Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-17-2021, 06:11 PM   #1
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Exclamation ill syrian?

ok so im freaking out right now because i think my male syrian bagel may be pretty ill

i'll list the reasons why

he has had fur loss in the past but it grew back and he gained weight so i just thought it was a one off thing

he is quite thin, only 110gm

now i'll explain this bit in detail since it just happened and is why i'm freaking out, so i heard bagel bar biting, he doesn't gnaw on the bars very often only occasionally, not frequent enough for it to be concerning, so i heard him and looked over and he was REALLY aggressively bar biting, i had never seen a hamster bar bite like that before, so i went over and i see that his teeth are really deformed (i think theres a name for that but i cant remember), i had actually had suspicions of this as a few days ago it looked like his bottom teeth were uneven but i couldn't get a good look at them but i saw that one of his bottom teeth was quite long, pretty normal and the other one was a stub and kind of leaning into the other tooth, as for his top teeth, i didn't see them as closely but it almost looked like they were bending in a bit? (i would show a picture but i cant get a good look and i didnt have my phone on me in the moment) so as he was calming down from the bar biting i went to stroke him while he was kind of leaning against the bars, he has always been a very calm hamster and has liked me a lot, so i leaned in to stroke him and he freaked the f*ck out, i had never seen a hamster do anything like this before, he screamed really loudly and shook really violently and freaked out

im really worried about him, i've had a lot of hamsters in my life but bagel and the other 2 hamsters i have are some of the hamsters ive been more attached to, (i've had a few ghost hamsters as victoria raechel says) my family really aren't rich or 'comfortable' at all and i don't know how much a trip to the vet would cost and i have no idea if my parents can afford it, i've heard people say do chores for vet money but my parents don't really have the spare money to give to me for doing chores, so i'm really concerned about what to do, depending on if he is really sick, as much as it would hurt me i am willing to put him to sleep if that would be more comfortable for him

p.s. would his weight possibly be related to him not being able to properly eat foods because of his teeth?

edit: i was just thinking about this post and realised i should have added these

bagel is quite young, i've had him for about 2 or 3 months i think, and when i got him from p@h he was young enough to be with other syrians

his behaviour (apart from the outburst and bar chewing) has all been pretty normal, playing, running on his wheel a lot, gathering food etc

he drinks quite a lot of water, i'm not sure exactly how much he drinks but i see him drink quite often, i've often heard about drinking more water can be related to medical issues?
__________________
The names liz B)

Last edited by taco bagel; 08-17-2021 at 06:55 PM.
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2021, 06:31 PM   #2
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: ill syrian?

"p.s. would his weight possibly be related to him not being able to properly eat foods because of his teeth?"

Yes problems with their teeth can cause them not to eat properly and lose weight.

It sounds like the bar biting might have broken one of his teeth. Could something have frightened/stressed him to make him start bar biting (it's often when they are stressed by something either outside the cage or changes inside the cage (had you just done a cage clean maybe?)

It wouldn't be right to put a young hamster to sleep because he needs dental treatment at the vets. If you can't afford the vet fees then maybe see if there is a pdsa pet hospital near you.

He does sound like he needs a vet check, even if just for his teeth. It is something all pet owners need to be aware of that there may be vet bills for the animal's welfare.

Perhaps explain to the vet (find an exotic vet in your area - they know more about hamsters) that you can't afford the bill - they may do it at a discount - say £20 to £30.

I was charged £25 last time I had a vet check and a tooth trim for a hamster. It's an amount that should be able to be found somehow.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2021, 06:51 PM   #3
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Default Re: ill syrian?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
"p.s. would his weight possibly be related to him not being able to properly eat foods because of his teeth?"

Yes problems with their teeth can cause them not to eat properly and lose weight.

It sounds like the bar biting might have broken one of his teeth. Could something have frightened/stressed him to make him start bar biting (it's often when they are stressed by something either outside the cage or changes inside the cage (had you just done a cage clean maybe?)

It wouldn't be right to put a young hamster to sleep because he needs dental treatment at the vets. If you can't afford the vet fees then maybe see if there is a pdsa pet hospital near you.

He does sound like he needs a vet check, even if just for his teeth. It is something all pet owners need to be aware of that there may be vet bills for the animal's welfare.

Perhaps explain to the vet (find an exotic vet in your area - they know more about hamsters) that you can't afford the bill - they may do it at a discount - say £20 to £30.

I was charged £25 last time I had a vet check and a tooth trim for a hamster. It's an amount that should be able to be found somehow.
thank you for your response, i think my parents may be able to do £20-£30

i have not done a cage clean recently but if it is stress it could be my female syrian pipsqueak, their cages aren't particularly close but i have heard people say having a male and female syrian hamster near can make problems with the male, to my knowledge and from what i've observed of bagel he hasn't had any problems, but with all of this perhaps it could be something to do with it? i may move his cage further away if so
__________________
The names liz B)
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2021, 02:09 AM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: ill syrian?

