Vet switch..

Teddy001 · 10-17-2014, 06:38 AM

The exotic vet, that I've been taking my hams to, went into labor.. So, she will be on maternity leave- her clinic referred me to a vet that I had no idea of, that has 2 Exotic Vets, that are very familiar with treating hamsters, and knowledgeable treating diabetic dwarf hamsters..! I'm Ecstatic! My hams records have been transferred to them, and they called just now, checking on my hamsters.. They would like to see Candy, ASAP- so, I booked an appt. for tomorrow afternoon. They specialize in treating, hamsters, ferrets and Guinea pigs..

cypher · 10-17-2014, 07:34 AM

That's such good news! Keep us posted on how it goes.

BrainGirl · 10-17-2014, 07:47 AM

That's great news! Exotics-savvy vets can be so hard to find. Hope you like them and more importantly, hope your hams like them

SinNyx · 10-17-2014, 08:18 AM

It's great that you have found another vets that have the experience, hope things go well

Willow Wisp · 10-17-2014, 08:22 AM

Great news

I hope all goes well with Candy

Teddy001 · 10-17-2014, 09:48 PM

Thanks, all.. I have 4 pages of Candy's history, and what I feed her, what I want to ask the new vet, (foods) and many more questions.. LOL.. I hope they don't charge by the hour.. aha..

Teddy001 · 10-18-2014, 02:20 PM

We just finished the vet appt. for Candy. First off, he was very impressed with the information that I had printed for him to look at- he said, I had more knowledge than he did regards to potentially diabetic hamsters. The appt was 2 hours long. He weighted Candy, and I took in her food mix to look at, and photos of her Diastix results.

He was not 100% convinced she is diabetic, based on the Diastix results- he said they are geared for human testing, and he did not know, of any rodent specific way of testing a hamster, to get an 100% positive result of diabetes. **Which differs from the last vet- she tested Candy with Diastix, which I did tell him. He said, he's like to see scientific research, on this method of testing for an diabetes confirmation, based on the results, for a hamster. I'd say, 2 vets, with different views of the use of diastix's. UGH!

He did agree excessive water drinking, is a sign and also, excessive wet substrate. Hince: what goes in must come out. He also, said, diabetic hams typically lose weight not gain-

We had long conversations on the possibilities of what's wrong with Candy. Based on the information I gave to the vet, he felt more comfortable treating the obvious symptom's, first. Which Candy is very over weight, which could be due to many reasons. He said she could be diabetic type 2, due to the over weight could cause glucose retention- he also thinks she may have cushings disease , but in his professional opinion he is not convinced she is diabetic, as in truly full blown diabetes, and feels once she drops weight, her glucose will regulate to the " norm."

Treatment will be, reducing her food mix, and continue to feed her add'l protein and fiber. He thinks she picked out the high fat seeds, and that's how she gained the weight- he would like to see Candy lose no more than 5 grm per month, target goal, 75-70gms. Then at that point he would like to re-evaluate, her.

Reducing her food, and adding excercise, even if it's a few minutes, a few times per day, to start, since she does not like to excercise, he said, that would be a good, gradual start.

He recommended, Oxbow Essentials, if she can gradually be weaned off food mix's- he also was looking for an Calorie calculator on the hamster food bags, but there not on the labels.

He also said there maybe other health issues, that cause high levels of glocose, and each case should be carefully looked at, before final diag. of diabetes.

Also, he's not ever treated an diabetic hamster :/.. He said he will be doing research about it.

So, at this time, I'll be following the recommendations of the vet in hopes Candy drops some weight- if she does not, then he would like to see her in 4 weeks, and she may have an underlining condition, which we will cross that road when or if it happens..

**DrKMcK** · 10-18-2014, 02:27 PM

Hi Teddy. Ask him about the block foods, like the Harlan Teclad 2018 ones I buy for my crew. They can't separate foods out and the are nutritionally balanced. My guys all love them. I break the blocks up into smaller pieces for Almond, because he's a dwarf, and he really likes them. Candy could have these with no other dry food, along with fresh greens and be okay. See what the vet says. He sounds wonderful btw. A hamster on a diet...

Teddy001 · 10-18-2014, 04:02 PM

Dr.K, I did ask him about Teklan. He hadn't heard of it. :/.. (Really?) lol This vet clinic is fairly large, and specialize in exotics. I just don't think people where I'm at, take their hamsters/rodents to the vets. That is the impression I got, based on our conversation.
I didn't have the Teklan bag. I bought it in bulk. I was going to ask him to look at the ingredients, online, but got distracted, with talking about other things. I may give him a call, and ask him for his opinion on Teklan.

Candy has eaten it before, but I switched her to mixed ham food for variety.

Since it's a weight management issue, vet suggested, high fiber, low fat, and protein not to exceed 15%.. for right now. Pretty much what the other vet suggested. It's a fine balance which can be a bit complicated, to figure the percentages, when the food is a mix, it would be less confusing with " block" food.

He really liked the Oxbow Essentials, problem is, how does one get their hamster to eat it? Lol

I would ideally like to switch Candy to the Teklan blocks, in addition to a few Oxbow pieces, and get her off of the mixed foods. She's a ham that picks the seeds out and really doesn't eat the other pieces of food.

.

He advised no more than 1 tablespoon, per day, of hamster food, in addition to the fresh food, and he actually asked me if I'd heard of mealworms? Lol. Vet recommended mealworms. I asked him about the mealworms fat content, and he said, a " pinch" of mealworms, each day, with the high fiber, high protein low fat diet- although, mealworms do contain " fat" the amount that she will be getting, the protein content out ways the fat, in this case.

I asked about sprouting bean sprouts, and broccoli sprouts- he says that would be fine to give to Candy. Also fenugreek, would be good to give Candy- with an limit per day. Timothy hay, fresh broccoli, cauliflower is good. He didn't want me to give Candy alpha.

Tofu, plain cooked chicken- he said okay to fed her those each day- he said not to add any other seeds or ingredients, to her food at this time, since she's obviously picking out certain seeds- block would be so much easier.. Lol.

SO, yep, Candy's on a diet- lol- and has been enrolled in " boot camp workout) lol.

BTW- Candy was great today- she was very curious during the car ride, and put smiles on the staffs faces, was very friendly and let the vet assistant and vet hold her, and didn't appear to be stressed.

cypher · 10-19-2014, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddy001

SO, yep, Candy's on a diet- lol- and has been enrolled in " boot camp workout) lol.

Aww bless her! She's not alone though, I'm trying pretty much the same with my overweight boy

It sounds as though you have quite a lot to think about after your long vet visit but it does seem as though your vet is being very thorough & certainly not making any assumptions which is great.
Good luck to you & Candy, I really hope she progresses well