Help...Need Your Hamster Experience and Wisdom!

[HamsterCareGiver]

I happened upon your hamster network just by chance and thought some of you may be able to help. First let me disclose that I am not the hamster owner, that would be my daughter. Although I have become quite smitten with "Stinky.”

My daughter and I were on a 16-day holiday and left Stinky at home in care of Dad. Not sure what happened but when we returned home on Sunday, 08/13/06, Stinky was HUGE! We thought maybe she had gained weight because Dad did not take her out of her cage while we were away. Aside from being so big, Stinky seemed her usual self. By Monday evening, 08/14/06, Stinky seemed a little slow and tired. She was sleeping a lot and did not run in her wheel. On Tuesday night, 08/15/06 Stinky became gravely ill. She was very short of breath and extremely weak and lethargic. Stinky did not have enough strength to support her own body. She was just falling over, lifeless and struggling to breathe.

It was after hours and we had difficulty finding an emergency Veterinarian that was willing to treat a hamster. We finally reached a Vet that was trained in Critical Care Medicine, but did not specialize in small animals. The Vet felt that Stinky had developed pneumonia. We agreed to treat Stinky with oxygen, fluid injection and antibiotics. Aside from awakening Stinky to administer her medicine and give her some water twice each day, we have let her rest.

Within 36-48 hours Stinky has shown remarkable improvement. She has regained some of her strength and appetite. She is breathing easier but is still a little short of breath, especially after we administer her medicine. Each time I give her the antibiotic I also give her some water with the syringe. We have confirmed that Stinky is urinating but her droppings are scant, almost non-existent. After referencing the hamster owner’s manual and researching the Internet, we considered that Stinky could have constipation in addition to the respiratory illness. (Dad fed her only the dried nut/seed mix and not any fresh foods, and confessed that one day her water bottle leaked dry.)

I have given Stinky a drop of olive oil morning and night for the past two days. I am feeding her lettuces, parsley, broccoli, grapes, carrots and cherries. She is eating well but still her droppings remain scant and she still has a huge abdomen. Stinky weighs about 7½ ounces (226 grams). Which seems really high for a 1-year old female Black Bear hamster. Please help Stinky. What do you recommend that we do?

[SnuggleHam]

Hello HamsterCareGiver... what a suiting name.. it applies to all of us here anyway!

I’m sorry to hear about Stinky. I’m glad you were able to get veterinary assistance and that she seems to be getting better despite the non existent of poop. My best guess would be constipation, but perhaps its just taking her body a few days to get back to normal before she starts to eat enough to make scat. The fact that she’s eating is a good sign but I’m not so sure about the situation myself.

I’m no hamster expect, but hopefully someone with more experience can add some input. Have you called the vet since you took the hammy home to let them know she doesn’t seem to be pooping? They may have some thoughts on it, or perhaps ask you to bring her in again for further inspection.

266g does seem like a heavy hamster! I wish I could offer more help and advice. There is some information in an article about hamster ailments that you could give a read.. scroll down to find out about the Gastrointestinal System

http://www.hamstercentral.com/user.php? ... ticle&a=30

[HamsterCareGiver]

Thank you, SnuggleHam. I just read the article you referenced; it was very informative. I now realize that I may not have administered enough olive oil to be an effective treatment. We (especially Stinky) appreciate your input.

We have decided to remain optimistic about Stinky's recovery. For on Tuesday she was lifeless, but today she is up walking in her cage, fluffing her bedding and grooming herself.

Thanks again for your help.

[racinghamster]

Hi There. Sorry to hear Stinky has been poorly. I just wanted to add that perhaps giving Stinky a pro-biotic in water for a few days, to aid good gut flora?

I use Avipro-Plus and you can find it here:

http://www.noahs-cupboard.co.uk/index.asp

I don`t know if your in the U.K or the U.S but any good vet should be able to order a tub in for you. You just add either 1 x scoop to 200ml water, or 1 x scoop to 100ml water. It contains electrolytes and glucose, so has to be changed daily as a result. It tastes of vanilla and small animals like the tatse!

