Adele Syrian - suddenly not drinking and wobbly

Amys_Mum · 07-10-2018, 10:50 AM

Hi, I'm after some advice on my 20 month old Syrian Adele.

Last week she was scratching herself and on Friday I noticed a large bald patch on her left event gland. Vet treated her on Saturday with Xeno 50 and clipped long nails at the same time. Adele was held quite tightly for this - she squeaked at one point which she rarely does.

Sunday morning she seemed fine but by Sunday evening she seemed a bit slower than usual and last night she was very quiet - she normally runs around the cage whenever she hears voices.

This morning I checked on her and she was barely moving, I felt sure she would pass during the day. But she's still with us, but moving about slowly and her hind legs seem weak. She's not drinking but did take some cucumber from me.

I've removed access to the top part of her cage to keep her on one level but is there anything I can give her to keep her energy up? I am off work tomorrow so can take her back to the vets but I need to get her through the night.

I wonder if she's hurt from being held on Saturday? Or if she has something wrong that's been masked by the mites and is now taking hold. I don't want to lose her just yet, if whatever shd has is treatable, she's such a character.

souffle · 07-10-2018, 11:33 AM

I'm sorry she's not feeling so well. There are a few things to consider. It could have been that something else was the cause of her fur loss rather than mites and this has now progressed. A patch over the scent gland only is unlikely to be mites and more likely to be hormone related.
She may have reacted badly to the mite treatment. It can happen in some small animals.
It could have been the handling has caused some internal problem / rupture and this would be quite serious. It could even have been a small stroke. Most hamsters who get through 24hrs after a stroke will survive it.
Check her water bottle is working well. give her a small dish as sometimes they cannot stand up to use the water bottle and become dehydrated. You could drip or spoon feed her some fluids - try some child rehydration fluids or a teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt in a pint of water would work.
Infections / other diseases and problems can escalate quickly especially if she has been under stress at the vets so keep her very calm.
I would offer her some baby food in a low saucer (Pringles lid we use) and also some small soaked stuff like cheerios are liked. You could try some little bits of cucumber too. Anything to get her eating again.
Is she swollen at all? Weight loss? Breathing OK? It was extremely hot on Sunday and this has stressed may animals.
I'd phone your vet for further advice and see how she goes over night with the fluids and baby food or readybrek.

Amys_Mum · 07-10-2018, 11:41 AM

Thank you Souffle. Her weight is ok and I can't feel any lumps or anything untoward. Breathing seems fine.

She's had the cucumber and perked up quite a lot! But obviously something's not 100%. I tried syringing water but she turned her head away and she always has a bowl as well as a bottle after I had a bottle fail and not realise straightaway - she doesn't care for the bowl though. I'll see if I can find something shallower.

The patch is only one side, vet said hormonal is usually symmetrical?

We have cheerios- do I soak in milk or water? I can pop out later for baby porridge, do I make that up with milk or water?

souffle · 07-10-2018, 12:27 PM

I'd stick with water in the mix at the moment. If you can get a little jar of something like grandmas sunday lunch or maybe pumpkin and chicken dinner they do like that though. Try and get a savory one with chicken. Mine have turkey rissoto or chicken and pasta sometimes (first stage) and like that. Hope she rallies round for you.

Amys_Mum · 07-10-2018, 02:00 PM

Wow, she's perked right up since having the cheerios! I'm wondering if she was struggling with solid food for some reason, and the softer food has been easier for her.

I live in a tiny village and nearest supermarket shuts at 10 but I'll give her more cheerios tonight and buy the baby food tomorrow. Hopefully some tlc will buy some time for me to work out if it was stress from the weekend or something else, that's caused her to stop eating and drinking. I'd say she's 75% her usual self right now where a few hours ago it was 10%.

Thank you so much for your advice, I didn't know where to begin to nurse her. We're all just amazed at the difference right now!

souffle · 07-10-2018, 02:32 PM

You should check her teeth are OK But try and do this yourself. Your vet does not sound the best at handling. If she is having trouble eating then you could also soak some of her regular mix to soften it a bit. You have to watch they don't store the wet stuff as it can make them ill if it goes off in the store.
Strokes can affect them in the way you describe so it could be that. If she is getting fluid from the foods that is good too. Watch outthat she is weeing and pooing as sometimes a stroke can affect digestive function. Watch for bloating or straining. If you do take her back I'd insist you handle her. The teeth should be short at the top and the bottom two teeth should be aligned and not splayed but they are fairly long and as long as they appear even and not jutting in to the roof of the mouth they are likely OK.
Keep feeding the hard food though so they are still grinding the teeth together to keep them worn to correct length.
I hope she rallies round for you.

Amys_Mum · 07-14-2018, 01:59 PM

Thank you for all your help and advice Souffle. I still haven't worked out what the underlying problem was, but Adele is now a lot better. She LOVED the chicken dinner, and quite happily scoffed that and the soggy cheerios for a couple of days. She's now eating her normal food and behaving normally ... well normally for her!

souffle · 07-14-2018, 02:32 PM

That's really good news. It does sound like she has had a bad shock at the vets.
You could try this for the nails - pop her in a wire sieve and put something over the top. The nails will drop through the wire and you can snip them off with nail scissors.
Keep given her maybe a little soft food every day or so as older hammies do enjoy it as a wee treat.
As long as she is not itchy or losing a lot of hair then I think I might leave the bald parch! It's not rubbing on the wheel is it?