Could Teddie be ill?

[ianpallen]

Glad to hear the good news that it is not terminal or fatal. A trip to the vets was well earned and learned. I am pleased she is ok.

[Willow Wisp]

I'm so relieved to hear this
Now you've told us it does seem pretty obvious LOL and yet none of us thought about it or realised this could be a problem I suppose it would be like us going from living in a greenhouse to living in a house with all the doors and windows open, although it wouldn't necessarily effect our health we would certainly notice the temperature drop.

Thanks for sharing Teddies story, it will make us all more aware of our furies surroundings
I'm so happy beautiful Teddie is ok

[Pebbles82]

I am glad Teddie is improving and your Vet was so helpful - I bet Teddie felt better just from being taken to the Vets! It must have been like a holiday lol!

I had something similar when I moved Charlie to his new cage, but not as bad as Teddie. Charlie moved from a Rotostak Space Command to an 80 x 50 cage. The base of the Space command was about a third of the size of the cage, and had solid walls and not very good ventilation. I remember thinking at the time, maybe I should do it gradually, but as it was late in the evening, I left Charlie in the new cage overnight, and by morning he had made a nest in the new cage so I left him in there. But for 10 days it was really upsetting to see him - even my other half was getting worried. Charlie wasn't eating much either or drinking much, and would sit and shake and shiver and if he moved at all would drag himself around as if he was an old man. Other half was getting so concerned he said maybe we should put a cloth over the top of the cage at night like you do with bird cages, so he didn't feel so exposed. After a week we were seriously thinking about putting him back in his old Rotastak, but I decided not to because the reason we moved him out was he was getting stuck in the tubes, so I just talked to him and said sorry Charlie it's not safe for you in the old cage - which is probably idiotic as he wouldn't understand! 10 days he was like this! And we were all angst-ridden and I was thinking of getting another big rotastak unit and connecting them with bigger tubes. Then suddenly on Day 14 he turned the corner and came out and seemed his old self again, and was having fun, climbing bars, wanted to come out in his ball and all was fine, and we were all happy again! But ever since then he has been VERY sensitive to any change in his cage, but I think he is slowly getting used to the odd bit of spot cleaning and is regaining confidence a bit. I actually think he would be happier in a tank as the cage clanging when the door is opened still makes him nervous, but I don't want to move him again now and mostly he is fine. I remember thinking that in future I would not do 'cold turkey' again but do the change gradually and it is really helpful to hear that your vet recommends this as I wasn't sure what to do at the time, but I suppose it makes sense to do things gradually. Even now, when he has been in his ball and goes back in the cage, he is very cautious about re-entering the cage and checks everything out cautiously, as if he associates being out of the cage with change - which of course does happen! I have recently been doing some of the spot cleaning while he is in the cage, so he can see what happens and get used to me doing it. He comes out and takes great notice - and if I go anywhere near his house he 'guards' it! I suppose they are more sensitive than we realise to change in environment. When he is out in his ball he regularly goes over to where his old rotastak was and has a good sniff, but he is getting used to it all now.

I bet in 10 days time Teddie will be leaping around and having a whale of a time and he won't look back lol!

[Pebbles82]

Just one other thing though - he likes SOME change! Adding something new and interesting, he likes - it is just having things moved he doesn't like, and that has been a nightmare because I didn't get the cage set up just right in the first place and had to change a couple of things in there, and he regressed again a bit when I took the fleecy hammock out (he started chewing it). But now I have put a vine branch in that corner and he is really happy with it! I think he likes that it makes the cage less exposed, plus he just likes it - he can hide under it, climb it, lie on it, nibble it. So if you haven't got one of those I can recommend it! But maybe not just yet. I think you are a very caring person and it is good you noticed Teddie wasn't eating or drinking.