Yes that's a possibility - smelling your female hamster making him desperate to get out! Was it your female hamster that had a cage change recently? If so and she is scent marking her new cage, then she may be giving off more female smells than usual.

I also wonder sometimes, when you have two - if one is copying the other! I had two male syrians in cages above each other with a shelf in between and they became quite synchronised (although maybe coincidence). Whatever one did, the other (slightly institutionalised one!) did shortly after.

Hope it settles down. As you probably know a hamster's bottom teeth keep growing so if one has broken off it will grow back but the teeth may need trimming now so he can eat properly and keeping an eye on. So it will need a vet visit. Not sure which region you're in but I have found vets quite reasonable for a basic check for a hamster. It's only if medication is needed you can get a bill of say £50 or £60. But do google and find an exotic vet in the area - they know more about hamsters and may also have a special interest in their welfare so be more inclined to give a discount if funds are tight.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 11:26 AM   #5
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Default Re: ill syrian?

okay, update

i've avoided touching him since he had his freakout but i haven't seen any bad bar biting since (i have been going to sleep earlier lately with school so there is a chance he still may be doing it and im just not seeing) his teeth aren't looking much better, once of top teeth or really sticking out and curving and just look really uncomfortable, also it looks like he may have some minor fur loss around his nose and mouth

as for the vet i unfortunately cannot get him to the vet until the 24th as thats when my dad gets paid for the month, until then im just going to monitor him
__________________
The names liz B)
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 12:11 PM   #6
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: ill syrian?

The vet may be helpful over payment and allow you to pay late or even in small instalments if you explain. My concern would be that he won’t be able to eat properly.

Good that he stopped bar chewing. Sometimes though it’s to try and communicate with you to tell you something is wrong - eg water bottle not working. Or some access to a shelf fallen down so he can’t reach food and water. Just check his water bottle is working ok and he can reach good and water ok.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 02:17 PM   #7
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Default Re: ill syrian?

okay another update

unfortunately it looks as though he may have some kind of infection around one of his eyes, there is fur loss around it and some of the fur around it looks damp

After all of the health concerns bagel has had across is not even very long life so far i have made the decision to no longer buy animals from pet shops, i simply cannot support breeding facilities and mills they get them from and how they prioritise profit over health, i will only be purchasing from ethical breeders or adopting hamsters now. I am planning to get a russian dwarf in a few weeks (most likely i want to get a winter white) so i will be looking around for breeders, if anyone has recommendations of ethical dwarf breeders near or in perth and kinross that would be very helpful
__________________
The names liz B)
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 02:23 PM   #8
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Default Re: ill syrian?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Yes that's a possibility - smelling your female hamster making him desperate to get out! Was it your female hamster that had a cage change recently? If so and she is scent marking her new cage, then she may be giving off more female smells than usual.

I also wonder sometimes, when you have two - if one is copying the other! I had two male syrians in cages above each other with a shelf in between and they became quite synchronised (although maybe coincidence). Whatever one did, the other (slightly institutionalised one!) did shortly after.

Hope it settles down. As you probably know a hamster's bottom teeth keep growing so if one has broken off it will grow back but the teeth may need trimming now so he can eat properly and keeping an eye on. So it will need a vet visit. Not sure which region you're in but I have found vets quite reasonable for a basic check for a hamster. It's only if medication is needed you can get a bill of say £50 or £60. But do google and find an exotic vet in the area - they know more about hamsters and may also have a special interest in their welfare so be more inclined to give a discount if funds are tight.
yes my female pipsqueak has recently got an entirely new cage and bedding and some new toys so she is likely scent marking a lot

as for the teeth i dont just think its breaking off, like i said in one of my reply's one of his top teeth is really awkwardly sticking out kind of

p.s. ill see if i can get a photo of him but he may not want to stay still
__________________
The names liz B)
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 02:35 PM   #9
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: ill syrian?

It does sound like he really needs to see a vet - a tooth problem can affect their eyes as well. If the bottom teeth overgrow they can puncture the top palate (near the eyes) although that seems unlikely if he's young.

But if he has an infected tooth it could easily lead to an eye infection.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2021, 02:42 PM   #10
taco bagel
Newborn Pup
 
taco bagel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: you will never know mwhahahaha (okay maybe scotland)
Posts: 34
Default Re: ill syrian?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It does sound like he really needs to see a vet - a tooth problem can affect their eyes as well. If the bottom teeth overgrow they can puncture the top palate (near the eyes) although that seems unlikely if he's young.

But if he has an infected tooth it could easily lead to an eye infection.
i know, if it was my decision all my money would go to the vet, but unfortunately i'm a child and dont have much control of things like that, it really angers me but i can only get him to the vet on the 24th, until then ill be monitoring him and updating on here

edit: i got some photos of him but they're being slow transferring to my laptop, ill post them soon, although it makes me sad to look at them
__________________
The names liz B)
taco bagel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bar, biting, hamsters, heard, teeth

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:55 PM.