New hamster sneezing - Page 3

cypher · 02-01-2018, 08:38 AM

If you do want to boost immunity I wouldn't focus on any one food, brazil nuts are really good (for selenium, zinc & iron mostly) but so are other foods, pumpkin seeds are particularly good for the immune system too but the most important thing is variety so you cover everything, a good variety of veg (not too much at once or too much of any one thing) can make a big difference.

astrid · 02-05-2018, 08:21 PM

Thank you again for your replies cypher and Serendipity!

Pippin seems to be doing a bit better and sneezing much less. We are still going to the vets every day for his medicine (except for Sunday when they were closed. I've tried to give him his medicine myself, and he was not very pleased with me and kept struggling. I'm not sure if I managed to get a full dose in, or if some of it ended up dripping onto his fur).

I've seen your advice cypher about mixing it in with baby food, but Pippin is a very picky eater and, so far, he has completely ignored a few different types of baby food that I've offered him (even without the bitter medicine flavour inside). I do give him some veggies daily for extra vitamins and to strengthen his immune system though.

I've also given him a half of a brazil nut Serendipity. He ignored it at first but has been munching on it from time to time for the last two days. I was wondering though, where could I get the echinacea leaves from?

Also, since he has been on the antibiotics for over a week now, I would like to give him some probiotics. Any suggestions regarding these?

cypher · 02-05-2018, 11:34 PM

Good to hear Pippin continues to improve a little more, it's a shame he doesn't like baby food, that does make things more difficult, have you tried him with porridge? Can't think of much else that would make giving meds easier really.
I would recommend probiotics, for short term use Pro C which you can get from P@H or other health shops is fine, don't put it in his water though, you need to give it a few hours apart from the meds so I would try sprinkling a little on some veg for him.

Pebbles82 · 02-06-2018, 07:26 AM

Our last Syrian wouldn't touch anything that had medicine in and would give you a black look as if saying - are you trying to poison me?

Difficult - some of them will reject anything if they think it has anything in it. If he has nearly finished the course then in future you might find something he likes that would disguise any future medicine that might be needed!

Glad he is improving a bit. Echinacea leaves can be a bit difficult to find (dried usually) and he may not eat them anyway if he's picky! Maybe just keep to the usual diet and the brazil nut is an extra

You could also try some hemp seeds - they are supposed to contain every vitamin and mineral there is so that will help with immunity too. When our last Syrian was old and needed a dietary boost I used to put those out twice a week and he licked them up out of a little baby food lid (any small container to have them separate really - or even just put them on a square of cardboard or something.

He would ignore normal seeds but liked the shelled hemp seeds which are kind of fluffy and look a bit bigger!

I got the Linwoods ones in a bag. Holland and Barratt usually have them (they are for hoomans to put on their cereals I think) and Amazon sells them too.

Even if he's allergic to hemp grass and fabric , doesn't mean he's allergic to the seeds.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linwoods-Sh...led+hemp+seeds

If you're a bit worried about the hemp/allergy thing though, then Linwoods also do a mix of flax seed (linseed), sunflower and pumpkin seeds, which is very nutritious and good for zinc (which is also an immune booster) and vitamins generally. And saves buying lots of different packs of seeds. I'm sure he'd like a teaspoonful of that as it has sunflower seeds in

Maybe best to be on the safe side and not use the hemp seeds.

Zinc was found to cure/lessen colds and flu in people with leukaemia (it was found accidentally). But it isn't always absorbed well as a tablet or humans could prevent colds and flu easily - but in the seeds it is naturally there. Hammies tend to only take what they need of seeds etc.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linwoods-Or...nwoods+linseed

astrid · 02-06-2018, 10:58 AM

Thank you for your replies!

I will pick up some of the Pro C today and should hopefully get the seed mix tomorrow. I just really want Pippin to heal as soon as possible.

It's getting more and more difficult to get him out of the cage in the morning (I think he knows what is coming up). Also, he got so agitated today that he bit the vet and drew blood (he has never bit anyone before), I felt so bad for both of them.

Pebbles82 · 02-07-2018, 05:26 AM

Poor Pippin - he is not liking the vet visits and the meds and telling everyone this is the case. I am sure he will settle again once the meds are finished, but he might need a few days left alone afterwards and then gradual hand taming again possibly until he builds his confidence again. I used to talk to our last Syrian Charlie and say sorry for the upheaval - it's for your own good and things will be back to normal soon and he would sit and listen to me. If you say it in an apologetic, caring tone of voice and then tell him how clever and beautiful he is. Charlie still went awol in his house for a while but got back to normal within a few weeks.

It might actually be better just to buy some pumpkin seeds, linseeds and sunflower seeds in hindsight (the pumpkin and sunflower you can get in the supermarket - they're usually either with bakery ingredients or with nuts or snacks. You can get linseeds from Holland and Barret. Scatter one or two of one each day. Just remembered I got the crushed mix because our hammy was old and had eating difficulties, but the whole ones are probably better for a young hamster

astrid · 02-13-2018, 05:43 PM

Hey again! This Sunday was the last day I was giving Pippin Baytril (the whole course was 14 days). The vet had said that I should observe him this week and if he doesn't get better, the next step would be to put him under anaesthesia to be able to do a more thorough check-up.

It's been only two days since, but so far he does not seem any better. If anything, today he seems to have sneezed more than yesterday. I've been feeding him his Harry Hamster food and giving him a variety of fresh vegetables (occasionally some berries) and some seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and linseed) daily. Also, giving him some pine nuts and half a brazil nut per week. I've tried to leave him alone so that he can get over all the stress of two-weeks worth of vet visits and medicine. His cage is in my bedroom (I'm sharing a house with other tenants) and there is a small oil radiator plugged in all the time to ensure a constant warm temperature.

It seems that Pippin sneezed pretty much throughout a month and a half that I've had him. Otherwise, he doesn't seem ill (as he is eating, drinking, exercising). But I know that, as a prey animal, he might be hiding his symptoms as much as he can. I am just really concerned for him and not sure what to do. Putting him under anaesthesia seems quite drastic. But sneezing all this time doesn't sound normal either. Would anyone have any opinions or suggestions?

cypher · 02-13-2018, 10:15 PM

Really sorry to hear there's been no real improvement astrid, I can't really think of anything else to suggest tbh,
Did the vet say what he would be looking for or what tests he would be doing under anaesthesia? As a young ham he should be fine but there is always some risk so I can understand your concern when he's well other than the sneezing.

astrid · 02-14-2018, 12:11 PM

Thank you cypher! The vet was not very specific with regards to tests. I think I'll go and visit them tomorrow and ask for more details and will seriously consider having it done, if there is no improvement. I just wanted to make sure, does persistent sneezing with no other symptoms always means an illness of some sorts (after ruling out the bedding)?

cypher · 02-14-2018, 01:44 PM

I think the persistent sneezing must be an indication that something is wrong but I really have no idea what after you've ruled out allergies & tried baytril for some time or how serious it might be, if Pippin is fine otherwise it doesn't sound serious right now but I guess it could become worse over time, sorry I can't help more but I really have no idea now!