[DrKMcK]

Hi Teddy. I am so glad Teddie is okay. I really like your post as it has good clear info that all of us can learn from. Even though it turned out the fumes weren't at fault, (And I'm sure your husband is waaaayyy relieved over that!), it's good to know how a hammy can be hurt around fumes. I just figured if I feel woozy and nauseous from certain fumes, my hamster might too. Your post has made me realize fumes can be far worse for hammies; deadly, in fact. As for the tank/barred cage issue, it makes perfect sense. In all my reading through the years, it says not to have them in drafts. A hammy moved from a tank to a barred situation wouldn't be used to drafts we wouldn't even notice! I don't have to worry about this as my hams are in combination cages from the get-go. Ted E. and Nutmeg have both tank and barred parts of their setups. I will definitely keep to this pattern after learning about Teddie's troubles.
I love your vet. I really like vet's who take time with me and my pets, and your vet sounds great. I wonder how many hammies might benefit from your interaction with your vet? I think HC hammie owners give as much info as they get from their vets.
I got such a kick out of the stethescope on Teddie's tummy. How cute! (Another photo added to my file for my screensaver!) What a good little patient! I'm sure you are relieved for this to be over and the situation understood. {hugs} Feel better Teddie! {pet, pet, pet}

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I am glad Teddie is improving and your Vet was so helpful - I bet Teddie felt better just from being taken to the Vets! It must have been like a holiday lol!

I had something similar when I moved Charlie to his new cage, but not as bad as Teddie. Charlie moved from a Rotostak Space Command to an 80 x 50 cage. The base of the Space command was about a third of the size of the cage, and had solid walls and not very good ventilation. I remember thinking at the time, maybe I should do it gradually, but as it was late in the evening, I left Charlie in the new cage overnight, and by morning he had made a nest in the new cage so I left him in there. But for 10 days it was really upsetting to see him - even my other half was getting worried. Charlie wasn't eating much either or drinking much, and would sit and shake and shiver and if he moved at all would drag himself around as if he was an old man. Other half was getting so concerned he said maybe we should put a cloth over the top of the cage at night like you do with bird cages, so he didn't feel so exposed. After a week we were seriously thinking about putting him back in his old Rotastak, but I decided not to because the reason we moved him out was he was getting stuck in the tubes, so I just talked to him and said sorry Charlie it's not safe for you in the old cage - which is probably idiotic as he wouldn't understand! 10 days he was like this! And we were all angst-ridden and I was thinking of getting another big rotastak unit and connecting them with bigger tubes. Then suddenly on Day 14 he turned the corner and came out and seemed his old self again, and was having fun, climbing bars, wanted to come out in his ball and all was fine, and we were all happy again! But ever since then he has been VERY sensitive to any change in his cage, but I think he is slowly getting used to the odd bit of spot cleaning and is regaining confidence a bit. I actually think he would be happier in a tank as the cage clanging when the door is opened still makes him nervous, but I don't want to move him again now and mostly he is fine. I remember thinking that in future I would not do 'cold turkey' again but do the change gradually and it is really helpful to hear that your vet recommends this as I wasn't sure what to do at the time, but I suppose it makes sense to do things gradually. Even now, when he has been in his ball and goes back in the cage, he is very cautious about re-entering the cage and checks everything out cautiously, as if he associates being out of the cage with change - which of course does happen! I have recently been doing some of the spot cleaning while he is in the cage, so he can see what happens and get used to me doing it. He comes out and takes great notice - and if I go anywhere near his house he 'guards' it! I suppose they are more sensitive than we realise to change in environment. When he is out in his ball he regularly goes over to where his old rotastak was and has a good sniff, but he is getting used to it all now.

I bet in 10 days time Teddie will be leaping around and having a whale of a time and he won't look back lol!

Hi Serendipity-

The transport to the vets for Teddie went very well. She had a box in the carry cage, that she could hide in if she felt overwhelmed. Tbh, she sat on top of the box, in the carry cage, durning the car ride, like an wide eyed child. She ate the peanut that was in the cage, and had a sip of water.. Lol..
I didn't feel she was stressed or really bothered by the car ride, but looked at it more of an adventure/field trip. Lol

I found your story about your hams experience with transitioning to a barred cage interesting. Similar to Teddie, but Teddie didn't show noticeable signs of stress or illness, for the first 2 weeks of transitions her, to the barred cage. It was when I added on the additional top cage, she fell ill, and it was sudden.
But with my dwarf ham Candy, she showed signs for a few weeks when I transitioned her to the Ikea Detolf.

