Weepy eye from long-term bone infection

Vierville · 12-12-2019, 05:14 AM

Hello. I'm quite worried about my little Nanuk. She's a winter white hybrid approximately 9 months old.

We got her in June and she had a weepy eye from day one which we immediately took her to the vet for. The vet prescribed antibiotic eye drops which she did not respond to. A second course of these drops did nothing either.

We got a second opinion and the vet found an abscess in her mouth was the cause- infection had gone into the bone and was causing the swelling and weepiness of one eye. He drained the abscess under anaesthetic and put her on purbac and metacam and doxysyrup. She went through periods where it looked like she was improving but then her condition reverted to how it had previously been (eye swollen, some whitish opaque sticky discharge). He then changed her antibiotic to clindomycin which once again showed signs of improvement and then reverted back to how it had been.

Two sets of x-rays showed that there was an underlying bone infection causing the weepiness and occasional pussiness of the eye.

We took her back to the vet for a follow up and he advised that she could not be given any further antibiotics as it places a strain on their system and could affect kidney function.

Throughout the whole process she has remained very energetic, has a healthy apetite, lots of energy and shows no signs of discomfort or pain however her eye varies from looking almost normal to appearing swollen and sometimes weeping a whitish opaque sticky liquid.

Since there is basically no more that can be done by the vet I just wanted some advice on how to proceed?

We absolutely love her and she is such a special little character and we want to do the right thing for her whatever that is.

Thank you for any advice.

Pebbles82 · 12-12-2019, 05:25 AM

I am so sorry to hear this. It is very difficult when there is no further treatment available. I have given the odd piece of burdock root to chew on - they seem to like chewing on it - it's supposed to be a natural detoxifier that helps the body heal itself and is safe for hamsters.

Thyme is also a natural antiseptic/antibiotic - it is quite strong smelling for hamsters though. You could try adding a tiny bit of dried thyme on top of her mix and see if she eats it.

See how she goes but if her quality of life starts to go downhill it may be kinder to help her on her way. Is she still on Metacam for pain relief?

Vierville · 12-12-2019, 11:23 AM

Thank you serendipity7000. I will try to get burdock root and will sprinkle dried thyme on her food. I really appreciate the advice.

My wife also works with horses and we are going to try an electromagnetic pad therapy that works very well to aid in healing.

I really hope she can fight off the infection. She is such a special little character and she is so loved.

LunaTheHamster1 · 12-12-2019, 11:53 AM

I know your hamster is only young and I am not a vet, but I have had two older hamsters on antibiotics permanently for the rest of their lives. Yes, it can have an affect on them, but sometimes I think there is the need to weigh up illness versus feeling a bit better i.e. quality of life and maybe not quantity. I am not saying this is what you should do but maybe something you could ask your vet about. Like Serendipity says is she still on metacam for the pain? Again that can affect the organs, but I would be weighing up quantity versus quality of life.

Vierville · 12-12-2019, 12:27 PM

Thanks Luna, sorry, I forgot to mention that she has been given metacam to be used when the eye appears more swollen than usual though that was only after I specifically asked the vet to provide it based on what I've learned from this forum. There are only two exotic vets who deal with hamsters in my city and the one she's been under for the majority of the time is really very good but I think is a little reluctant about ongoing antibiotic use. Apparently clindomycin is very strong.

The strange thing is that throughout the entire five months she never once appeared in any discomfort.

Vierville · 12-12-2019, 05:08 PM

Her eye was looking a bit weepy this evening with some milky white discharge but we gave her a Bemer treatment and hopefully it will help. The treatment mat has to be layed flat on the floor so we put an old cage on top of the mat with a little house inside and she happily ran around and climbed the bars while the mat was on.

I really hope it will work. Also gave her a very small bluberry as they are high in vitamin C. I will buy burdock tomorrow.

Vierville · 12-14-2019, 08:42 AM

So just an update, we've been giving her the Bemer treatment for two days now (20 minute session once a day) and thank goodness her eye doesn't appear quite as weepy. She seems to relax while she's having the treatment as we give her a walnut and she eats it happily then goes and curls up in the house.