Worried about Jocci. - Page 5

lady jocardi · 01-07-2016, 04:25 PM

Thin Lizzy...The medicine is liquid. She took it no problem for a week in yoghurt and baby food but won't take it now. She ate the porridge I left out in the night with none in!!
She was awake when we got up this morning and ate a piece of cucumber and had a long drink.she hasn't been out of her nest again today. She was doing a bit of house keeping an hr ago and popped her head out. She didn't open her eyes...but took a piece of carrot.
I'm trying hard to take on board what you are all saying about how old hammer behave and trying to leave her in piece and maker her own decisions....I've no experience of aging hams and as I said before I'm putting everything down to her being ill not old.
I know none of you can make my decisions for me....but if I come down in the morning and there is no evidence of her having eaten at all ....should I still leave her.....or take her to the vet before the weekend? Xx

Pebbles82 · 01-07-2016, 05:02 PM

It sounds like she is eating - just differently - at different times, different amounts, and perhaps a bit less overall. Did the vet suggest a follow-up after giving the painkiller medicine? If not, I'd leave it for now. Maybe try not to make decisions and go with the flow a bit? I know that is easy to say when you feel anxious and worried and emotional about her and want the best for her. But maybe trust her to let you know what she wants.

I was wondering if she is leaving the food with the medicine in because she can taste it, and so avoiding it. I think as others say - she is slowing down and having good and bad days. But if you want an expert opinion on her condition, you could take her back to the vets. They might say they don't know if she is suffering or not though.

The neurological problems don't necessarily mean she is in a lot of pain - just that she is not functioning so well. I don't think anyone can know or tell you, whether to let her carry on in this way, or have her pts. It's just something for you to decide on - or not decide on. I think Jocardi will let you know what she wants somehow. With a look or something.

lady jocardi · 01-07-2016, 06:17 PM

I'm finding this so very difficult xxx

TNTWORX · 01-07-2016, 06:57 PM

i'm so sorry for you and jocci. I cant imagine what you are going through. all things go sometime though. just don't give up hope. I may be a new hamster owner but I thing the best thing you can do, for her and yourself, is keep her company when shes awake. just being there might comfort her. I knowwhat you are going through. my pet mouse recently died over thanksgiving week from an eye infection,the sad thing was we couldn't take him to the vet because the rodent/small animal specialist was on vacation.my mom is a nurse so she did the best she could based on her knowledge of eye infections,but sadly he didn't make it. at least he let us play with him though. best wishes from me and turbo. get well soon.

lady jocardi · 01-08-2016, 03:43 PM

I've tried to take on board the things you have all said. Many of you are a lot more experienced with hammer than i...Jocci is our first furbaby. A number of you have in effect told me to chill out and let Jocci dictate....so I am doing so. I was very worried when I got up this morning as she hadn't left her bed for more than 24 hrs. I checked to make sure she was still with us....and she accepted a small piece of carrot...but shed not touched her porridge with medicine in. I went to work and called the vet to take her this evening. But...as it happened...my daughter took ill in school so I had to leave work to go home. 5 miss after we got home, Lily looked in on Jocci...and she responded to her voice. She poked her head out of her bedding and took the tiniest bit of porridge off a spoon. She managed to pull her self out of bed and came to lily for a cuddle. We put her back after a few mind and she spent the next 15 minutes exploring and forraging. She had a good drink and a wee and went back to bed. This seems to be her pattern now....altho the sleeps in between are getting longer. I had made an appointment with the vet, but after rereading advice and opinions from our friends here....and watching a couple of Erin clips on Youtube...I decided she was best off at that moment comfortable in her nest... not made to wake and taken out in the cold and get stressed. I guess also...If I'd taken her....its unlikely she would have come home again. I spoke with the vet on the phone and explained I simply couldn't wake her at that time and described how she has been. She said she was happy I was doing all I can for Jocci and she felt I was doing the right thing for now.
Some of you have reassured us she's behaving like any other old lady hamster.....so I'm just leaving her chill....making sure she's warm and able to reach snacks when she needs them.
Obviously if she stops eating..I shall reconsider.
I know I go on....and I panic and I'm a bit of a drama queen....but I can't thank you all enough for your support at this difficult time. Jocci is fast asleep in the hugest tissue paper nest I have ever seen at the mo. She looks warm and comfy xx

Pebbles82 · 01-08-2016, 04:23 PM

I'd probably feel exactly the same. I think you are right, that she is best in her safe, cosy, familiar environment with her family around, and it's good the vet thinks there is nothing more you can do. Hugs.

lady jocardi · 01-12-2016, 07:30 PM

*UPDATE*
Thanks again to everyone here for your kind words and thoughts during the last few weeks. Since giving my head a wobble and accepting my beautiful girl is now a graceful old lady who requires more time to herself things have been so much nicer for us all. I came to the conclusion...right or wrong....Jocci stopped taking her medicine because she felt worse with it than without....I know how strong painkillers make me feel...so its a possibility. She's eating well again and still coming for cuddles most evenings. Altho the shake is still there and her breathing seems a little laboured at times she's certainly no worse and is not loosing weight.
I shall post her progress on Jocardi's Thread in the Sirian section from now on so I don't repeat myself!

Thank you all again...I dread to think what I'd have done without your wise words and support xx

cypher · 01-12-2016, 10:16 PM

That's good news, I'm sure you're right about the pain meds, especially for such a small animal long term use could well make them feel quite sick I would imagine, if she seems to be managing well enough without them for now that's great, I really hope she continues to do well & enjoy her cuddles for some time yet.

racinghamster · 01-13-2016, 07:49 AM

Hamsters and other small animals know their food is laced with something and most (not all) medications taste foul, so it`s no surprise that they refuse to take them, it`s not your fault! Personally, the only drug I have given at all over the past ten years to my mice when I kept them was the antibiotic Baytril for on going respiratory issues. Anything else is usually unlicensed in small animals although vets do calculate the risks involved. You sometimes feel as though your in the world of the unknown when dosing these medications and small animals have such fast metabolism, they require regular dosing depending on the medication to fully have the desired effect, so I usually never bother.

I prefer to concentrate on the immune system and overall body condition itself and look at the diet, is it adequate for the hamsters age? Could it be added to or made better? All you can really do is manage her diet well and make sure she`s managing in her own little world.

Treat tip:

Take a pestle & mortar (or a freezer bag and a rolling pin/hammer!)

Add: One de-shelled sunflower seed
One pumpkin seed (de-shelled will be a green colour)
One small peanut
One dry mealworm
A small piece of dry banana (sometimes found in a hamster mix)
Half a Science Selective Biscuit (if you don`t have this food, you could use a small piece of rich tea biscuit about the size of a fingernail)

Place these all together and mash them all up into a fine powder. One done, put the powder into a ramekin dish. Add one or two `drops` of cold water to combine the mixture with a teaspoon. Don`t add too much water as you want a soft marzipan-like consistency. You don`t want a watery mush! The trick is less water and only add a drop more if necessary.

Break the mixture up into small pieces (about the size of a large pea) and allow to sit on a saucer. These can be fed right away while soft, or left to dry a bit and feed as required. All natural unless you need to use a rich tea biscuit!) and smell nutty. My Russian dwarf loves them as treats. Give them a go. x

Thin Lizzy · 01-15-2016, 10:49 PM

So glad the little lady is better. Sometimes as owners we over worry, there's nothing wrong in doing so and I totally understand you what with her being your first hamster. It also shows that you care and love her so much, that's what makes a great owner.
I still worry too much and I've been doing it for 16 years.