How to Treat Tumors in Hamsters

Co-authored by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD and Amber Crain

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Have you recently noticed a tumor on your hamster's body? Tumors are a common health problem in hamsters, especially as they get older, but they are treatable in many cases. In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about different tumors and treatment options so you can make the best choice for your pet. Read on for our complete guide on treating tumors in hamsters.

Things You Should Know

Tumors are common in older hamsters. Alongside a tumor, you may find blood, discharge, or bald patches in the area.
If the tumor is cancerous, talk to your vet about different options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.
If the tumor is benign and not impeding any vital organs, you may not need to treat it at all.

Section 1 of 5:

I think my hamster has a tumor—what do I do?

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Take a closer look and watch for other symptoms. Tumors can feel soft or hard, and sometimes you might see blood or discharge around the area. Hamsters tend to over-groom spots that are bothering them, so bald patches around the tumor could mean your hamster is uncomfortable.^{[1]
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- Your hamster may also seem less excited about eating and sleeping.
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Take your hamster to a vet for an official diagnosis. Your vet will examine your hamster and assess the tumor. The most important thing is to figure out if the tumor is benign (which means it won’t spread) or malignant (which means it’s cancerous and will spread).^{[2]
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- Your vet will insert a tiny needle into the tumor and suck out a few cells (it's relatively painless). Then, they’ll look at the cells under a microscope. This procedure is called fine needle aspiration and it usually costs $20 to $40.
- Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of tumors in hamsters. The sooner your vet diagnoses the tumor, the easier the treatment will be.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 5:

Cancerous Tumor Treatments

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Talk with your vet about surgical treatment. For external tumors (located on the skin), surgery is the best treatment option because the tumor will be completely removed. For internal tumors (inside the body), though, surgery will be more challenging because of a hamster’s small size and tiny internal organs. Ask your vet about the risks and what your best course of action is.^{[4]
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Research source} A few things to consider:
- Risks: Because hamsters are so small, they can suffer from shock during surgery and may not survive it.^{[5]
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- Tumor location and size: Because internal tumors are usually quite large by the time they’re discovered, they’re very difficult (or impossible) to surgically remove. Large external tumors may not be ideal for surgical removal since your hamster may experience too much blood loss during surgery.
- Cost: This varies, but $200 to $300 is a common price range. You may also need to pay for medications.
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Ask your vet about chemotherapy if surgery isn’t an option. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that kill cancer cells by disrupting the cell cycle (cell division and replication). Chemo can be really tough on your hamster’s body, so it may not be able to withstand the therapy. Before deciding, you may want to consider:
- Risks: Chemotherapy drugs are strong and your hamster’s body is small, so chemo may actually do more harm than good.
- Malignancy: If the cancer has already started to spread to your hamster’s vital organs, chemo probably won’t be able to save its life.^{[6]
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- Cost: Prices vary a lot, but chemotherapy is not cheap (even for an animal as small as a hamster). It will probably cost at least $1,000, and it’s a gamble whether it will actually work.
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Find out if your hamster is a good candidate for radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses a focused beam of radiation to kill cancer cells. If you’ve ever known a person that’s gone through it, you know how hard it can be on the body. Hamsters are super small, so radiation will be extra hard on your pet. It may not survive.
- Risks: Your hamster’s tiny body may not be able to withstand radiation therapy. If your hamster does survive, there’s no guarantee the procedure will work.
- Cost: Like chemo, radiation therapy is extremely expensive.

Section 3 of 5:

What should I do if the tumor isn't cancerous?

You may not need to pursue any treatment at all for benign tumors. If the tumor isn’t cancerous (which means it won't spread to other areas in your hamster’s body), you may not need to pursue any kind of treatment. As long as the tumor isn’t disrupting your hamster’s vital organs, it’s survivable and your hamster can live its normal life span.^{[7]
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- It's important to consider your hamster’s quality of life, though – where is the tumor located and how big is it? Can your hamster still move around easily? Does your hamster still enjoy playtime? If you're feeling uncertain, ask the vet for advice.

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What if the tumor is malignant and spreading fast?

Euthanasia may be the kindest solution if your hamster is suffering. It’s so painful to lose a pet, but many pet owners are faced with this decision eventually. Start by talking to your vet so you know exactly how far the cancer has progressed. Next, think about your hamster’s current quality of life. If your hamster can’t do its favorite things anymore, or it's in a lot of pain, then euthanasia may be the most compassionate option.^{[8]
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- Ask your vet for their honest opinion about next steps. They'll be straightforward with you and provide guidance.
- Remember that you gave your hamster an awesome life and it's okay to feel sad, but euthanasia can be a gift of kindness for a suffering animal.

Section 5 of 5:

What causes tumors in hamsters?

We don't fully understand what causes cancer in hamsters. Medical science hasn't yet pinpointed why humans get cancer, and it’s the same for hamsters. We do know it happens because the cells in your hamster’s body mutated, but we don’t know what causes the mutation (or if there’s even a specific cause for it).
- Rest assured, you didn't do anything to cause your hamster's tumor. Sometimes, pets get sick (just like people do).
- Unfortunately, tumors are very common in small animals like hamsters. The most common location is along the hamster’s abdomen.^{[9]
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