Dwarf Hamster Vaginal Bleeding

[Eyris]

I am the very proud owner of a wonderful little female dwarf hamster named Elliot. (I know, I know, the hamster may have gender identity issues thanks to me =) ) She's a little over a year and a half old and has always been in perfect health.

About two months ago now, I noticed that she was bleeding just a little bit from her vaginal area. It was only a tiny bit of spotting, so I went on the internet to see what the cause might be before taking her to a vet, as I'm a poor college student. =) Online I read that sometimes hamsters can have some spotting as a normal menstrual cycle a couple times in their lives. That being said, I decided to wait a few days and if it didn't stop or got worse I would take her in.

So the bleeding seemed to have stopped for about a month, when I noticed the bleeding again. This time, there was more blood. I made an appointment for the vet the next morning but did some research online again. A few different sources said that hamsters can have vaginal infections that cause such bleeding that are easily treated with antibiotics.

Hoping that was the case, I took her into the vet. Much to my disappointment, the vet said she thought that Elliot had a uterine tumor and that the only way to save her was to spay her, a traumatic surgery for a dwarf hamster, and that Elliot would only have a 50% chance of surviving the surgery itself. Not to mention, the surgery would be $250+.

Now, even if money were no object to me (that's an entire paycheck in my world) I certainly didn't want to put Elliot through something like that. I asked the vet if I could have some anti-biotics, just in case it was a vaginal infection. She agreed on the premise that there are often secondary infections related to tumors, and sent me home with Baytril and some vitamins to help with iron deficiency due to blood loss.

Elliot continued to bleed, more or less, for about a week after I started the antibiotic/vitamin treatments. It's now three weeks later and I haven't seen any bleeding in the last two weeks. I stopped giving her the Baytril a couple days ago, and stopped the vitamins when I noticed the bleeding had stopped.

So my question is...has anyone else experienced something like this? Should I seek the advice of another vet? She has never acted like she was in pain and has been her normal self through all of this.

Just looking for some advice from someone more experienced (she's my first hamster). Thanks so much everyone! Sorry for writing a book!

[jennawing]

Yes, I have-and I think you are very smart not to have such a mature animal operated on. I went for the surgery in my Syrian, Cream Soda- and she lived her last six weeks in pain, discomfort, and confusion. She died 2 months shy of her 2nd bday- that was in 2003.

I have since looked into this more- I keep a lot of hamsters and know it will happen again someday, unfortunately. It can be treated with steroids along with the antibiotics and this sometimes will help slow the growth of the tumor. I do not know right offhand what steroids are safe for hamsters, but if your vet doesn't know, I will be glad to find out for you. You are welcome to email me anytime.

Good luck, little Elliott. I know your human is looking after you!

[Angelnstuff]

i have no advice for you, as ive only had 2 hamsters in my life, neither had anyhealth problems, but shes a year and 1/2 old, which is pretty old, and if shes not in any pain. i would seriously wonder if its worth putting her threw surgery. i would prolly let her be, as long as she seems unbotherd by it. spoil her rotten of course, and give her tons of love. Best of luck to you and Elliot both.

[Eyris]

Elliot has started bleeding some again. I had hoped the vet was wrong and she just had an infection, but if it's coming back I guess she probably does have a tumor.

I'm giving her the vitamins for iron loss as well as another vitamin for small animals.

In the meantime, she's still acting like her normal active self.

[jennawing]

Poor sweetie. Did you get a chance to ask him about steroids?

[Haedy]

Hello Eyris,

How is your hamster doing now?! Does she really have a tumor. Please let me know.

I have a female dwarf hamster who I love more than myself. A few days ago I noticed her bleeding in her vaginal area. I almost died when I saw this, so I made an appointment for her with a veterinarian for the next day. Although I am student and going to veterinarian is quite expensive for me, but I did took my little princes to a veterinarian a few time. So, I did took her again and the veterinarian did an X-ray for her on the assumption that she might have a stone in her kidneys. Fortunately, that was not the case, but the good news turned to me as a night mere as the veterinarian informed me that she might either have a bad infection or Cancer. As a result she prescribed for me some anti-biotic. I am giving her the Anti-biotic but still noticing her bleeding . By the way she still act very actively.

I am really depressed now, and read everything and heard that she might have a vaginal bleeding. So , I am wondering what has happened with your little Elliot.

Please let me know asap what has happened with Elliot, as the symptoms with Elliot pretty much look like what is happening with my hamster.

[RodentzRule]

Good luck to both of you!

[HammyLicous]

I reallyy do feel for you both. Does this only occur to hamsters that have had babies or does it just occur to any female hamster. If so should I be worried about m hammy Masie ?
xxxx

[klaochh]

The same exact thing is happening to my hamster

A few days ago, I noticed a very small and subtle blood smear on Sprinkles's food bowl. Worried, I picked her up and checked her to see if there were any signs of blood. I didn't see any and was relieved. Approximately 3 days later, the same thing happened. Again, there was so sign of blood anywhere on her body. Her behavior and eating habits were normal. Today, I discovered blood smears on her food bowl again. But this time, there were a couple of blood spots on her bowl. I looked in her house and the some of her bedding were a redish/pinkish color. Alarmed, I picked her up and there was a lot of blood near her vaginal area. I still have antibiotics prescribed a couple of weeks ago. I have a handful of hamsters. I gave her antibiotics. I hope that she will get better. Should I continue to give her antibiotics or should I take her to the vet? Thanks!

