hammy with a cold?

[hammy_mumma]

We've all been unwell over xmas and I think our hammy has caught our cold. She has red stuff around her eyes (do hamsters get porphyrin?). She is also wanting to stay in bed and is a bit fed up looking. Still eating and drinking fine but doesn't feel like exploring the bedroom as usual. I will try and get a vet appointment tomorrow but does this sound like a cold to you guys, is there anything I can do other than keep her warm and comfy?

[Michelle89]

Is she sneezing? discharge from nose? if its just the eyes it could be an eye infection. Sanibel has one the now which is red stuff around the eye, she has an antibiotic eye cream and even after 2 days of putting it in her eye she is soo much better she is back to being all excited to getting out where as before she just wasnt herself best to take the hammy to the vet and see if you can get an antibiotic for her . vet also told me to bath the eye so boiled water cooled with salt to make it like a saline solution and just a quick wipe across the eye Hope your little one is ok xxx

[hammy_mumma]

No sneezing actually so maybe not a cold then, just the eye and change of behaviour. It was a bit sticky/yellow on Christmas eve night and I gave it a gentle wipe with some cooled boiled water, it's not like that now but the red discharge still appears from time to time. She definately needs checking out she's barely been out of bed the last two nights and is definately not using her wheel although she's still eating and drinking.

[Michelle89]

Sounds exactly like Sanibel so could just be a wee infection iv seen such a huge change in Sanibel in the past few days so the antibiotics are working at least. Hope your little one feels better soon just keep bathing the eye until you can see the vet Sanibel got Fucithalmic vet cream for her eye and its worked perfect for her so far xxx

[hammy_mumma]

Thanks for the advice. I took her to the vet today, oddly enough it was the other eye which looked red today. Vet couldn't find anything obvious but thinks the eyes may be secondary to something more serious as they do not look bad. She has given her some antibiotic eye drops and some oral antibiotics in case she has another type of infection which is making her feel so poorly. She said to bring her back if she doesn't improve. I think she feels she may just be getting to the end of her little life. We'll just have to wait and see if she improves. She is very tired and lethargic. I took her water bottle to her today and she drank for about 5 minutes, I just don't think she's been bothered to get up to drink, I've moved her bottle right near her.

[csockman]

Poor little thing, I hope the round of meds gets her well soon. She definitely has a wonderful caretaker watching over her.

[Michelle89]

Awww poor wee thing I hope the antibiotics kick in and make her feel better soon were all thinking of her here xxx