My Hamster has a Lump

[RGLRJOE]

My hamster has a lump either in the back right of her cheeks or in her inner ear...  i think it is the ear as her right ear looks as though it is pasted down over the lump, but she wont be still long enough for me to take a look and i dont want to hurt her...  mainly my question is:  Is there any way i can give her some tylenol or some other pain medication?  She keeps squeaking as though she is in pain and i dont want her to hurt.  We have had her for over a year now and i am afraid she is dying but i dont want her to hurt...

-RGLRJOE

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

For the future please post new questions as a new question post.  Thanks

Hamsters can get scabs from fighting with other hamsters, or if they are an only hamster from self inflicted scratching secondary to mites, fungal or bacterial skin infections, or sebaceous cysts.  If it pops and a cheezy-like discharge comes out than it is a sebaceous cyst.  Sebaceous cysts are benign, pimple-like skin lesions.  Hamsters can also get dermal cancers as they get older.  Your hamster is still young so cancer is lower on the list of possibilities, but is still possible.  Mites and other skin infections usually need medications to help them resolve.

[Alex1993]

Hey my hamster is about a year old and he has got a lump on the scruff of his neck i took him to the vet to see wat it was but he said it was just a scab but then when i looked at him last night it seems to have gone red as if it is really sore i did try to feel it but my hamster wouldnt stay stil long enough for me to have a good look he seems to be eating and drinking fine as he seems quite fat and he is a very active hamster i am just really worried that it is cancer but when i do touch it it doesnt seem to hurt him please help

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Are you sure your hamster ruptured her eardrum?  If this is the case it would mean she had to have had a severe inner or middle ear infection.  I think it best to bring her to the vet to at least get Hamster sized dose of antibiotics to be given by mouth and to get antibiotic ear drops.  Is she eating?  Inner or middle ear infections can cause balance problems and nausea that is bad enough to cause anorexia.  The problem could also be due to her teeth.  Tooth root abscess is common and to solve the problem a vet would have to cut or file the overgrown teeth or extract a rotten tooth.  The vet may also be able to fashion a hamster sized E-Collar to prevent her from scratching, or can give steriods or other anti-inflammatory to stop the itching.

[RGLRJOE]

Okay, well, she ruptured her eardrum and my wife and i were able to remove a large ball of pus.  it was about the size of a pea. anyways.  she seems to be doing better however my wife and i are concerned about a secondary infection from the wound in her ear...  she keeps scratching at it and i am afraid she will cause another infection.  what would you advise for her ear or to keep her from scratching?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Please don't give tylenol to your hamster as it is toxic to them.  Any analgesic that you have at home is going to be extremely difficult to scale down to a small enough size to be safe for your hamster.  There is just too much chance of overdose.  It would be best to take her to the vet or to get something over the counter at a good pet store.  A lump anywhere on a hamster is not a good sign since they can get cancer like all other species.