Bad Advice = HUGE STEESS! Please help!

[Oatmeal_Cupcake]

I ended up taking him to the vet and he got a clean bill of health. I ended up taking him in his vet bin with some of his old substrate. He was totally calm at the vet, in the car and during a quick run into petco (it was to hot to leave him in the car) got home and tried putting him back in his bin and he froze and clung to my hand. Then I tried to place him in his vet bin and he hopped right in.

So the only new thing I've introduced is the water and vinegar that I used to clean his bin. I took everything back out and washed the bins with mild soap and water, put some of his old bedding in along with some new. I just got done placing him back in his bin cage and he walked around, chewed on his hay house for a minute then went to bed

So if there is anything if like for people to learn is that some hamsters might feel threatened by the scent of vinegar. Oh! I also wiped the bin down with baby wipes since that's what I normally use.

[Thin Lizzy]

So relieved that Little Bear got a clean bill of health at the vet.
Vinegar is something I wouldn't use in the cage. It can linger even when it's diluted.
Sounds like you cleaning with mild soap and using wipes did the trick. Little Bear going to bed after you did this proves he's no longer freaked out.
Good on you for acting quickly.

[cypher]

Good to hear little Bear is OK.
Lots of people do use vinegar to clean cages if they need disinfecting but I find the smell really strong so I'm sure hams do too so it does need a really good rinse.
I prefer to use a pet safe non scented disinfectant & mine are all happy with that if I need to use it.

[souffle]

Everyone is entitled to give their opinion and advice and it is really important that we all remember that it is exactly that - a personal opinion. White vinigar and water is quite a common cleaning tool and often used to remove urine stains however it does need very careful rinsing as it has a strong smell. If your hammy isn't used to this then it will upset them a bit but they should settle.
Their sense of smell is much more sensitive than ours so they will notice it more.
I'd really advise a vet with him as wheezing and clicky breathing can escalate quickly to a serious chest infection. The vet can sound the chest and see if it is clear in the lungs. It can be an allergy or a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial can be treated but viral needs the hamster to fight this off so boost up his immune system with probiotics like ProC and fresh veg and perhaps some porridge to ensure he is as fit as possible.
A change of bedding might exclude an allergy.
Hope he is better soon and can be seen. My hammies always get a bit frantic after a cage clean and wheel run and dash around even though I try and replace old bedding and stores. I leave them very quiet and in a darkened room till they settle.

[Pebbles82]

I used vinegar and water inside and out of Charlie's cage after we came back from holiday and he had been staying at Rach's. He was so frantic that I thought I'd try and remove any trace of other hamster smells on his cage as a process of elimination to try and calm him down - it made a little bit of difference but I think it was mainly the stress of all the changes. The cage did still smell of vinegar afterwards, even after rinsing - not strongly. Charlie seemed interested by the smell and sniffed the outside of the cage a bit, but not bothered by it. But then as he was stressed anyway, maybe it just distracted him.

Glad Little Bear has had a clean bill of health.

[Oatmeal_Cupcake]

Originally Posted by souffle

Everyone is entitled to give their opinion and advice and it is really important that we all remember that it is exactly that - a personal opinion. White vinigar and water is quite a common cleaning tool and often used to remove urine stains however it does need very careful rinsing as it has a strong smell. If your hammy isn't used to this then it will upset them a bit but they should settle.
Their sense of smell is much more sensitive than ours so they will notice it more.
I'd really advise a vet with him as wheezing and clicky breathing can escalate quickly to a serious chest infection. The vet can sound the chest and see if it is clear in the lungs. It can be an allergy or a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial can be treated but viral needs the hamster to fight this off so boost up his immune system with probiotics like ProC and fresh veg and perhaps some porridge to ensure he is as fit as possible.
A change of bedding might exclude an allergy.
Hope he is better soon and can be seen. My hammies always get a bit frantic after a cage clean and wheel run and dash around even though I try and replace old bedding and stores. I leave them very quiet and in a darkened room till they settle.

Yeah, I should've rinsed it out after I used the water/vinegar. That was my biggest mistake.

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Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I used vinegar and water inside and out of Charlie's cage after we came back from holiday and he had been staying at Rach's. He was so frantic that I thought I'd try and remove any trace of other hamster smells on his cage as a process of elimination to try and calm him down - it made a little bit of difference but I think it was mainly the stress of all the changes. The cage did still smell of vinegar afterwards, even after rinsing - not strongly. Charlie seemed interested by the smell and sniffed the outside of the cage a bit, but not bothered by it. But then as he was stressed anyway, maybe it just distracted him.

Glad Little Bear has had a clean bill of health.

Thank you.

[Pebbles82]

Could I suggest that this post be removed now or the title changed Oatmeal Cupcake? The title could be upsetting for the new member who made a suggestion. Hope your little one is doing fine now.

[Oatmeal_Cupcake]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Could I suggest that this post be removed now or the title changed Oatmeal Cupcake? The title could be upsetting for the new member who made a suggestion. Hope your little one is doing fine now.

Sorry! I've been swamped with work these past couple of weeks. I'd love to change the title. I'm not sure how to do that though or if I'm able to.

Can anyone help change it? Or maybe we can delete the thread?

[Thin Lizzy]

You need to PM one of the moderators with the title of your thread you want to change and what to?