Goodluck to all who are experiencing the same problem

[Haedy]

Dear RodentzRule and HammyLicous,

Thank you for the good feelings .

Going to your question HammyLicous, I do not know for sure if that is related to having baby or not. But I read on internet that this vaginal bleeding thing most likely happens to those who don’t breed. I hope that nothing bad will happen to Masie.

[Haedy]

I aml so sorry to hear about what is happening to your hamster Klaochh .

I continued giving my hamster the antibiotics up to 10 days, as prescribed by the Veterinarian on the assumption that my hamster might has infections . In the first week I noticed that she stopped bleeding, and I took her back to the veterinarian to ask for ultra sound (just to be in a safe side). But then she suggested to wait and see what the antibiotic might does.
She also said that my hamster is too small so if she has a tumour it is better to not do any operation , and thus there is no point in taking ultrasound for my hamster.

She suggested to me if she bleeds again , then she might try giving my hamster some other treatment related to ovarian cysts which might work for cysts not tumour.

I was happy and checking my hamster every day to see the progress . She was good until a few days ago when I noticed some pinkish liquid near her vaginal area.

I am now worry and want to take her back to the veterinarian , perhaps to go with the second option , assuming she might have ovarian cysts.

My heart is really broken about what I am seeing with my sweetie hamster, and hope that the antibiotics will end your hamster’s bleeding.

Good luck

[Demonic Kitten]

I havent had this problem with my hamster but she is my first and i could be lucky, but by the sounds of it the hamster seem quite old.

could this be maybe part the process before the 'long nap'? i mean if u think of a hamster in human terms, most old people go through alot of problems before their 'nap'. plus if the hamsters seem to be moving and eating fine with no unusual behaviour, then y put them through the stress of xrays and hospital visits that must be stressful for them?

i understand that all of you love your hamsters extremely and only want good things for them but if this is part of the natural 'napping' process and your dear hamsters are happy as they are then enjoy all the time u have with them and let ur last memories to be of happiness and games rather than worried and panic.

[Jennicat]

This may be a thought, but a run of antibiotics of only 10 days won't generally take care of persistent urinary tract infections. I've had to keep rodents on antibiotics for up to 5 weeks to take care of extremely tough infections!

[klaochh]

Quote: Originally Posted by Haedy I aml so sorry to hear about what is happening to your hamster Klaochh . I continued giving my hamster the antibiotics up to 10 days, as prescribed by the Veterinarian on the assumption that my hamster might has infections . In the first week I noticed that she stopped bleeding, and I took her back to the veterinarian to ask for ultra sound (just to be in a safe side). But then she suggested to wait and see what the antibiotic might does. She also said that my hamster is too small so if she has a tumour it is better to not do any operation , and thus there is no point in taking ultrasound for my hamster. She suggested to me if she bleeds again , then she might try giving my hamster some other treatment related to ovarian cysts which might work for cysts not tumour. I was happy and checking my hamster every day to see the progress . She was good until a few days ago when I noticed some pinkish liquid near her vaginal area. I am now worry and want to take her back to the veterinarian , perhaps to go with the second option , assuming she might have ovarian cysts. My heart is really broken about what I am seeing with my sweetie hamster, and hope that the antibiotics will end your hamster’s bleeding. Good luck

thanks! omg, i am kinda experiencing the same thing. instead of blood, it's a orangish/yellowish clear discharge. her bottom still smells like blood but I'M assuming that it is the dried up blood from earlier on. i sure hope she gets better. she still eats and drinks her water. although i haven't seen her run on her wheel, she still climbs her tube up and down. also, she hasn't been sleeping lately. is your hamster experiencing the same problems? best wishes to my hamster and yours!!!!!!!!

[Hollywood]

It was about two weeks ago when my hamster started coughing. Literally coughing. And it scared me to Death. I have a little Dwarf, Trinket, and she is like my little kid. So even though I felt stupid I called the vet for my hamster. I took her in just for them to trim her nails, her teeth and say she was fine. 106.13 dollars. I was extremely irritated, because i knew something was wrong. About a week later I was handling her, the coughing had died down but I noticed blood on my hands. Not a lot but enough. Sure enough she was bleeding from her vaginal area. Not sure what to do I went online, the source for everything. I found out that it could be wet tail or a urinery track infection. So once again I took her in but got them to wave the exam fees. The vet thought that it could be wet tail and prescribed anti-biotics. It's been five days and the bleeding has not stopped. I was told to call the vet back after three so they could add some more meds on. I'll be calling tomorrow and trying to solve this. I loooove my hamster. -.^