Henry

[Socks' Mum]

I think they usually like Metacam and get to look forward to it. Henry is well cared for
The last thing you needed was a scam. What a place, truly bad It is good you will be able to see your regular vet on Monday. Sadly rodents are prone to tumors. It's great Henry has his things back. Thinking of you. This was all very sudden, but the important thing is you love each other so much

 

[Maz]

He came out right away when I called for medication time, and I failed at picking him up. I'm out of practice sadly, he was never a fan.

But I tried offering him the tip of the syringe when he was sitting down and he actually drank it willingly on his own. Wouldn't take a treat and went back to bed. He's a little smartie, and tomorrow I will have to do better.

You're doing great. And it's good he took it from the syringe. He's a good boy. Is he eating and drinking fine and ok otherwise? It may be the lump is only affecting his walking and not bothering him too much otherwise. I had a robo with a large lump and it mainly just affected his walking so he had a special cage set up to make walking easier. He carried on like that for a long time on metacam. Every situation is different though.

 

[ilguy]

I think they usually like Metacam and get to look forward to it. Henry is well cared for
The last thing you needed was a scam. What a place, truly bad It is good you will be able to see your regular vet on Monday. Sadly rodents are prone to tumors. It's great Henry has his things back. Thinking of you. This was all very sudden, but the important thing is you love each other so much

I do so much, he's the best little buddy! He is pleased the wheel is back, moved to his favorite nap spot right behind it & the cheese tile today. It's a late afternoon appointment too, hopefully he doesn't miss too much rest.

You're doing great. And it's good he took it from the syringe. He's a good boy. Is he eating and drinking fine and ok otherwise? It may be the lump is only affecting his walking and not bothering him too much otherwise. I had a robo with a large lump and it mainly just affected his walking so he had a special cage set up to make walking easier. He carried on like that for a long time on metacam. Every situation is different though.

He's definitely drinking fine, food I'm not 100% sure on as he's been resting a good deal and haven't seen him go for his bowl recently. He did take treats the day before, and will have to see how he does with the diet supplement tonight. The vet said it's similar to baby formula. I will also make some more egg white before my bedtime after he's had time to digest his medication, see if he goes for it

 

[Maz]

Good luck tomorrow.

 

[ilguy]

Good luck tomorrow.

I will make sure to do what's best for Henry. He came out when called again, I tried closer to his normal breakfast time but still with 2 hours of sleeping in for him. I didn't even have to try to pick him up, he went for both syringes when offered. Took the full dose of metacam and his formula. Unfortunately he had no interest in solid food, the egg & cheese wasn't nibbled at. He went right back to his nap spot after, I'll see what his main vet has to say

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thinking of you. You are so close. Henry knows you will take care of him

 

[Maz]

My vet tends to give Metacam straight away if there's a lump as she says it can actually help shrink lumps, as well as providing pain relief. Assume his two meds are antibiotics and Metacam/Loxicom? That's usually the first thing tried - the antibiotics in case it's an abscess of some kind and the metacam has a number of uses.

 

[ilguy]

Took Henry to his appointment with his main vet and she gave him an ultrasound. Found the half of the mass under his leg was a tumor but the other half was blood from a vessel the tumor has blocked. She was able to drain it successfully, but the truth is these are Henry's final days. Probably a couple weeks left, and I will keep a close eye on him. Her opinion is the surgery is too risky & impactful for what little good it will do.

He is able to use his leg freely again and I will remove his climbable objects for 24 hours. He is also eating again, she noticed too how good Henry's attitude was. Hopefully these days can be worthwhile for him.

@Maz It's just Meloxicam and the nutrition formula.

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[Socks' Mum]

Sweet Henry, he's so beautiful It's great that he is more comfortable and eating well. You have a good vet. I hope things go smoothly and you have some more good times together although quieter now, but just as full of affection.

 

[ilguy]

Sweet Henry, he's so beautiful It's great that he is more comfortable and eating well. You have a good vet. I hope things go smoothly and you have some more good times together although quieter now, but just as full of affection.

