How to deal with worms?

[tgsachris]

Hi, been a while since I posted, I recently posted some stuff about my dwarf hamster Rose. She was cold, breathing heavily, and lethargic. From what research I could find, and after describing it over the phone to the vet it seemed like she was suffering from hibernation sickness. She wouldn't eat or drink so I gave her water and food via a syringe for a few days and kept her warm like the vet and some others on here said to do, and as soon as a time opened I took her to the vet and got her medication.

Briefly she started doing a lot better, her breathing is back to normal she has more energy and she is eating and drinking on her own again. But then I noticed another troubling sign.She was eating nearly twice as much as she used to, if that wasn't bad enough she stumbled to her bowl of water (I gave her a bowl because she couldn't reach the tube anymore) drank it all then back flipped (Literally) back into her food dish and continued eating, I would record some of this strange behavior but it is so seemingly random I cant catch her with my phone in hand. I have only ever heard of eating problems like this once and as if on cue the vet called and told me she has worms.
after the last 150$ bill I can't afford to go back, is there anyway to maybe threat worms at home?

[AnyaAndLyra]

Originally Posted by tgsachris

Hi, been a while since I posted, I recently posted some stuff about my dwarf hamster Rose. She was cold, breathing heavily, and lethargic. From what research I could find, and after describing it over the phone to the vet it seemed like she was suffering from hibernation sickness. She wouldn't eat or drink so I gave her water and food via a syringe for a few days and kept her warm like the vet and some others on here said to do, and as soon as a time opened I took her to the vet and got her medication.

Briefly she started doing a lot better, her breathing is back to normal she has more energy and she is eating and drinking on her own again. But then I noticed another troubling sign.She was eating nearly twice as much as she used to, if that wasn't bad enough she stumbled to her bowl of water (I gave her a bowl because she couldn't reach the tube anymore) drank it all then back flipped (Literally) back into her food dish and continued eating, I would record some of this strange behavior but it is so seemingly random I cant catch her with my phone in hand. I have only ever heard of eating problems like this once and as if on cue the vet called and told me she has worms.
after the last 150$ bill I can't afford to go back, is there anyway to maybe threat worms at home?

My hamster had worms as well and I didn't even need to call the vet. I gave him a bath because we had just gotten home from a trip to the beach and o brought him along. The beach was great don't get me wrong and he had lots of fun but I never even thought about how he could get worms from it! As I was bathing him he pooped and there was a little stringy thing coming out with it. Pinworms. I did my own research and found that pinworms live in the large intestine and each the vitamins and nutrients from the host. My hamster was old so I made the decision instead of risking medicine (if its strong enough to treat them it could kill them and if it's not strong enough to treat them what's the point?) I decided to just get him added vitamins and it severly increased his comfort and he seemed to be okay for the most part and I think he lived longer than he would have had I not been giving him the added vitamins (purchased for about $10 or less from pet smart and you just put in in their water) its really up to you to decide what to do you could try that but like I said I caught it early on and my hamster never showed sever signs and he was also a Syrian. You could do what I did and ask the vet what kind of worms if you don't already know and learn about them even if you can't find cases of it in hamster even knowing WHAT they do can help you make a decision.. Good luck

[cypher]

I know it can be hard sometimes finding the money for vet fees but I doubt you can treat something like this without meds from your vet, if you vet has diagnosed worms you may only need to pay for the meds & not a follow up consultation fee so I would phone the vet & ask for their advice & see how much they would charge for the meds.

[tgsachris]

Originally Posted by cypher

I know it can be hard sometimes finding the money for vet fees but I doubt you can treat something like this without meds from your vet, if you vet has diagnosed worms you may only need to pay for the meds & not a follow up consultation fee so I would phone the vet & ask for their advice & see how much they would charge for the meds.

That is what I expected, Rose is only better now because of dumb luck (Involving mom and finding money) From what the vet said she isn't in life threatening danger for the moment at least, but she could quickly worsen, I already asked about the cost and they still haven't gotten back to me with a quote.
Side question,do worms cause back flipping and otherwise strange movements or is she just hungry now? I want to make sure everything is taken care of

[Cinnamon Bear]

You have to get her treated for the worms. It's cruel not to. Possible the vet could work out a payment plan with you. Hope your hamster gets the care critically needed and that you and your mom are more than happy to see that she is in good health!

[cypher]

Hamsters are so small they can go downhill extremely fast so need treatment as soon as possible, I really wouldn't delay this.
If back flipping & odd movements are a new behaviour then I would guess (difficult to know without seeing) either she's in pain or has some neurological problem.

[tgsachris]

Back, been to long since I posted again, sorry about that, anyway the vet (Over the phone) said she had a hookworm, and that is really unusual for a dwarf hamster and normally hamsters dont get those, (She even called up another vet to make sure it wasn't a mistake) She has most likely had the thing since I got her (Meaning I am never shopping at that pet smart again) and is only showing symptoms now.
I asked her what I could do and she asked me to come back in and gave her medication (It was included in the visit thank God) and over night Rose is like, back to normal, pretty sure the worm aint dead she said it would take a few weeks but Rose is already climbing up and down her cage again. The only thing she hasn't done oddly enough is knock over her wheel, that's usually the first thing on her to do list, but she runs like crazy in it.

She is super energetic again, I can't describe how happy I am to see her like that.

I also just realized I never formerly introduced her on this site, I need to get on that.

[tgsachris]

Oh yeah she also told me to get her paper bedding and to clean her cage as much as possible, and the back flipping thing, no explanation, she may have just been super hungry or bored. Odd

[cypher]

Good to hear she got the treatment & is on the mend.

[tgsachris]

Originally Posted by cypher

Good to hear she got the treatment & is on the mend.

She literally just build a pyramid of bedding, I think she likes the new paper stuff