Luna update Amoxicillin (Synulox)

[LunaTheHamster1]

Luna update - Some of you may remember she has renal failure and she got a bad UTI a few months back and has been on baytrill since. She is still active, eating and drinking, but starting to drink a bit more (i know this is not a good sign), and her urine stinks and last night I saw a load of white gunk around her bum area. No sign of that now. But when i took her to the vets today he wanted to put her on another antibiotics alongside the baytrill and for her to see the specialist vet on wednesday.

Anyway I just took the medicine out to work out what i needed to do with it, and read the leaflet and it says do not give to hamsters. I did a quick google and saw that Erins animals has it on her list of do not give to hamsters. It is Synulox Paltable drops aka Amoxicillin

Anyone out there that can give me their opinion, I will be ringing the vets in the morning

[sushi_78]

The reason amoxicillin is considered dangerous for guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils is because it kills intestinal bacteria, causing diarrhoea which may be severe. To be safe, I would ring the vet again and explain your concerns, and double check that they meant to prescribe amoxicillin. It may have been a mistake. Ask if they can prescribe a different antibiotic. This article (Drug Therapy in Pet Rodents) lists some antibiotics that are considered safe for hamsters (amoxicillin is not among them).

Just out of curiosity, what were Luna's symptoms that led to her being diagnosed with renal failure? I've heard of it occurring it rodents, but I wasn't sure what symptoms it would cause? How was it diagnosed?

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by sushi_78

The reason amoxicillin is considered dangerous for guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils is because it kills intestinal bacteria, causing diarrhoea which may be severe. To be safe, I would ring the vet again and explain your concerns, and double check that they meant to prescribe amoxicillin. It may have been a mistake. Ask if they can prescribe a different antibiotic. This article (Drug Therapy in Pet Rodents) lists some antibiotics that are considered safe for hamsters (amoxicillin is not among them).

Just out of curiosity, what were Luna's symptoms that led to her being diagnosed with renal failure? I've heard of it occurring it rodents, but I wasn't sure what symptoms it would cause? How was it diagnosed?

Thanks for that. I would rather try a different antibiotic i think - will call them tomorrow.
She had xrays and a scan and it showed her kidneys failing - it could be just an age thing, but she also bleeds every now and then, plus she had a uti - and now she has strong urine,drinking more than normal and possibly another infection, all signs that her kidneys are failing. I may have missed a few things out but i think that is the majority of it. She is still active, eating and drinking, hasn't lost weight, so still has a quality of life.

[sushi_78]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

Thanks for that. I would rather try a different antibiotic i think - will call them tomorrow.
She had xrays and a scan and it showed her kidneys failing - it could be just an age thing, but she also bleeds every now and then, plus she had a uti - and now she has strong urine,drinking more than normal and possibly another infection, all signs that her kidneys are failing. I may have missed a few things out but i think that is the majority of it. She is still active, eating and drinking, hasn't lost weight, so still has a quality of life.

I hope you can sort this out, and that Luna gets better. I know it's horrible when our pets are sick (one of mine is a little off tonight too).

[LunaTheHamster1]

Thanks Sushi, Spoke to the head vet this morning and I totally understand why this type of antibiotics was prescribed - they needed something that worked differently to baytrill, but he also understood my concerns, as she seems to be ok in herself and I haven't seen any more pus we are leaving her just on the baytill and see what the specialist vet says on wed. Seriously, it can be such a rollercoaster ride with these little ones. I hope your little one is feeling better as well.

[souffle]

I've had Septrin prescribed for hammies and have found this very effective especially for chest infections. It's also more palatable than baytril it seems and they eat it easily. That might be an option. Are you giving her any vitamin supplements? These can help when they don't have many bowel bacteria left to break down food and release the vitamins.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by souffle

I've had Septrin prescribed for hammies and have found this very effective especially for chest infections. It's also more palatable than baytril it seems and they eat it easily. That might be an option. Are you giving her any vitamin supplements? These can help when they don't have many bowel bacteria left to break down food and release the vitamins.

Thanks Souffle, I have been giving Luna benebac- so would that help? I haven't been giving her any extra vitamin supplements, I would't even know where to start with that. I do give her veggies which obviously have vitamins in and I keep an eye on her poos, which look pretty normal with the veg and benebac, when she first started the antibiotics these had gone very small and dried looking, but they are not like that at all now.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Souffle, I saw the specialist vet yesterday and he said Septrin is always an option, ( I didn't even say you had mentioned it) but if need be i can increase the baytrill first, up to a certain level. But for now Luna seems to have got over her blip, so we are leaving well enough alone.

[souffle]

Glad to hear she seems to have rallied round again. I'd likely try septrin rather than increasing the dose myself if she has a relapse but hopefully she will stay well enough not to need that