Feel guilty (pet trouble)

My hamster had a numb leg and was walking funny last week but now that seems to be better, however I noticed a lump on her stomach a few days after this so I took her to the vet who said it was highly probably skin cancer. The lump is now black and she has lost weight but is still enjoying things ie wheeling, eating and is lively etc. I feel guilty though as Ive looked it up on the net that these tumours can be removed if caught early (which it was) and and im finding it hard just sitting here watching it spread. I just don't agree with the price they will charge though to operate and then she might not survive in the end anyway. :frown:

I know some of you are laughing but I can't stop thinking about it. What do you think?

Reply 1

dh00001

16

hamsters are incredibly hard to opperate on and full recovery chances are slim.

when this same thing happend to mine, i was 8 at the time, i let it carry on, did nothing, the moment it stopped having fun and started suffering, i had it put down. far kinder.
food for thaught.

Reply 2

Captain Haddock

18

s'only a hamster

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

dh00001

hamsters are incredibly hard to opperate on and full recovery chances are slim.

when this same thing happend to mine, i was 8 at the time, i let it carry on, did nothing, the moment it stopped having fun and started suffering, i had it put down. far kinder.
food for thaught.

Your right its the quality of life that matters, its just I know that the only reason I didn't want it operating on was because of the price thats why I feel guilty, shes a 6 month old dwarf hamster and has a twin lol but Ive seperated them now.

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

Peart

s'only a hamster

true

Reply 5

dh00001

16

but having the operation could cause more trouble for it. IMO its not worth it.

Reply 6

kinkajou

15

awww my dad paid so many vet fees for my bunny and it was worth it in my opinion.

my rabbit got attacked by a fox and had it's neck broken. he couldnt eat so we took him to have the operation but cos he couldnt eat for so long he was really weak. he woke up from the anaesthetic but not properly and died a few hours later. but still, if he had been a lil bit stronger he would have survived and the cost would have been worth it. it's a risk you have to take. also i think it's better that the bunny died while he was all sleepy rather than suffering for longer!

Reply 7

Anonymous #2

is there not a free centre near you? theres one we used to use where you get free treatment if you're on benefits. otherwise just get him put down, it'll save him the pain.

hope it all ends up ok for you :smile:

Reply 8

The_Bear

13

Self operate? I'm sure the internet has the procedure.

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

OP

dh00001

but having the operation could cause more trouble for it. IMO its not worth it.

Yea I agree in a way, its probably best anyway to let it die naturally than being poked and prodded at the vets.

Thanks

Reply 10

notts

i was a hamster killing MACHINE.

my parents should have realised i totally was not responsible enough when little.
i think i have 5 deaths to my name.

hamsters fear me.

Reply 11

Anonymous #3

Awww.

I do actually see where you're coming from. Years ago my budgie broke its leg and the vet told me not to bother with an op basically. He said there was something like an 85% chance it would die under anesthetic.
However, I was absolutely gutted and couldn't just *leave* the budgie to die. I decided to go for the op (something like £50) and hoped for the best. Luckily he lived to see another day, but at the time I was kind of prepared to lose him...and my piggy bank was pretty empty for a while.
Hmm. What I guess I'm saying is, it's not impossible for your hamster to recover and if it bothers you that much it might be worth it. Obviously money (as crap as it sounds) and the severity of the situation play a part. Don't let people tell you it's *just* a hamster/animal - a pet can mean a lot more than that.
And if you do decide to get him put down, don't feel guilty. It's just one of those things :frown:

Reply 12

notts

The_Bear

Self operate? I'm sure the internet has the procedure.

Reply 13

xChellex

My pet rat has a large tumour. I took her when she first got it and took her again recently, both times the vet has said that she could operate, but small animals don't always survive and the complications that might occur afterward were not worth it.
I was advised to leave my ratty alone and let her live out her life, and as long as she's still eating and happy and tearing up cardboard boxes and keeping her mummy awake, she's fine to be left alone.

The vet said that most owners have the operations done out of the guilt they feel not taking any actions, when really, the animal could be a lot happier just left to it's own devices.
By all means, see what can be done if you want to go ahead, but don't feel guilty about not doing anything if that's what you decide to do.

Reply 14

Tyler Durden

17

Erm, I'd let it do it's stuff until it's clearly feeling pretty grotty and then I would have it put down or t*at it one and thus put it down yourself. It sucks, but then it's probably had a good life spinning on its wheel and being fed Hamster food.

Reply 15

Anonymous #2

don't even think about doing it yourself. TRUST ME you will cause it unimaginable pain. if you really cannot afford it then phone the rspca and they will help.

Reply 16

The_Bear

13

Anonymous

don't even think about doing it yourself. TRUST ME you will cause it unimaginable pain. if you really cannot afford it then phone the rspca and they will help.

Spoilsport, its only a bloody hamster. Why not get some useful life practice?

Reply 17

Volkolak

Maybe you could make some stew? What does hamster taste like anyway?

Reply 18

Mr.God

7

To be honest, you're tight and a really crappy person. I'd pay through the nose if my pet needed treatment, hamster or not.

Reply 19

clicker9

I've had many small pets (mice, guinea pigs) and had to make decisions like this several times. It's very hard, I know. The fact that is "just" a hamster doesn't matter- if I care about a creature, what it is doesn't make a difference when it comes to how hard it is. However, it is not realistic to expect that every time a small pet has a problem you can spend a lot of money on operations. Sometimes it's worth it, other times it's better not to. In some cases I think it's kinder not to put the creature under the stress of going to the vet and having an operation. If she isn't in pain, it might be better for her if you pamper her at home so she continues to have an enjoyable life, and then, if she seems to be in pain or uncomfortable, have her put to sleep. But do you know the exact price and the chances of a full recovery? Calling the vet and asking might not cost anything, and the vet will know best if you ought to have the tumor removed or not. Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up about it. You're thinking about her best, which is more than most people do when it comes to a hamster.

Feel guilty (pet trouble)

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