My gerbil has a stomach mass and is acting strange. What should I do?

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine what the lump is and what her medical status is currently. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian. Antibiotics can be dispensed for minor infection. A fine needle aspirate can be done to collect samples for pathology. She is "old" for a gerbil, but more information would be needed before determine a course of action, let alone euthanasia.

Thanks for reaching out about Robyn. A distended stomach could be bloat, but also infected foreign body, internal tumor or other concern. A veterinary visit is recommended either way, the sooner the better. She is getting up there in years, but age is not a disease. Good luck.

I would be concerned about then possibility of an abdominal tumor or fluid accumulation in the abdomen. However, fluid accumulation does not have a good prognosis either. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If there is a large tumor they may be able to feel it and help guide you with quality of life decisions. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Anaesthesia can be very hard on small mammals. In the case of an older gerbil I feel that it would be a lot to put the little thing through for what may be not a lot of time. Personally I would leave the lump alone if it is not infected or causing discomfort. If the lump starts to interfere with his quality of life I think it would be kinder to have him put to sleep rather than put him through surgery.

If he will allow, check his teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. Also, look for obvious signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, bleeding, bruising or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, he will need to be seen by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. If his teeth are fine, clean his cage and sanitize bowls, water bottle, toys and hides. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Maintain a stable temperature and keep him as stress free as possible. If his symptoms persist, a veterinary exam will be needed.

Unfortunately you are correct in assuming this is probably a cancerous mass, especially if it has grown quickly. Keep in mind that the life span of a hamsters is only about 2-3 years. This may help in your decision making process. If you are unwilling or unable to have surgery performed to remove it then just keep Crackers as comfortable as possible. If her energy level and appetite decrease then you would have to consider that the cancer is likely spreading. I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out. In general, if a gerbil is sick or upset, a behavioral changes is likely noted, such as decreased activity or appetite. If you observe some of these signs, it could mean she is ill. If you are concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.