Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Feeding/Nutrition

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-05-2016, 12:27 AM   #1
LadyPikachu
Adult Hamster
 
LadyPikachu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 271
Exclamation Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Hello all, it's been some time since I came here. Apologies for that, life became rather busy.

Pikachu has become very poorly over the past week, and she is now on Antibiotics and Painkillers after a vet visit yesterday. Being my first hamster, it's definitely quite the experience syringe feeding such a tiny animal let alone bathing her eyes with saline solution... luckily for me she is a diamond and takes it like a champ with no fuss.

She has rapidly lost weight the past few days, but she has been eating and has not lost her appetite (or her attitude ) . I gave her a bit of Ready Brek yesterday so that I knew she didn't have an empty belly on her meds.. and she scoffed it up and loved it. The extra vitamins seemed to give her a little boost as she was trying to climb on her house not long after which was refreshing to see after she has been shaking in the corner for most of Sunday.

Of course I can't just keep feeding her Ready Brek.. so what else is good to boost up her weight but not in an unhealthy way?

I've been reading online but I felt like it would be nice to come back here and ask you guys, as you're all great and honestly I could use the actual interaction right now as I am so upset and scared for my little friend.

Thanks for reading!
__________________

Owner Since : 18.11.2014 | Est. Birthday : 07.10.2014
Found out he was a she : 02.12.2014
Passed to the rainbow bridge : 08.07.2016 | Forever missed, never forgotten.
LadyPikachu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 12:59 AM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Sorry to hear this.
What's she being treated for? I think normal porridge is better than ready brek tbh, you can also give baby foods, check the ingredients first as some have things in your ham shouldn't have, if she hasn't lost her appetite try to encourage her to eat her normal mix unless she has a problem with her teeth as it is important they continue to eat dry hard food as much as possible.
You can give extra nuts or things like sunflower seeds & a little cooked chicken to help her gain weight again.
Sometimes the meds have some side effects that can make them feel unwell & less likely to eat normally so I would definitely give some probiotics during & after the meds to help her cope with that.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 01:28 AM   #3
LadyPikachu
Adult Hamster
 
LadyPikachu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 271
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Sorry to hear this.
What's she being treated for? I think normal porridge is better than ready brek tbh, you can also give baby foods, check the ingredients first as some have things in your ham shouldn't have, if she hasn't lost her appetite try to encourage her to eat her normal mix unless she has a problem with her teeth as it is important they continue to eat dry hard food as much as possible.
You can give extra nuts or things like sunflower seeds & a little cooked chicken to help her gain weight again.
Sometimes the meds have some side effects that can make them feel unwell & less likely to eat normally so I would definitely give some probiotics during & after the meds to help her cope with that.
She hasn't had a final diagnosis as I do not have a specialist nearby for exotic animals, but the vets that I do go to I trust 100% they're wonderful. They're fairly certain that she has an infection, they did ring an adviser from their head office for small animals and they agreed.

I didn't have anything else in the house unfortunately, and she was so very good at the vets I had to give her something nice. She loves oats so I knew she would like it, that and one of the meds they said not to give on an empty belly. I'll be going shopping soon to get some extra bits and bobs.

She is still eating her usual mix (Pets at home all in one pellets 1/4 and Burgess Hamster Harvest or Super Mix 3/4 + fresh veg every 3 days in small amounts) but I just want to top her up with some extra goodies like you say! On her super run down days I have been mushing up her food and she seems to take it better that way, but I only do it if I didn't hear her crunching away in the night, I know how important that is for her teeth!

I've not heard of probiotics, but I will have a look right now thank you!

(EDIT: Is this the right thing? ProC Probiotic 100gm | Pets At Home I do add vitamin drops to her water every week would I just do the same with this? )
__________________

Owner Since : 18.11.2014 | Est. Birthday : 07.10.2014
Found out he was a she : 02.12.2014
Passed to the rainbow bridge : 08.07.2016 | Forever missed, never forgotten.

Last edited by LadyPikachu; 07-05-2016 at 01:34 AM.
LadyPikachu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 01:43 AM   #4
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Those probiotics are fine for short term use, while she's on meds & a little while after, I wouldn't use them all the time due the added vitamin c though, I don't like adding them to water as it can make water bottles get pretty horrible really fast, they need a thorough clean with a brush & something like sterilising tablets daily if you add things to the water, I just put a tiny pinch of probiotics on some soft wet food like porridge or veg like cucumber, that way as long as it's a food they like you know how much they're getting & it's a lot cleaner!
I would build her veg up to a small piece daily too that should help give her a boost & she probably won't need the vitamins as her food will have added vitamins & the extras she's getting will give her even more & you can have too much of a good thing.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 01:59 AM   #5
LadyPikachu
Adult Hamster
 
LadyPikachu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 271
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Those probiotics are fine for short term use, while she's on meds & a little while after, I wouldn't use them all the time due the added vitamin c though, I don't like adding them to water as it can make water bottles get pretty horrible really fast, they need a thorough clean with a brush & something like sterilising tablets daily if you add things to the water, I just put a tiny pinch of probiotics on some soft wet food like porridge or veg like cucumber, that way as long as it's a food they like you know how much they're getting & it's a lot cleaner!
I would build her veg up to a small piece daily too that should help give her a boost & she probably won't need the vitamins as her food will have added vitamins & the extras she's getting will give her even more & you can have too much of a good thing.
Would these be better? Avipro 100g Probiotic and Electrolytes (Web Exclusive) | Pets At Home or are they essentially the same thing?