The people who make Avipro can be contacted on:

[email protected] They are based in Winchester in England. I have used Avipro on only two occassions. Once on a lethargic gerbil and again with an ill mouse. On both occassions, both animals were back to normal the next day.

Good luck and cuddles to Stinky! x

[babyboos]

Although you are concerned with constipation it is not a great idea to give a poorly hamster so much fresh food - you need to get her bowels moving freely again but that can be achieved through the use of plain hamster mix, moistened in a little water, fruit juice, or even unsugared homemade apple sauce, and some predialyte in her water bottle. These will all work in conjunction with her medications to help restore her to her usual self. Only when this has happened should you then give fresh greens etc, at their regular frequency.

A week of dry mix only and one day without access to water would not produce these symptoms, in fact although the hamster may be bored it would not harm her at all. Hamsters can go 48 hours plus with no water without experiencing longterm damage, so I hope dad doesn't feel too bad. whatever is wrong I am sure it isn't his fault.

[HamsterCareGiver]

Thank you BabyBoos, RacingHamster and SnuggleHam.
Your advice has been invaluable. Stinky is still alive and getting stronger each day, and yes we finally have poop! We took Stinky for a follow-up Vet exam and learned that she has dropped about 10-15 grams weight. (We're not sure of the accuracy of our scales at home so her baseline weight may have been a little off.) Some days are better for Stinky than others, of course. Some mornings she seems so weak/lifeless that I don't think that she will live through the day. Then that evening Stinky will be up and about in her cage, eating/drinking and rearranging/fluffing her bedding. We are trying to remain positive for a full recovery. But I'm sure you undertand it's day-by-day. If there is anything you think we can do (or not) to help Stinky recover, please do not hesitate in letting us know. Thank you so much.

[souffle]

I am sorry to hear about poor Stinky. I once had a little hamster who had what sounds like a similar illness. His tummy became very swollen but he remained very happy and active. He actually had a tumour but the vet said that he was in no pain and to bring him back when we felt he had to quality of life. He lived for 9 months from that first swelling and I had to do what we called 'poop' him. I would massage his belly very gently and sort of move toward his bot. He would do up to 20 poops! I think the tumour stopped his bowel moving properly. Some would say I was mad but I loved him and I knew when the time had come for him. With a female with a swollen belly I would always suspect pyometra where the womb is filled with pus. This is a very creeping condition if the womb is closed and you will not get a discharge only swelling and the hammy going up and down then gradually sadly passing on. It is very hard to treat.

[HamsterCareGiver]

Insightful...how would I find out more about this "pyometra"? Over the course of this hamster's ownership, Stinky has been treated by three different Vets, none of which specialize in "hamster" medicine. I am not feeling confident that Stinky is receiving the best veterinary care because we cannot seem to connect with the right Vet. Do you have any ideas on how to locate a qualified Vet? We are located in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, USA.

[souffle]

I am sorry I do not know about vets in the USA but I have had several females go down with this. I would not obviously diagnose this myself but it may be worth suggesting it to you vet. Quoting from a very good hamster book I use in the vet section it says that infection can spread to the womb from a respiratory infection, after birth or for no apparant reason. The abdomen will be swollen and the hamster will be unwell due to toxins from the infection. Antibiotics can produce a temporary improvement but are highly unlikely to cure the condition. A hysterectomy is the only cure and is very risky. Recently some vets have found the drug Galastop to be effective. My females have always stared by drinking a lot, then swollen belly. not eating and just curl up really. I have never pulled one through even with treatment. I hope this is not what stinky has I really do. It could be constipation still. Dandelion and lettuce can help the bowel move but if she is not eating then she will not have much to pass.

[babyboos]

I have had one female recover from pyometra but it involved a very expensive hysterectomy