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 > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-01-2013, 02:30 AM   #1
jesselle
hearts dwarf hams
 
jesselle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: St. Albans
Posts: 2,549
Default snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

hi all, for some background, see good vets in surrey?

1st question - tips for looking after a dwarf with a possible respiratory infection or cold?

when i got back from my holiday, i noticed i could hear emi breathing with a snuffle. he also seemed slightly lethargic and 'weaker'. i kept an eye on him for a few days but there seemed to be no change. he's seen a vet, she listened to his breathing and he is congested, so he has baytril, 2 drops a day on food.

he sees the exotics vet at the practice in 4 days. he was very lively this morning!! dying to come out, so we had a little cuddle and his baytril on broccoli and he seems in good spirits. we will see how he goes with this respiratory thing.

2nd question - how to deal with a plug in scent gland?

on top of the cold, emi also seems to have a plug in his scent gland. i've tried boiled salt water and a cotton bud 2-3 times to soften it, but no luck in getting it out. he gets quite stressed and so i have stopped for now since he's poorly. any tips? the exotics vet may be able to remove it, i'm hoping.
__________________

Coco 02/11/12
Sleep tight Wonton 12/08/11-18/11/12, Emilio 20/01/12-27/06/14, Kiwi 03/12/11-23/07/14 & Haku 14/01/13-16/01/15
jesselle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 02:38 AM   #2
kyrilliondaemon
Retired Moderator
 
kyrilliondaemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aberystwyth
Posts: 16,105
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

Baytril. Fwirl had a possible respiratory infection just after Christmas and the baytril cured it pretty quickly (but we had caught it so fast it was difficult to diagnose lol)
Other than that I'm not sure there's much to do.

Er... Keep trying the water and hope the vet can help?
__________________
kyrilliondaemon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 02:53 AM   #3
jesselle
hearts dwarf hams
 
jesselle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: St. Albans
Posts: 2,549
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

thanks kyrill.

just hope it's been caught in time, since i have no idea when it might've started since i was away

any other tips welcomed.
__________________

Coco 02/11/12
Sleep tight Wonton 12/08/11-18/11/12, Emilio 20/01/12-27/06/14, Kiwi 03/12/11-23/07/14 & Haku 14/01/13-16/01/15
jesselle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 02:55 AM   #4
kyrilliondaemon
Retired Moderator
 
kyrilliondaemon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Aberystwyth
Posts: 16,105
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

I hope it has been caught in time, good luck with the baytril
__________________
kyrilliondaemon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 03:53 AM   #5
souffle
Moderator
 
souffle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
Posts: 28,184
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

I'd have the chest problem checked out pretty soon and hopefully get some antibiotics. We have had both Baytril and more recently Septrin for a hammy with a chest infection. The Septrin worked better and was taken more readily as it tastes nice I believe! I'm sure your vet will prescribe what he thinks best though.
I would show the vet the scent gland however it may be better to wait a bit to try and clear it until she is better with the chest thing as trying to do it just now will be stressful. It often needs quite a bit of squeezing unfortunately. It there is a bit if infection hopefully the antibiotics will help that too.
souffle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2013, 04:44 AM   #6
jesselle
hearts dwarf hams
 
jesselle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: St. Albans
Posts: 2,549
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

thanks souff he's on baytril now, 2 drops a day and he seems to like it?!

i think the exotics vet will know what to do. if he deteriorates before my appt next week, i will of course get him back in.

i'm in agreement re the scent gland, i will just leave him to recover for now.
__________________

Coco 02/11/12
Sleep tight Wonton 12/08/11-18/11/12, Emilio 20/01/12-27/06/14, Kiwi 03/12/11-23/07/14 & Haku 14/01/13-16/01/15
jesselle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2013, 04:58 AM   #7
jesselle
hearts dwarf hams
 
jesselle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: St. Albans
Posts: 2,549
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

Well, Emi's chest is now clear apparently.

However, for his scent gland, the vet prescribed a new course of antibiotics (can't rmb the name, began with an m and is light reactive and kept in the fridge!?) can anyone help me with the name?

I'm unsure as to whether to start him on the course as I really think he just needs the plug removing.

Any ideas?

I've also noticed, unsure if related, that there was some fur on his wheel when I cleaned it. I checked him over and sure enough a few strands came out when I pulled gently around his hind quarters. Is this anything to worry about??

Any help or ideas much appreciated..
__________________

Coco 02/11/12
Sleep tight Wonton 12/08/11-18/11/12, Emilio 20/01/12-27/06/14, Kiwi 03/12/11-23/07/14 & Haku 14/01/13-16/01/15
jesselle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2013, 09:16 AM   #8
jesselle
hearts dwarf hams
 
jesselle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: St. Albans
Posts: 2,549
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

can anyone please chime in?
__________________

Coco 02/11/12
Sleep tight Wonton 12/08/11-18/11/12, Emilio 20/01/12-27/06/14, Kiwi 03/12/11-23/07/14 & Haku 14/01/13-16/01/15
jesselle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2013, 10:02 AM   #9
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

Hi jesselle, I havn`t been online for a few days so just seen your post. The only light sensitive antibiotics I know of are the Tetracycline drugs, but I have no idea if these drugs are toxic to hamsters or not so the drug probably isn`t a tetracycline.

As for the scent gland itself, why is the vet prescribing antibiotics rather than choosing to clean or remove the gunk from the gland? Seems to me that the gland would be better cleaner or removed if it is infected and then antibiotics given incase any infection sets in, but those should only be required if surgery is involved really. Could be that your vet is taking short cuts, so I would maybe get a second opinion, or ask why they can`t/won`t attempt to clear the gland? There could be a good reason for their decision but you know Emi best. x
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2013, 08:03 PM   #10
DrKMcK
Retired Moderator
 
DrKMcK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Brooklyn, New York USA
Posts: 10,295
Default Re: snuffly with congestion and plug in scent gland?

If you aren't sure why the vet has done or not done something, you need to ask. If this vet is someone who works with exotics, it's only fair to voice your concerns. You've gone to a professional for his/her opinion and skill. Why would you ignore his/her recommendations without discussing it? If the vet is not a person used to working with hammys, you need to find another vet.
__________________
DrKMcK is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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 04:55 AM.