calls for it (bless him my animals like to throw him some curve balls 
) But for most people it's best to stick with the exotic specialists if possible.
) But for most people it's best to stick with the exotic specialists if possible.
M
Member ID2
I think Rory is feeling better. I checked on him this morning and put a little Ella's porridge in his house.
When i came back from shopping he had chucked the empty plate out of his house.
When i came back from shopping he had chucked the empty plate out of his house.
R
RainbowBrite
I am very happy to hear that. Nice of Rory to leave his plate for his slave to remove.
M
Member ID2
I think Rory is blind in his left eye. He was unsteady on his paws last night when he came out for a drink.
His eye looked worse this morning and part of it looks dull. It hasn't portruded any further but there is a swelling above his eye.
I think that Rory has a tumor and he is also losing weight.
He's eating soft foods, still loves his fresh food and he's drinking etc but all he wants to do is to stay in his nest.
I took him out to freshen up his nest and he tried to climb out of the holding box, desperate to get back in his nest.
He took his Metacam and i'm going to soften some Science Selective pellets for him. He's warm and comfortable but i have now reached this point where i start to question his quality of life.
Ageing and dying is a natural process but if his eye gets any worse, i will take him to be put to sleep.
His eye looked worse this morning and part of it looks dull. It hasn't portruded any further but there is a swelling above his eye.
I think that Rory has a tumor and he is also losing weight.
He's eating soft foods, still loves his fresh food and he's drinking etc but all he wants to do is to stay in his nest.
I took him out to freshen up his nest and he tried to climb out of the holding box, desperate to get back in his nest.
He took his Metacam and i'm going to soften some Science Selective pellets for him. He's warm and comfortable but i have now reached this point where i start to question his quality of life.
Ageing and dying is a natural process but if his eye gets any worse, i will take him to be put to sleep.
R
RainbowBrite
I am sorry to hear this Beryl. I know you will always do what is best for Rory but I am sad for you as you love him so much.
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You probably remember Pickle had something like this but he had had a cancerous lump removed elsewhere and the eye swelling was seen to be secondaries. But antibiotics did help and he improved. However the swelling didn’t go so it probably was a secondary tumour. But he did have infection as well I think. He got worse a week or two after the antibiotics finished. You’re probably the best judge of whether it’s worth trying that or whether he’d better with less hassle.
M
Member ID2
He is deteriorating generally, losing weight, his fur looks dull, he's wobbly and he has lost his spirit.
Antibiotics may help temporarily but i'd need to weigh up the upheaval it would cause him.
I haven't seen him yet today because i was working overnight but haven't heard from my OH that he got worse.
Soon as i finish my shift at 10.00 i drive straight home to see how he is.
Antibiotics may help temporarily but i'd need to weigh up the upheaval it would cause him.
I haven't seen him yet today because i was working overnight but haven't heard from my OH that he got worse.
Soon as i finish my shift at 10.00 i drive straight home to see how he is.
M
Member ID2
More of Rory's eye has clouded over. He's still eating soft foods and went back to sleep after me checking on him.
I need advice from a vet. I can have an appt. today at 18.30 with a new vet or 10.00 tomorrow with a vet i know is great with hamsters and who will give me the advice i need. I decided to wait till tomorrow but could get help in an emercency.
I need advice from a vet. I can have an appt. today at 18.30 with a new vet or 10.00 tomorrow with a vet i know is great with hamsters and who will give me the advice i need. I decided to wait till tomorrow but could get help in an emercency.
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It could be a cataract or an abscess. It's so difficult. I think it's fine to wait till tomorrow. The vet should know if it's infection or not. I agree with you about not putting them through too much. On the other hand if the eye is causing pain due to infection, antibiotics could help keep him comfortable. You know all this I know, so don't know why I'm saying it! I had varying views from vets in a similar situation. One thought pts - the other thought - try antibiotics.
