Hamster Eye & Skin Ailment

Question
QUESTION: My two year old Syrian male hamster has had a runny/sticky eye for the past
month - I brought him to the vet and we ruled out an abscess in his cheek
pouch, but she put him on antibiotics and eye drops to clear everything up.  
The eye drops did not really help his eye, but it does not seem to be
bothering him as he is still a very active, alert, healthy hamster who enjoys
food and exploring.  So nothing unusual in his behavior, in fact, he even
seems more healthy.

Last night, I was handling him and felt a small bump on his back.  Upon
further inspection, it seems like it is a small white patch about the size of a
pin head, it looked a little crusty, almost like a small pimple or wart.  I don't
think he is allergic to anything, and I only use carefresh bedding to reduce
the risk of allergies or mites.  Everything I've read has lead me to believe that
it is a tumor, but doesn't feel lumpy or like an internal growth, just feels like a
little raised bump on the skin, almost indectable.  The skin surrounding skin
does not seem at all irritated.

Any idea on what it could be?  I was going to monitor it for a few days, and if
his condition worsened, I was going to bring him to the vet.  But because he
seems so healthy and alert, I'm wondering if it is just a minor skin infection or
something?

ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth

This is a difficult question - it is hard to know what this is.  Tumors tend to look purple, red, quite angry.  They can grow rapidly.  If they are superficial they can be removed.  However, hamsters can also get a condition known as polyomavirus.  This is becoming quite common now - I've recently heard of large outbreaks of this.  These growths are smaller, wart like and can appear virtually over night.  They tend to appear around the head/eye lids/chin area.   I had a hamster who had these and they were removed and he was fine, but they did keep appearing.  They are often OK if you only keep the one hamster but they can be passed on, and also, hamsteries/breeders can lose entire stock because of this condition as they can't sell their hamsters - so it is pretty serious.

I agree with you with regard to monitoring the situation.  Can you photograph the lump?  This will act as a record incase its appearance changes.  If it starts getting bigger or changing in some way I would definitely get him to a vet.

Regards

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: About polyomavirus, would he still be at risk of having it if he has lived alone
(only hamster in the house) for two years?  I don't know if it is something that he
could have gotten when he was very young or if it is spread through contact with
another hamster.

Answer
I honestly don't know the answer to your question.  This condition is being researched at the moment.  A few years ago there were some big outbreaks of it, and then it all went quiet until now - I've heard of some real problems in some parts of the world where it is being detected again.  

The fact that your hamster has lived alone for 2 years makes me think it is unlikely to be this - however, this type of virus causes skin tumors of the hair follicles.  It is passed from one hamster to the other via contaminated urine.  So unless you've been handling someone else's hamster who has got it, then handled your own, or someone else has handled your hamster after touching a contaminated one, it is doubtful it is this.

Following on from my previous email - I would photograph it if you can and keep a close watch on it over the next week or two in case the situation changes.  You might find it is nothing and that it clears all by itself.

Regards