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Old 03-11-2019, 11:52 AM   #1
Fluffchubbs19
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Default Hamster is really poorly

Hello,
My hamster who we have had for 3-4 weeks is only 3 months old.
We took her to the vet yesterday as she had diarrhea, The vet wasnt sure if she had wettail or not but prescribed antibiotics.
We have been struggling giving them to her as she hates the syringe. She perked up a bit this morning but now seems worse.
She is sleeping in a corner all the time and i'm pretty sure she hasnt pee'd or pooped today. We are very worried she may pass away.
Any advice ect would be much appreciated.
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Old 03-11-2019, 01:24 PM   #2
SKB_Hamsters
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

I am so sorry to hear that your hamster isn’t very well.
What antibiotic is she on? As if she on baytril most hamsters despise the taste so it best to mix with some food to disguise the taste. Things which work well are all hamster safe baby food (Baby food suitable for hamsters), some people on the forum use wet dog/cat food too. I have good success with natural 100% peanut butter or watered down honey.

If she has diarrhoea it also best to give her some probiotic (pro c) this helps to increase the good bacteria in their digestive system plus provide beneficial fibre.
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Old 03-11-2019, 01:48 PM   #3
Fluffchubbs19
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

Hello, Thank you for your response. She is on baytril and a recovery powder, I have read this can make her sleepy ect.
I have tried fruit juice, honey and fruit puree. I dont have any peanut butter i have 100 percent cashew butter is that safe? It seems to be more the syringe she pushes it away, i think it freaks her out. Her diarrhoea stopped yesterday evening, but she hasn't pooped since which is concerning me. I was wrong she has pee'd. Where can i get probiotics? Is it the same as natural yoghurt?
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Old 03-11-2019, 02:26 PM   #4
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

It is really hard to pull a hamster through wet tail. Is she hydrated? If she doesn't take in enough fluids and indeed food her system will stop working. It's really important you get her to take the meds and this may mean you have to be quite strong in scruffing her and putting the syringe in the side of the mouth so she takes it. There is some help on giving meds here
https://vectishams.webs.com/givingmedication.htm
Try and get her taking some food. If you have the complete pellets you can soak these to soften. Also offer plenty dry mix and half a teaspoon of babyfood or porridge. If the bowel is badly damaged sometimes they do rally however fail to thrive as they don't absorb food.
Laying out in the open isn't great as it can mean they are failing to regulate body temperature and become confused. Does she feel cold?
Wet tail usually has a distinctive bad odour. How does she smell? If you can pinch up the skin at her neck gently and it stays there she is dehydrated and really would be best staying in at the vets for fluid therapy. Try giving her a small bowl to lap from and keep offering the bottle spout to her or a teaspoon with fluid. You can make a rehydration fluid like you would for a baby with a pint of water, a teaspoon of sugar and a pinch of salt and offer that. Try and get her to take the recovery mix as this will help. It is hard and you will feel you are hurting her forcing it but it needs to be given if she is to have a chance. The probiotics called Pro C can be found at Pets at Home or online from likes of Amazon. I hope she rallies round for you. I wouldn't use anything too unusual just now so not the cashew butter just now
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Old 03-11-2019, 02:54 PM   #5
Fluffchubbs19
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

Hi Souffle,
Thank you for your response. I have heard its not a great survival rate, I think we caught it early as soon as she had diarrhoea i noticed as she was in her ball. She is hydrated i have been making sure she drinks and she has been eating some of the recovery powder. I have checked her neck and her skin bounces straight back. We finally bit the bullet and scruffed her a moment ago, we got the whole dose in, she let me give her some tlc after too bless her she's very gentle natured. I wettened some food early and shes ate a bit of it. I will put some wet food in now too.
She is huddled in a corner its the corner near the radiator that may be why? she felt a little bit cooler that normal but not massively, i have put plenty of bedding in her corner for her.
her bum smell rather offfensive even though the diarrohea has stopped but she hasnt cleaned her bum, Will she do that or do i do it? Dont want to stress her out unless neccessary?
I am going to make the recovery fluid you just suggested now too! I am unable to get to p@h tommorrow so have just ordered some pro c online will be here wednesday.
Thank you for your great advice x
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Old 03-11-2019, 03:59 PM   #6
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

If you give the Baytril by Syringe you could suck up a bit of honey in the syringe with it so it doesn't taste so bad (tip from SKB). I am currently giving Baytril to our robo and there is no way I can pick him up and syringe it - lucky if I can find him and he gets so stressed by handling. I'm giving it in a tiny amount of some dog food that Vectis mentioned - and it's working very well - disguises the taste and our robo eats it so the plate is clean. It must be very tasty. It's not a bit of a wasteful way of doing it - as you only use a tiny bit of food (small pea size)and have to discard the pack after 3 nights of using it. A pack of 6 pouches costs £9 something - not too bad. So that is 18 days of doses.

My vet said they won't eat it in most food because they can taste it, but it works with this beefy dog food - doesn't have any junk in it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Country-Hun...+dog+food+beef
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Old 03-11-2019, 05:30 PM   #7
Fluffchubbs19
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

Thanks for the tip will have to try n pop Asda tomorrow. Does anyone know how long baytril takes to work? She's had four doses so far. Must admit though only 2 if them got all of it in.
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Old 03-11-2019, 06:44 PM   #8
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

Our supermarket didn't sell it unfortunately - Asda might though. I'd say it takes about a week to show anything - I was told to give it for two weeks. It's important they get the dose every day or as with humans, antibiotics can make things worse if they are stopped too soon - likewise missing doses. I'm sure she'll have got some of it, but if it's a problem getting the meds in then trying something strong tasting that they will eat all of might help.
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Old 03-11-2019, 10:32 PM   #9
Fluffchubbs19
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

Just the waiting game then bless her.
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Old 03-12-2019, 03:32 AM   #10
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Default Re: Hamster is really poorly

You can use a little dish of the applaws cat food instead if you prefer. That is well liked. Fingers crossed. I'd leave her bottom area for now to save her stress unless it is really bad and caked on. You can wipe gently with a cotton ball soaked in boiled cooled water and dab dry with a tissue. Poor little mite it really isn't fair.
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