Could he just be vocal?

[Clairealex]

Hey everyone,

I've posted a few times in the healthcare section about the funny noises my hybrid Chubs makes at times. He was treated for a cold and on antibiotics for three weeks. He still makes odd noises at times though, and I noticed some again tonight.

I had him out for a little play and as he was running over my arms I heard a noise like a squeaky click, occurring quite regularly to the point I thought it was tied in with his breathing. My boyfriend had his xbox on in another room and it was loud, to the point I couldn't hear properly, so I quickly took chubs into my quiet hallway and closed the door. Once I sat down with him, I heard one little whistle squeak and then the noises seemed to totally stop.

I put him back in his cage and stuck my head in (literally) whilst he was unpouching/grooming/arranging his nest and didn't hear the noises again. He stuck his nose in the air near my ear a good few times and I couldn't hear any unusual breathing noises.

I'm wondering if he was a bit scared due to the xbox noise, and this could have been his reaction? He seems fine at the moment. Little noises aren't unusual, I just worry every time they happen. Has anyone had a ham who does vocalise quite often?

Ps I've thoroughly chastised my boyfriend for the volume!

UPDATED EDIT: he's currently sleeping in one of his more accessible nests. I've quietly put my ear down into his nest and watched his little breathing pattern and can't hear any noises at all. I assume it's unlikely it's anything respiratory then?

[racinghamster]

Hi Claire. Because Chubs has already tried Baytril (and I think you had him on another drug as well?) sorry if I`m getting mixed up with you and someone else on the forum!

It does seem to me to be something he is doing not necessarily due to any infection, but could be caused by something going on while he breathes in and out on occasion. Sometimes it`s audible and sometimes it isn`t. But I personally wouldn`t go back to antibiotics due to this. I would have to convince myself that Chubs actually had a respiratory problem and I`m sure you mentioned before that your vet said his lings were clear? But he still prescribed you Baytril anyway just to be sure there was no underlying issue there?

On the whole, small animals shouldn't make audible noises while breathing, but there could be a number of explanations for this. Allergy, air temperatures changing, his airway maybe having some kind of soft pallete issue which may cause noises while breathing sometimes.

But if Chubs is fine otherwise, I would just keep an eye on it. x

[Clairealex]

Thanks RH!!

Yep that was me! Wee soul was on antibiotics for 3 weeks - one week on septrin and two on baytril! The vet checked his lungs before and after the three weeks and both times lungs were clear so I'm confident it's not respiratory.

The noises I hear are an odd squeak here and there usually. Usually quiet enough that I wonder if I have actually heard it! It tends to be when he's a bit frustrated. Like if he's trying to go somewhere and I won't let him (under the couch for example!). He makes a little chirpy whistle - very quiet and soft - when I turn him onto his back to check his tummy over. It stops if I give him a treat to keep him occupied whilst checking him so I'm assuming this is frustration/fright again.

Last nights noises were more deliberate than that. They were louder and stopped when I took him into the quieter room, which is why I thought he could have been scared.

When I hold him to my ear to hear his breathing, it's normal. He makes little noises at times that sound as thought he's blowing out through his nose, but when he stops to sniff there is no noise. I've always heard this and it's only when he's wriggling at my ear so I've assumed I'm hearing normal movement noises and when he actually stops moving and just sniffs the noises stop!

He's fine this morning and his cage is showing it's usual nightly activity so he's acting like himself!

[racinghamster]

Chubs just has an over-reacting mum! But you are doing the right thing by listening and checking this because if it was an underlying issue, at least you are checking every day for any audible changes or behaviour. I suspect that being a Russian dwarf, he`s prone to be a little vocal!

My robo (Fred) is Mr Angry and if I pop something right in front of him, he pounces on it and lets out a loud "Squeak!" as if shouting at it! Although his behaviour changed about a month back when he had a suspected stroke which caused him to start `spinning` which he has under control now and is much better thankfully. So his marked behaviour change could even have caused him to go deaf. He never really manages to see anything unless it`s dropped in front of him, but he knows exactly where everything is and whizzes about as though nothing is ailing him! he`s well over two now but you wouldn`t think he was. x

[Clairealex]

Aw I'm so glad Fred has got his spinning under control! What a little ball of energy he sounds

I do check chubs every day. I try to just make it part of play time and he quite likes poking about my head when I hold him up to check his breathing. I suspect it may just be the way he is - a little more vocal than I was expecting! I get the impression he's like 'mum not aggaaaaiiiinnnn I'm fiiiiiiiiine!!!'

I picked up on this a few months ago and he's been checked over by the vet twice since then and it hasn't gotten any worse, so hopefully he just likes to share his feelings with me.

[racinghamster]

He certainly keeps you on your toes! x