Post by tonyshuman on Dec 18, 2009 20:41:06 GMT -4
Hi, I understand that Mallory has now passed, I am so sorry.
I have a Russian Dwarf of age 1.5, and the vet today diagnosed her as having what are probably ovarian cysts. A previous vet had thought it was an adrenal tumor. She has some loss of hair (nape, chest) and swelling of her chest area (only the top set of teats). They put her under GA to do a more thorough physical exam and said that she has large, soft (ie fluid-filled instead of cell-filled) lumps about where her ovaries would be. We are talking about dime-sized. This was done at my local vet school's teaching hospital by some very capable vets.
I have heard what to look for in terms of pain and suffering, as far as when it will be time to let Petunia go, but would like to know what you thought about having a hamster with cystic ovaries, in terms of end-of-life care. I would like to get an idea of whether Mallory will showed pain first, or had large tumors that impede her movement, or died of other causes.
I just don't know what to look for, really, in terms of knowing when "it's time". She is still quite active but occasionally will sit like a dead weight in my hand. She is cranky, although she always has been. She still loves her wheel and all types of food. They took a great deal of food out of her pouches while under GA--it's funny, she always has to have a snack with her. In those situations when I pick her up and she's totally still, or since she sleeps more and more these days, I just don't know if she's suffering. I'm aware that cystic ovaries can be quite painful in humans as well, and can't really tell how painful it is for her.
Any insight you might have would be helpful. Thanks!
I have a Russian Dwarf of age 1.5, and the vet today diagnosed her as having what are probably ovarian cysts. A previous vet had thought it was an adrenal tumor. She has some loss of hair (nape, chest) and swelling of her chest area (only the top set of teats). They put her under GA to do a more thorough physical exam and said that she has large, soft (ie fluid-filled instead of cell-filled) lumps about where her ovaries would be. We are talking about dime-sized. This was done at my local vet school's teaching hospital by some very capable vets.
I have heard what to look for in terms of pain and suffering, as far as when it will be time to let Petunia go, but would like to know what you thought about having a hamster with cystic ovaries, in terms of end-of-life care. I would like to get an idea of whether Mallory will showed pain first, or had large tumors that impede her movement, or died of other causes.
I just don't know what to look for, really, in terms of knowing when "it's time". She is still quite active but occasionally will sit like a dead weight in my hand. She is cranky, although she always has been. She still loves her wheel and all types of food. They took a great deal of food out of her pouches while under GA--it's funny, she always has to have a snack with her. In those situations when I pick her up and she's totally still, or since she sleeps more and more these days, I just don't know if she's suffering. I'm aware that cystic ovaries can be quite painful in humans as well, and can't really tell how painful it is for her.
Any insight you might have would be helpful. Thanks!