Respiratory infection

candice clews · 03-04-2019, 11:35 AM

Hi. The last couple of days my hamster Gizmo (About 3 or 4 months old) has been making squeaking/sneezing noises frequently. Today it has got worse and she's been doing it continuously. Unfortunately we didn't realise the wood shavings we purchased last week are in fact pine - unsafe for hamsters. A mistake I now highly regret

We have not long just got back from the vets and they have said she has a respiratory infection and is on antibiotics for 7 days.

My question is, whats the usual outcome/recovery for respiratory infections?

She currently only has the sneezing/squeaking noise when she breathes, however they've said if she gets any other symptoms ie diarrhoea or discharge from the nose or eyes then to take her back ASAP.

Cost just over £30 which wasn't too bad. The vet and receptionists loved seeing her haha, but Gizmo definitely wasn't keen with the car journey or being held by the vet and got very jumpy and was getting stressed etc. I've emptied her cage of the wood shavings and put newspaper down temporarily and she's now settled back down in her bed.

Another quick question; I know sawdust/wood shavings has to be Aspen to be safe, but do you recommend this or would it be better to use a different substrate? I'm from the UK by the way.

Hoping all will clear up. Fingers crossed!

cypher · 03-04-2019, 12:44 PM

In the Uk pine shavings have to be kiln dried & dust extracted so are in fact safe to use but some hams can be allergic to them.
The safest option is probably a paper based substrate, either fitch or Kaytee clean & cosy both of which are really good. A 10kg bag of Fitch is really economical in the long run too.

candice clews · 03-04-2019, 03:03 PM

Ah I didn’t know that, thank you!
Is it likely that the respiratory infection is from the woodshavings being pine then or could it be something else that has caused it?
Strangely enough my other hamster Penny was sneezing a bit a couple of weeks back and she stopped then and has been completely fine since.
Anyway we’ve gave her, her first lot of antibiotics tonight so hopefully won’t be long until she’s on the road to recovery! Got my fingers crossed.
Thank you for the advice on the substrates. Helps a lot.

cypher · 03-04-2019, 10:51 PM

It's unlikely that the substrate would cause a respiratory infection, sometimes it's hard to know why they get something like that the meds should clear it up though, hope she's better soon.

ETA I forgot to say about Kaytee clean & cosy, it's best to stick to the white one, it comes in colours as well & some are scented but you can't go wrong with the white.

candice clews · 03-06-2019, 07:31 AM

Thanks for your help. Gizmo is still making the squeaking/sneezing noise and to me feels like she has lost a bit of weight although she is eating. I have gave her some scrambled egg too and she's taken that well, which is good. She's only had 4 doses so far, so still quite a few to go as she started it monday evening. Fingers crossed she will begin to improve soon!