Koala Bear - Page 11

cypher · 08-28-2016, 04:51 AM

Sorry to hear you're having such a struggle with Koala Bear CB, it can be difficult giving Russians meds on food as they often aren't so keen on the wet foods that are easiest to hide the meds in, does he like dry oat flakes? If he does you could try putting the meds on to a couple of flakes, you would need to be sure he'll eat it though so you don't lose a dose.
If he does like scrambled egg that would work well, the oatmeal is certainly worth a try, see if he likes it before giving meds on it though.
Are there any veg he likes? Mickle used to have her meds on lettuce!
I'm not sure why the vet said the meds may not work though, it often takes more than one course to completely cure the problem so it's worth persevering for a while if the first lot doesn't do the trick.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 05:02 AM

Thanks Cypher, I'll get lettuce, oats & baby food today. See if he likes before giving it to him. I thought the vet was to give an oral ivomec, then come back for a couple more times, 10 days apart? There is topical meds too?

Vet said she'd call in 2 weeks to see how he's doing? If he's not better I'll inquire about a different treatment?

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 05:23 AM

Is a 10 day treatment of ivomec & cleaning cage every few days would be sufficient to get rid of mites? This is misery for Koala & stressful too

cypher · 08-28-2016, 09:10 AM

A 10 day treatment may or may not be enough, you just have to wait & see really, if the problem persists after that then you need to go back to the vet, it's not uncommon to need more, not nice for Koala bear or you to go through but not something to be unduly worried about.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 09:42 AM

Ok thanks, vet says next step would be that he needs an ultra sound which costs $300. Then more monthly expenses on top of that. She said $100/ mo but I'm not sure what for? She suspects Cushings, Lymphoma, or other tumor?

She said these mites are related to his immune system. So if spending a couple days at my friends house stressed him so much that these mites came about, then this treatment should clear it up.

If it doesn't clear it up then he needs more treatment or he lives with the mites & whatever disease he has? Is it cruel to let him live if we can't get the mites to die? If it's his immune system is compromised by a bigger problem?

It is worrisome but there are always other vets too

**DrKMcK** · 08-28-2016, 11:37 AM

Hi Cinnamon Bear. Don't jump the gun here. Give the meds time, even if he needs another round of meds. I have found that oatmeal, just a small amount on the tip of a teaspoon with the meds in it seems to work for me. In fact, my hams are used to getting oatmeal like this as a treat at least once a month. They love it.

Ask the vet to go for a second course of the meds before you go the whole $300 sonogram route. It really isn't unusual for a hammy to need more than one course with medication before the mites are taken care of. I hope this gets fixed soon.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 12:11 PM

Thank you DrKMcK, I'll go to the dollar store now & get some oats for tonight's dose of anti-biotics.

I'm only on Day #4 & the sick hammies are a little stressful, seeing them suffer. Cinnamon & Koala.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 02:09 PM

Update: I bought the oats, the most expensive one & it was cut up into little pieces

So I picked him up & gave him his anti-biotic. Then I cleaned his cage.. he got treats to keep him busy in the mean time. When I put him back in the cage he started running on the wheel & running up the tube a couple times. He seems to be feeling better, noticed he seems happier? 6 more days to go, he's not biting me, seems to know I'm not going to hurt him, other than sticking syringes in his mouth.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 08-28-2016, 02:51 PM

I'm eating ground up porridge for dinner lol

I'll see if Koala likes these oats when it gets to room temp?

Update: doesn't like the oats, just a nibble is all
So I can't use the oatmeal for his meds I found out
He's probably full from all the treats from earlier lol

Thin Lizzy · 08-29-2016, 01:40 AM

Antibiotics helps a variety of things. You may need another dose but, it's important to make sure he completes the course to ensure they're gone. Mites are so stressful for the ham so it's important he gets rid of them. When Archie had them, he looked so miserable and it was over a month of treatment before he recovered.
I think majority of hams like cheese.
Did you get baby food?