We do what we can to enhance our fur babies
Homes, not realizing that some changes can effect them in different ways.
It's lessons that are learned, and it seems never ending with learning about our hamsters..
I'm happy your ham has adjusted.

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Hi Teddy. I am so glad Teddie is okay. I really like your post as it has good clear info that all of us can learn from. Even though it turned out the fumes weren't at fault, (And I'm sure your husband is waaaayyy relieved over that!), it's good to know how a hammy can be hurt around fumes. I just figured if I feel woozy and nauseous from certain fumes, my hamster might too. Your post has made me realize fumes can be far worse for hammies; deadly, in fact. As for the tank/barred cage issue, it makes perfect sense. In all my reading through the years, it says not to have them in drafts. A hammy moved from a tank to a barred situation wouldn't be used to drafts we wouldn't even notice! I don't have to worry about this as my hams are in combination cages from the get-go. Ted E. and Nutmeg have both tank and barred parts of their setups. I will definitely keep to this pattern after learning about Teddie's troubles.
I love your vet. I really like vet's who take time with me and my pets, and your vet sounds great. I wonder how many hammies might benefit from your interaction with your vet? I think HC hammie owners give as much info as they get from their vets.
I got such a kick out of the stethescope on Teddie's tummy. How cute! (Another photo added to my file for my screensaver!) What a good little patient! I'm sure you are relieved for this to be over and the situation understood. {hugs} Feel better Teddie! {pet, pet, pet}

Hi Dr. K-

The vet called me today to check on how Teddie was doing.. I was very surprised that the vet called. I'll be calling her back tomorrow due to I wasn't able to asset how Teddie was doing as she's been sleeping since last night around 7 pm. Teddie did come out late tonight to eat then went back to sleep. Lol. She looked good, and I'm happy she ate tonight.

The stethoscope pic, is priceless! Lol. The vet used a smaller sized stethoscope which I thought was too funny! Lol.

I agree, it's just safe not to use anything that releases fumes, around hamsters. Better safe than sorry. It's so true, that things that we may not even realize would effect an hamster, can effect them. I've learned from this, and if my experience can be of help to others, I don't mind sharing, and will .

Teddie was doing fine until the add on cage which is closer to the ceiling fan- had I realized how much more " wind/draft" she was exposed to, I would have turned off the fan right away. It's a lesson to be learned, that's foresure!

I love this vet! How many vets actually take the time for follow up calls? And for an hamster.. Lol.

I asked her questions about Candy and she gave me suggestions, which she could have said, no, I would need to book an appt.

Once Teddie adjusts, I'm sure she will really thrive in her set ups. Your hams are in an ideal situation- they have adapted to both barred and glass housing

Teddie appeared to enjoy the car ride, and allowed the vet to handle her no problem, even tolerated being turned on her back, and teeth checked. Vet said she's a very well mannered and friendly hamster, and address Teddie, as " girlfriend" hah!

Also, on the walk into the vet, Teddies little nose was twitching a million miles per hour!! She has never been outside, with the exception, of when I adopted her, the walk to my car. But there was grass freshly cut, and a nice warm day, and Teddie was so intrigued with being outside, and all the new scents and smells of outdoors.. That was neat to see, and for Teddie to experience

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by ianpallen

Glad to hear the good news that it is not terminal or fatal. A trip to the vets was well earned and learned. I am pleased she is ok.

Thanks, Ian.. You and me, both.. So thankful she's recovering, and should make a full recovery..xx

[Pebbles82]

What a lovely vet you have! You know after you described Teddie's journey and his nose twitching, it made me think it's a shame they only get taking places when they need the vets. Maybe we could take them shopping with us! In a carry case of course. And to the park. Although they'd just want to get out I guess.