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My hamster has a lump on her stomach. What is it and how to help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Hamster | Female | unspayed

My hamster has a big lump on her lower stomach and I don’t have the money to bring her to the vet :( is there any thing I can do to keep her more comfortable and without medication? Also what is the lump? She is a dwarf and I don’t know her age but I got her on September 2 2016 and she was pretty small at the time. Anything will help thanks!

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 8th, 2018

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to say what the lump is without seeing a photo of Poptart. Hamsters can get papillomas (warts) or cancerous masses as well as skin infections. While removal is likely to be one of the best options, you should try to keep the area as clean as possible and look out for any bleeding or ulceration of the growth. I hope this helps and that all is well!

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Silvia De Cecco, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on March 8th, 2018
Unfortunately, the only way to understand the exact nature and origin of the lump would be through to your veterinarian clinical examination and laboratory tests.
Clinical appearance can help differentiate among infectious and neoplastic disease but only by collecting a specimen of the lesion will give you a specific and definitive answer.
A biopsy can be taken under general anesthetic/sedation, otherwise a smaller sample collected with a fine needle can be aspirated without anesthesia/sedation.
If you cannot bring Popart to the vet, take a picture and post again on the forum we might be able to help you further by looking at the pictures. I hope my answer was helpful.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Amy S. Eutsey, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 27th, 2017
This looks very suspicious of a mammary or breast tumor. These tumors can be cancerous or benign and do tend to grow very large very quickly. I would recommend that your veterinarian examine her and give you advice on whether it can be surgically removed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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