Bloated abdomen in hamster.

Dr. Marie replied:

Thanks for an excellent question Melissa.

As you likely know, any hamster older than 18 months is considered very old. What this means is that there is a high chance that what is happening with Buddy is very serious.

There are a few possible reasons for a hamster to have a bloated belly. Unfortunately they are all quite serious.

One possibility is a tumor in his abdomen. The bloating could be from the tumor, or it could be from a cancerous tumor that is producing fluid.

Another possibility is if the little guy is heading into heart failure. Heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the abdomen.

Another possibility is if he has a cyst in his liver or bile duct. Unfortunately there is not much we can do if this is the case.

Some hamsters can have a bloated abdomen because of cushing's disease. This really is not common and I really don't think this is what is going on with Buddy.

It is not likely that he is bloated because of constipation. However, if you feel the sitz baths are helping then there is no harm in doing this.

If you are able to have a vet look at him they may be able to put a small needle into his belly and see if they can drain any fluid off. Whether there is fluid from a tumor or from heart failure, he may feel a little better if he has the fluid drained.

I think though, ultimately it may be time to talk to your son about the fact that Buddy is likely dying.

I hope that info helps and I hope Buddy is ok!

Dr. Marie.


Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?

---

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Dr. Marie replied:

You're very welcome and God bless you and Buddy too. Feel free to post a response on Monday if you have questions after your vet visit.

Dr. Marie.

Dr. Marie replied:

Awww...I am so sorry to hear that. Please be sure to tell your son that he was a good hamster owner and that you guys did all you could. Not many hamsters live to be this old!

Dr. Marie.