Our Hamster is poorly again.

Sazzle · 01-13-2017, 04:23 PM

Hello

I've posted a couple of previous times about my little boy being poorly and have received great advice. I'm currently in a similiar situation again. Since September, he has had a respiratory infection, which cleared up with antibiotics, and then in December he was passing blood and had baytril for a week, then a couple of weeks later passed more blood and had another week of baytril.

For the last 3 weeks he's been great - playful, eating and drinking and coming out every evening. He even had a good run around last night and has been fine - clear urine too.

Today however, he has barely got up at all and I've noticed that he hasn't drank or eaten hardly at all. About an hour ago, he crawled out of bed to go for a wee and has some blood again. He seems like he can hardly move much. I've offered him some bread dipped in milk which he's had but he's just tucked himself back into bed. He's not himself at all.

I have left him to sleep as that seems like what he wants to do but it's awful to think he's unwell again. I guess my question is - is this common, to have him poorly and then fine and then poorly and then fine again in a kind of cycle or do I need to do something else? I can contact his vet again in the morning but I just wondered what more experienced hamster owners thought.

It's making me so sad, because he keeps seeming fine , only to then be poorly again. He is about 17 months old.

Thank you.

Drago · 01-13-2017, 04:35 PM

I think that it may be normal depending on a couple of particular conditions. I don't know much about little guy as I'm a newer member and probably was not around for your introduction (assuming you've done one) but where did you get him from? Problems can be genetic and I'd say it's definitely not a normal hamster thing to be sick as often as he, but if he has generally unhealthy parents, it wouldn't be such a shock that he's unhealthy. It sounds like you and your vet have done all the right things, but I'm not a qualified veterinarian so maybe you could consult with another vet and get their opinion on how to treat him. Treatment which may be right for one ham, may not work on another as every individual is different. That's just my advice, whatever you choose I do hope he feels better soon and you no longer need to stress

cypher · 01-13-2017, 11:09 PM

Sorry to hear that he is unwell again.
It's possible that either he hasn't been on the antibiotics long enough to clear his infection up completely & may just need a longer course, blood in the urine could also be a sign of something else going on, possibly kidney stones, with something like that he would be in pain too.
I think all you can really do is discuss things with the vet again & see what they say about the symptoms returning & any other possible diagnosis other than the respiratory infection & UTI he's been treated for.
It's not exactly common for ham to keep getting ill like this but some hams can have weaknesses of one kind or another that can have an adverse effect on their health.
As he's been on quite a lot of meds already I would give some probiotics which might give him a boost & help his immunity.

Sazzle · 01-14-2017, 12:43 AM

I had him from Pets at Home in October 2015 and he was 10 weeks old. He was In great health for first year after having him. It's only these past few months. The vet is open soon so I'll give them a call.

I've never given probiotics so I'd like to try it from what you've said. Is Pro C from Pets at home okay? And should it be given at the same time as the baytril if that's what the vet gives again? I was wondering how I'd administer it though coz the baytril goes in his water.

Sorry for all the questions. Thank you as ever for replying! I don't know what I'd have done without this site. X

cypher · 01-14-2017, 01:47 AM

The pro c is fine but I would give it a few hours apart from the antibiotics, I never put probiotics in water, the bottles need a thorough clean daily if you do that & you never know what dose they get, I just sprinkle a tiny tiny pinch on some wet food, veg, baby food or porridge, whatever they normally have.
Have you tried giving the antibiotics on food the same way? Most hams will readily take it that way & I think like the probiotics you can be more confident they get the full dose.

Sazzle · 01-14-2017, 02:01 AM

Thanks Cypher for the info.
I have called the vet but it's a different branch of the same practice as his isn't open on Saturday apparently. They've asked me to ring back in an hour so hopefully they'll be able to help.
I will try the probiotic on soft food and maybe the antibiotic too if he is given them again.
He has been up to see me this morning and seems a little brighter than last night, but there's still spots of blood.

cypher · 01-14-2017, 02:05 AM

I'm glad he seems a little brighter, good luck at the vets I hope they can help.

chesca_27 · 01-14-2017, 02:28 AM

Sorry to hear he's unwell again.

I wouldn't put meds in water because Baytril tastes absolutely vile so it may stop him drinking and then you don't know how much medicine he's had. I'd put it on a favourite treat instead, or directly syringe it if possible. Pro-C probiotic will work fine, just don't put it in the water (again will affect water consumption) but mix it into porridge or sprinkle it on veg. He can have probiotic two hours before or after antibiotics. Personally, after antibiotics would work better as this seems more logical to me, but either work.

I would suggest a longer course of antibiotics for him. I don't know if there are any other hamster safe antibiotics, but if there are, I would try something else in case what he has is baytril resistant.

I wish him better

Sazzle · 01-14-2017, 02:50 AM

Thank you all for your replies. He drank the water with Baytril in well last time he had it, but I'll change the approach again if he stops drinking. Off to the vet now.

I also have another question - he's currently in a cage with two floors and a tube ladder between them. I have another, one level cage that is at my mom's and I was wondering if he might be better moved to a single level now he's getting a bit older? It's still nice and big but o thought he might be better if he didn't have to go and up and down? What do you think?

Thank you.

cypher · 01-14-2017, 02:57 AM

I think moving him to the one level cage would be a good idea, he's not that old yet but it may be a good idea to do it now & if he's not feeling well he might manage it better anyway, if you keep all his familiar things in it as much as possible he'll probably enjoy it.