Odd behaviour?

Chezzu · 05-15-2016, 02:22 PM

Hello all!

I have a few hamsters at the moment but my little Dumpling is the little fella of my concern

He's a little Russian Campbells at the fine age of two, my little old man! He's been acting very unusual over the past few days - he's never been particularly energetic, a little bit more on the snoozy side I'd say! But over the past few days he's been constantly running on his wheel and barely sleeping. I'm honestly not exaggerating with this either - the past few days I've been housebound. All day and almost all night for around 3 days he's been awake 90% of the time, and when he's been sleeping he's only been napping for around 5-10 minutes before waking up again and running on his wheel again. I'm getting worried because I haven't changed anything with him, not his diet, not his cage, not his toys, not his substrate - literally not anything apart from giving him fresh water daily.

I'm concerned with all this sudden energy as it's very out of character for him and I'm worried about him burning himself out? Has anyone got any suggestions or reasons for this? I'm thinking if this behaviour continues I'll take him to the vets just to be safe.

josiemv09 · 05-17-2016, 04:09 PM

Could he have developed diabetes? sometimes that's what over-activity is.....

cypher · 05-17-2016, 10:43 PM

Did you go to the vet? Just realised you posted this a few days ago & I missed it, it does sound as though it could possibly be diabetes with irregular blood sugar levels causing spikes in activity but it's really hard to know without testing their urine, at such a great age things can begin to go wrong or just not work so well so it would be best to get the opinion of a good vet if you can I think.

Chezzu · 05-19-2016, 10:54 AM

I did go to the vet! He's been a couple of times in the past few days because of his behaviour, the vet said it was unusual because nothing seemed to be wrong with him, after having his day of hyperactivity (which his blood sugar was tested for diabetes, luckily it wasn't the case) he's slowed right down - he barely wakes up to eat and drink and has just been sleeping the rest of the time.
I've been to the vet again with him with this newbehaviour but she seems to just think he's "near to the end of his time" :'c

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-19-2016, 11:57 AM

For diabetes the blood has to be tested at various times throughout the day to be truly effective. Just checking one time wouldn't rule out glucose problems in my opinion. You could buy keto-diastix urine strips from a pharmacy. May have to order them as some pharmacies don't carry them anymore. But you just dip the end of the strip in a urine puddle at different times of the day, doing the best you can anyways

over a few days you should get a more accurate indication of diabetes or not? Sometimes if it is too low blood sugar thus causing the hyper energy the strips wouldn't even help. They only help if there is too high of glucose in the urine.

I had a hamster with too low blood sugar and she ran on the wheel constantly and eventually she got real sick and stopped eating and drinking. She was treated by a vet and she lived a few more months and then passed away. Wasn't really sure of her age.

Chezzu · 05-19-2016, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnamon Bear

For diabetes the blood has to be tested at various times throughout the day to be truly effective. Just checking one time wouldn't rule out glucose problems in my opinion. You could buy keto-diastix urine strips from a pharmacy. May have to order them as some pharmacies don't carry them anymore. But you just dip the end of the strip in a urine puddle at different times of the day, doing the best you can anyways

over a few days you should get a more accurate indication of diabetes or not? Sometimes if it is too low blood sugar thus causing the hyper energy the strips wouldn't even help. They only help if there is too high of glucose in the urine.

I had a hamster with too low blood sugar and she ran on the wheel constantly and eventually she got real sick and stopped eating and drinking. She was treated by a vet and she lived a few more months and then passed away. Wasn't really sure of her age.

He was in overnight so he had his blood tested various times throughout the night, but I'll get some urine strips too just to be safe! Thank you for the recommendation however!

The vet is doing home visits a few times during the week to give him little check ups without having to remove him from his home - though she's pretty confident that he's just old and it may be his time, I really hope she just so happens to be wrong aha..

cypher · 05-19-2016, 11:05 PM

It does sound as thought it is some effect of old age then, hopefully he'll manage fine for some time yet but when they get to this age things often don't work so well & you can get a range of symptoms, there probably isn't much that could be done to change things, just spoil him & enjoy your time together!

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-20-2016, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chezzu

He was in overnight so he had his blood tested various times throughout the night.

That's good, then the vet would know for sure then re diabetes!

Chezzu · 05-20-2016, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

It does sound as thought it is some effect of old age then, hopefully he'll manage fine for some time yet but when they get to this age things often don't work so well & you can get a range of symptoms, there probably isn't much that could be done to change things, just spoil him & enjoy your time together!

He's certainly being spoiled rotten! He's getting many kisses and I've even baked him a few home-made treats! He seems to only be getting worse unfortunately but hopefully it's just temporary </3

Chezzu · 05-25-2016, 11:03 AM

I'm very upset to report that Dumpling passed away a couple of days ago - I had to take a few days before posting here because obviously I was very upset about it </3