She's an amazing vet, and everyone there is so nice with Henry. I'm so happy to see him eating solid food again & moving around, immediate relief for the little guy. Stocking up on his favorites while he's getting some well earned rest.

 

[ilguy]

Henry got up around midnight and went for both his water and food dish, so he's eating again on his own. He took a nibble of his favorite treat (and accidentally sat on it), and kept climbing up my arm. We did a short snuggle and I let him walk around his play area for a minute before putting the taxi in front of him.

I think it was a nice morale boost, and will have to see how he does with his wheel back tomorrow.

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[Lovelyness]

Aww...that's good she was able to relieve some of his discomfort and give you a little more quality time together

 

[Socks' Mum]

Henry got up around midnight and went for both his water and food dish, so he's eating again on his own. He took a nibble of his favorite treat (and accidentally sat on it), and kept climbing up my arm. We did a short snuggle and I let him walk around his play area for a minute before putting the taxi in front of him.

I think it was a nice morale boost, and will have to see how he does with his wheel back tomorrow.

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Henry is so beautiful
I would give him a bit longer before putting his wheel back. He's eating really well and living socialising. Sweet hammy, he is so expressive and full of personality

 

[Maz]

Those are lovely videos He is still enjoying the things he enjoys, and he knows you have been doing these things for him - he doesn't even seem stressed after his vet visits. Your vet does sound very good - the ultrasound gave the answers by the sound of it and really good she managed to do the drainage and give some relief to him.

It's also great he is eating and drinking and enjoying his treats - he must be more comfortable. He is still enjoying hamstering and seems well in himself and I hope he has plenty of comfortable time on metacam

With the wheel - I am not sure with dwarf hamsters. With syrians I always leave the wheel - but maybe adjust it so it's very easy to get on and off - eg so it sits at substrate level. Some of mine still liked to have the habit of just getting on it, run for 10 seconds and then getting off it again. Just to have that little "fix" of something they have always done. So you could maybe try that.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Sounds sensible Super that he is enjoying his treats and Dad time

 

[ilguy]

I do keep it near substrate level, that is good advice. The vet said just 24 hours without the wheel & climbable objects, I will be putting it back tonight.

He's feeling well enough to be sleeping above ground again for the first time in a week, back to his beloved cheese tile.

 

[Socks' Mum]

The vet's advice is the best Enjoy

 

[Maz]

Aw that's nice he is still enjoying normal things like his cheese tile That was such a good find.

 

[ilguy]

Henry seems to need some alone time after so much stimulation with the vet visits, as much as I would love to spend as much time as possible with him. He came out for a good go at the treat ball, and I gave him some of his favorite treat.

For once he rejected the metacam. I had to pick him up and this time was able to give it to him. I got a good look at the area where the mass was and it doesn't seem to be filling up again.

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[Maz]

It's not surprising he needs some alone time. He's listening but does look a bit wary there. He probably just needs to get his life organised again. That is really good it hasn't filled up again. It could be a very slow growing tumour that doesn't give him too much trouble and might even be benign. It's the complications they cause (as your vet found) then that are the thing to keep an eye on. Your vet sounds really excellent as if she hadn't drained that area, it might have burst and that would have been traumatic all round.

If he's not keen on taking the metacam from a syringe now, what I do is drop it onto a tiny bit of baby food on a separate dish. They all seem to love baby food (pumpkin and chicken or sweet squash and chicken have always been favourites with mine). They just lick it up - even if it's not straight away, it's all gone by morning, and that is fine. It means they don't get too much "medical" interference and feel a bit more in control.

Mine have got up for the baby food every day and loved it! I don't know which jars etc you can get in the US - can you get Hipp organic or Cow and gate? The jars keep in the fridge for a day or two once opened, so you do get some waste as you only get two days-worth out of a jar but I think it's worth it! The key is to give a very small, pea or bean sized amount to make sure they eat it all - and to put the metacam on top so they get the full dose.

It's a difficult time when we are doing our best for them and also need to respect their independence and keep that bond of trust. Partly why I use the baby food method if the hamster isn't keen on being handled.