Lilly

[Member ID2]

The vet pretty much said what i've been thinking as well.

The lump grew fast, it's red, it looks angry, its firm and she doesn't like the look of it.
We are both hoping that it is an abcess.

She took a sample and she's going to have a look under the microscope later today and run a couple of tests. She also has a couple of slides to send off to a lab if needed.

Surgery is the likely procedure but too early to say. I'm going to get a hospital cage ready anyway.

In the meantime Lilly is on Baytril and Loxicom to keep her comfortable. I've just administered both from the syringe straight into the corner of Lilly's mouth. I'm not one to give it on food because i like to make sure that the hamster gets the full dose when they need it.

Lilly must be under the weather because she didn't bite either of us.

 

[Frida]

Thank you for the update Beryl. When will the vet have the results from the sample? I hope Lilly is going to be ok

 

[Member ID2]

Probably later this evening.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I am sorry to hear this. Hopefully the medication will help and Lilly will not need any surgery. I hope you are okay. What a shock for you.

 

[Member ID2]

I am sorry to hear this. Hopefully the medication will help and Lilly will not need any surgery. I hope you are okay. What a shock for you.

Thanks. Shocks are part of keeping hamsters i think as you sadly know yourself.

Tbh, i don't feel very optimistic at the moment which has probably to do with the fact that i've been here before with Clarissa who had a similar personality to Lilly.

I never thought i'd come across a dwarf like Clarissa again and then along comes Lilly.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Lilly really is so like Clarissa. She made herself at home so quickly and had no hesitation in ordering you about and making sure she is firmly in charge. She is just amazing.

 

[Member ID2]

Not the result we had hoped for. It is not an abcess. It is a mass that could be cancerous.
Further tests in the lab wouldn't change the outcome but i'm going to opt for the surgery. I asked if a scan would give an indication on whether it has spread or not should it be cancer but Lilly is so small that a scan wouldn't give a reliable result.
A biopsy after surgery would help with a prognosis but again, it wouldn't change the outcome so i'm not going to go for that.

Lilly is on Baytril and Loxicom to keep her comfortable and to see if it affects the mass, i.e. shrink it. The hospital will phone me on Monday to arrange for surgery and in the meantime i'm going to make a hospital bin cage.

Lilly herself wasn't too phased by the vet visit but she appears tired. She's probably a bit zonked from the Loxicom which she loves. She gobbles it just like Ozzy used to.

 

[Frida]

I'm so sorry to hear this news Beryl. I hope and pray the meds and operation work. Sending hugs

 

[Daisy]

Sorry to hear that Lilly has a mass. I hope the medication and surgery help so she can go on being her amazing and fun self! I'll be thinking of her.

 

[Maz]

So sorry to hear this Beryl. What an amazing vet though. Most would just try antibiotics and Metacam first and if those didn’t work they’d decide it was a tumour. But yours actually took a sample and checked there.

It’s not really fair when Lilly is only a year old. I hope the surgery sorts things for her. Do they actually need to do a biopsy if she’s already taken a sample?

 

[Member ID2]

So sorry to hear this Beryl. What an amazing vet though. Most would just try antibiotics and Metacam first and if those didn’t work they’d decide it was a tumour. But yours actually took a sample and checked there.

It’s not really fair when Lilly is only a year old. I hope the surgery sorts things for her. Do they actually need to do a biopsy if she’s already taken a sample?

No, that would be optional. Some people want to know whether their pet has cancer or not so have a biopsy done.

The sample taken today was to check if its an abcess or not but it couldn't tell what the mass was. Going by what she found there is a chance that it could be cancer.

She took a sample from Clarissa's lump and told me then that there was a good chance that its cancerous going by what she found. Of course, nobody could forsee that the mass was attached to Clarissa's thyroid and had already spread to her para thyroid until they opened her up.

 

[Maz]

I see so the test just showed it wasn’t an abscess not diagnosed cancer. I’m with you. Yes if you remember I had a biopsy of Pickle’s lump. Lilly’s lump may be a benign tumour but in that case it’s good to get it removed in case it becomes cancerous.

 

[Member ID2]

The whole Lilly looks and acts a bit odd. Her left eye squints a little sometimes but only very recently. I'll see if the medication makes any difference. Whatever is the matter with her came on so fast.

 

[Maz]

These things do come on fast sometimes. I think it’s their metabolism. Moo’s lump appeared from nowhere quite large.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I really am so sorry to hear this. I wish precious Lilly all the best for the surgery. It is reassuring to know you have a good vet. She will be in good hands.

 

[elusive]

I’m really sorry to hear this Beryl, I can imagine how worried you must be for Lilly now, I hope the surgery is successful & nothing has spread.
Wishing Lilly all the best & thinking of you.

 

[Member ID2]

Lilly's eyes look bright and normal today. No squinting. Poor thing squinted because she was in pain and the Loxicom is making her more comfortable.

 

[RainbowBrite]

That is so good to hear.

 

[Frida]

Good to hear the pain medication is working. Do the meds make Lilly sleepy?

 

[Maz]

I've not noticed Metacam making hamsters sleepy before. Glad it is helping Lilly.