I usually buy a new bottle every 6 months and clean them with a bottle brush every time I use the vitamin drops. Though she mostly drinks from her bowl more than anything, I give her both options because I am a worry pot haha!

I once bought her baby food porridge and she loved that, couldn't get enough of it. I will have to buy some and add it to that! And she loves cucumber too!

And honestly I think my Mum probably does give her veg every day on the sly. She sneaks in my room and gives it to her I'm pretty sure. I tell her not too as I worry about her getting the diddly squits but I guess now it's a good thing that she doesn't listen to me haha! I'll ask her to make sure.

Thank you for this, it is very helpful advice!
__________________

Owner Since : 18.11.2014 | Est. Birthday : 07.10.2014
Found out he was a she : 02.12.2014
Passed to the rainbow bridge : 08.07.2016 | Forever missed, never forgotten.
LadyPikachu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 03:42 AM   #6
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

The Avipro probiotics are good but they also have the added vitamins so I think you'd do fine with the ProC one tbh, lots of people do use that one, most do have something added to them, I just wouldn't give the extra vitamins at the same time.

lol! @ the sneaky veg, nice one Mum
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 04:25 AM   #7
LadyPikachu
Adult Hamster
 
LadyPikachu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 271
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
The Avipro probiotics are good but they also have the added vitamins so I think you'd do fine with the ProC one tbh, lots of people do use that one, most do have something added to them, I just wouldn't give the extra vitamins at the same time.

lol! @ the sneaky veg, nice one Mum
Oh yes, I just saw the name didn't read the little description (I am at work so was rushing a bit!)... Definitely, I wouldn't be giving her the added vitamin drops on top of this, I once took too much Vitamin C and I felt awful for about a week so I wouldn't do that to my little fluff. (I was trying to get over a cold as I had exams coming up, was about 15 at the time.)

Yeah she is a cheeky buggar my Mum. She refuses to admit she gives her extra veg, but you watch, I tell her it's a good thing she will admit it. I will finally know the truth! :P Haha! She knows she shouldn't be going in my room (Basically it is like my mini apartment, I am 22 and I pay my parents house keeping) but since I got Pikachu she can't help herself, she is where I get my love for animals from. :')
__________________

Owner Since : 18.11.2014 | Est. Birthday : 07.10.2014
Found out he was a she : 02.12.2014
Passed to the rainbow bridge : 08.07.2016 | Forever missed, never forgotten.
LadyPikachu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 06:16 AM   #8
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Sounds as though Pikachu is getting rather spoilt, in the nicest possible way of course! I'm sure those extra veg will be doing her some good

I'd just go for the ProC & sprinkle a little bit on some food.
Hope she gets better really soon.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 07:04 AM   #9
LadyPikachu
Adult Hamster
 
LadyPikachu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 271
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Sounds as though Pikachu is getting rather spoilt, in the nicest possible way of course! I'm sure those extra veg will be doing her some good

I'd just go for the ProC & sprinkle a little bit on some food.
Hope she gets better really soon.
Oh yes, well my vet bill came to £50 but I usually spend that on her in one trip to P@H when I visit anyway so it didn't bother me! She is a spoilt little buggar.

My boyfriend tells me that even if the worst happens, she's had 4 years worth of life in the time of two because I spoil her so much with play time, toys and fancy food. Her cage was a two story house. Hamster Heaven on the bottom, Large wire P@H cage on top. She loved it! I felt awful last night taking her top cage away.. but it had to be done she was wobbling all over and seeing her climbing up and down platforms and through tubes was really making me nervous! So for now she is like a little old lady who's moved in to a cottage haha!

I am hoping very much for her to get better, she isn't even two yet. I don't feel like it is her time, she has more life in her I can see her fighting. I'm keeping a close eye on her, paws and fingers crossed!
__________________

Owner Since : 18.11.2014 | Est. Birthday : 07.10.2014
Found out he was a she : 02.12.2014
Passed to the rainbow bridge : 08.07.2016 | Forever missed, never forgotten.
LadyPikachu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-05-2016, 07:35 AM   #10
pinkneon
Pink Glittery Hamsters
 
pinkneon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 6,037
Default Re: Poorly Pikachu, rapid weight loss.

A few nuts and seeds could help with weight gain. Monkey nuts (the peanuts in shells) are good. My Sweep LOVES walnuts! You could also try baby food - no onion, garlic, tomato etc in. Some of the first stage ones are ok
pinkneon is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
weight, reading, feeding, lost, poorly, pikachu, yesterday, brek, ready, past, boost, extra, shaking, loved, corner, climb, give, house, sunday, refreshing, long, vitamins, honestly, great, guys

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:12 AM.