Vet switch.. - Page 5

Teddy001 · 10-21-2014, 06:13 AM

I called the vet, to find out how long I should wait, for her to eat the ham mix. It's going on 2 days, now, and she hasn't eaten it. I know she needs to lose weight, however, it's starting to concern me, that she's not eating the mix, which is what she really needs.

I spoke to the vet tech. She said the vets not in, yet, but when he arrived, she will have him call me. I'm also, going to ask him if he can look at Harland Teklan rodent block food. And if I should switch her to it, and see if she eats it.

Now, I know, she's been eating the seeds and grains that I was adding to her hamster mix, and leaving the hamster mix. That's not good. She needs to eat the contents of the hamster mix, each day, not the add'l seeds and oats that I was adding to it, only.

cypher · 10-21-2014, 07:45 AM

I hope the vet can help but as she seems better in herself & seems to have more get up & go she must be getting most of what she needs for now so I wouldn't worry too much just yet & two days isn't that long so she might come around to eating the mix with a little more time.

Teddy001 · 10-21-2014, 07:57 AM

Yes, I agree. I don't know if she should be eating the amount given, (1 tablespoon) per day to get her vitamins? They go down hill, quickly, just didn't want to wait a week then the weekend, if she continues to not eat the ham mix, for a few more days. Should I stop feeding her the veggies and tiny piece of chicken? That's really what's sustaining her, the past 2 days. I'd think with the start of exercising, that she'd be eating the mix, sliver of veg & chicken, daily. Just seems odd, to me..

Teddy001 · 10-21-2014, 08:18 AM

The vet clinic just called me back. The tech said, to try Oxbow Essentials. UGH!! I know she won't eat it. I told the tech, if she's not eating the seeded hamster mix, there's a high chance she won't touch the Oxbow. I've added Oxbow in her mix before, and it's left in the dish. I asked if she would ask the vet, about Teklan. He's in a meeting, but she said she'll ask him. I asked her how long ham can go without eating ham food, she didn't know..!?!. Waiting for a call back, again. I'm not super worried at this point, I just want to know, if it continues, that she doesn't eat the mix, how long before And what else can I feed her, and when do I feed her something else? I thought hamsters will eat what's in their dish, if they have no other options?

cypher · 10-21-2014, 08:44 AM

If I remember rightly vectis said she feeds every three days so they eat everything rather than just the best bits, so maybe if you leave it a while longer she will eat it.
Mickle is the opposite to Candy & Flynt, she's still really tiny & really isn't at all food orientated, she'll eat a bit everyday but not much then about every third day she'll stuff her little pouches & eat quite a lot, she doesn't have much of a stash either, but she seems to have loads of energy so I guess a few days isn't going to hurt.
I did try mine with science selective which is like the oxbow & they wouldn't touch it, seems some hams just don't like pellets, even when they're hungry!

Teddy001 · 10-21-2014, 09:15 AM

Yes, I remember Vectis did say that. Do they not need the same vitamins each day, just wondering.. She'll probably eat sooner or later. I just wanted to be prepared, in case she decides she's on strike from eating, because her fav's have not been added. Maybe, she's ...waiting... Lol. I do recall the vet saying, with a change in ham food, they sometimes won't eat, to the point of becoming ill. I've not changed her food, just stopped adding add'l seeds, and dried porridge, and reduced the portion. Thanks, Cypher.. Guess, time will tell

.

Update: vet office called, just a few min ago.. What's up with having baby's this month.. Lol. Vets wife is having a baby, he had to leave..! The other vet whom does not typically see exotics, said, he's never heard of Teklan, to call the company to see if they say it's ok for hamsters.. In other words, he doesn't know about hamsters.. Just my luck.! Lol. I'll probably give her the same portion of Teklan, see if she eats it better than the mix.

I just spoke directly to a nutritional specialist, at Harlan Teklan research labs. It was a long conversation, and she was very helpful. What basically was said, is " Native Earth 4018, is what the company sells, which is the Teklan 2018, and can also be purchased from petfooddirect.com. This selection is suitable for hamsters. They sell it in large quantities, due to it's made to feed lab mice/rats. I was also given a recommend portion in " weight" for an dwarf hamster to feed, and so much more information on, the way hamsters feed verses mice/rats. It was rather a very interesting conversation, with the Teklan nutritionist.

cypher · 10-24-2014, 12:10 AM

How's she doing now Teddy?

Teddy001 · 10-24-2014, 02:18 AM

Hi Cypher..

thanks for asking. I switched her to the Harland Teklan Rodent block food. 1 bock weighs appx. 8gms- the Teklan rodent food specialist, suggested 5/6 gms, and see how much she eats. I'm weighing her food, each day. She has not eaten all the food, per day, but I can see, she has eaten a little. Spoiled girl, will eat pieces, if I feed it to her with my fingers.
I take her out 2tx per day, to run in her ball. Some runs, are about 5 min then she finds a dark corner, and falls asleep, at least she's running

.

Tonight she actually was running in her wheel, which I have not seen her do in a very long time. I also, moved her to the other Detolf, which she was in a Detolf, so it was not a major change in the cage itself, however, the other Detolf is set higher up, and I had made it more like a fun park, with a lot of climbing toys, and dig pit, sand area, that I filled deep with sand, and much more for her to do, physically. Candy LOVES it! She digs in the sand, then rolls around in it to bathe, has 2 platforms, play ground, tunnels and deep substrate. I have watched her, and she is out of her nest, exploring and playing, more than I've seen her do in a very long time. I've seen her stand in Meerkat, which she has not done in months. Her eyes are looking " bright", although I know it's still early, she's loss 1 gm so far.
The fenugreek has sprouted, and also the alpha. I gave both Teddie and Candy a little of each of the sprouts last night. Teddie went crazy over both, ate them up. Candy only ate the Fenugreek sprouts, guess she didn't care for the alpha sprouts. Lol.
I think it will take time, for the weight to drop, but, I can see with the short amount of time, running just a little, she appears to be feeling a bit better..

.

How's your boy doing?

cypher · 10-24-2014, 02:23 AM

That's such good news, I'm so glad she's doing well & she sounds really spoilt too, in a good way, lucky girl

Teddy001 · 10-24-2014, 02:50 AM

Thanks, Cypher xx

. Both my hams are my joy..

. I give a lot of my free time to them, and forever learning better ways of meeting their needs. I handled both a lot when they were babies. It's really paid off, both of my girls are very loving hamsters, that enjoy attention, and well behaved, and gentle, although so different in many ways. Teddie's the athlete, Candy's on holiday mode. Lol. I'll post a before and after photo of Candy, once she accomplishes her target weight. Thank you, for your help, and support.