R
RainbowBrite
It is good you can see a good vet tomorrow. I really hope Rory's appointment goes well. I will be thinking of him.
M
Member ID2
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There are some very hard decisions but you have to go with what feels right and the hamster sometimes gives you a sign. I try not to regret decisions as I know they were hard at the time. I perhaps should have had our first Syrian pts a bit sooner - but he kept coming round.
R
RainbowBrite
I think when we first experience illness in an animal it is so hard to know what to do. I have regrets over the first guinea pig I had who was ill. I wish I had put her to sleep sooner. I was just listening to the vet as I did not know any better.
Beryl, you have more experience now and you know Rory very well. You should trust your instincts.
Beryl, you have more experience now and you know Rory very well. You should trust your instincts.
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The difficult thing sometimes is not knowing if something is infection or a tumour. Either way it must be unpleasant. But infection is curable (usually) if it's an abscess. If it's a tumour - the decision is simpler. Usually they try antibiotics first and if they don't work - you know it's not infection. Although it did take 10 days to two weeks of antibiotics for Pickle's eye. After a week there wasn't a huge improvement but I thought it was very slightly reduced swelling. So they said - give it another week - and that did the trick for the eye infection - but he did have a tumour as well.
M
Member ID2
Rory has been put to sleep. This may sound weird but it couldn't have gone any better. Rory was ready to go and peacefully went to sleep with the gas before the vet administered the lethal injection.
I had told the vet that i used to rescue hamsters but was rubbish at it because i kept so many. He laughed and told me about the hamster who had been dumped in a box at the vets surgery where his wife worked. She took him home and the vet told me what a funny little character he was and how people often don't appreciate hamsters.
When i woke Rory this morning he sniffed for his porridge so i put the tiny bowl in the transport box. While in the car Rory ate his porridge.
The swelling above his eye had increased overnight and last night he was so disorientated that he couldn't find his water. I held the bottle to his mouth and realized how thirsty he was.
The vet was certain that Rory has a brain tumor at the frontal lobe. The eye didn't look infected and the tumor was growing rapidly, pressing on his eye.
He told me that Metacam is very effective but has its limitation and wouldn't be enough at this stage.
He gave me the three available options but the first two wouldn't be a cure and could make things worse for Rory, should he even survive them.
The third option was euthanasia and the kindest for Rory. It saved him from pain and suffering to let him go now.
It wasn't a hard decision to make.
I'm sad for losing him but glad that Rory enjoyed a long and happy life. He was a 2 months old baby when he came to live with us and he was 2 years 6 months old when he died. Rory felt our love every single day of his long life.
I had told the vet that i used to rescue hamsters but was rubbish at it because i kept so many. He laughed and told me about the hamster who had been dumped in a box at the vets surgery where his wife worked. She took him home and the vet told me what a funny little character he was and how people often don't appreciate hamsters.
When i woke Rory this morning he sniffed for his porridge so i put the tiny bowl in the transport box. While in the car Rory ate his porridge.
The swelling above his eye had increased overnight and last night he was so disorientated that he couldn't find his water. I held the bottle to his mouth and realized how thirsty he was.
The vet was certain that Rory has a brain tumor at the frontal lobe. The eye didn't look infected and the tumor was growing rapidly, pressing on his eye.
He told me that Metacam is very effective but has its limitation and wouldn't be enough at this stage.
He gave me the three available options but the first two wouldn't be a cure and could make things worse for Rory, should he even survive them.
The third option was euthanasia and the kindest for Rory. It saved him from pain and suffering to let him go now.
It wasn't a hard decision to make.
I'm sad for losing him but glad that Rory enjoyed a long and happy life. He was a 2 months old baby when he came to live with us and he was 2 years 6 months old when he died. Rory felt our love every single day of his long life.
R
RainbowBrite
Beryl, my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry but it is lovely to know what an amazing life you gave Rory. He was so happy with you. The vet sounds lovely too which helps so much. I am sending you a virtual hug.