tumors

Question
I found 2 tumors on my hamster 1 on his head and the other on the leg and it has a blak spot in the middle? is my hamster suffering? and where could he have gotten these from?

Answer
Hi Chrissy

Unfortunately hamsters are very prone to getting tumors.  If they are superficial then your vet may be able to remove them.  Depending on your hamster's age, he could make a full recovery - but if your hamster is old, then there are added risks with having an anaesthetic.  If you find these tumors are deep and are attached to an organ, then I'm afraid the prognosis isn't so good.  

Tumors generally look pink/purple/red.  They can grow quickly - over the course of a day or two.  Tumors caused by polyomavirus look more like warts - and these can generally be removed (this is a contagious disease for other hamsters - I had a hamster with this and he ended up having 3 operations as these lumps kept appearing - but he made a good recovery and went on to live until he was 2 years old).

Providing your hamster is still eating/drinking/playing etc. then he is not in pain.  If he is hunched over, just wants to sleep or starts to get aggressive, then he is in pain.

I would suggest you get a vet to check him out as soon as possible to confirm whether or not these are tumors, and if they are, whether they can be removed.

Regards