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Old 12-18-2021, 08:19 AM   #1
Robel_Hamster
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 2
Default Diarrhea and loss of weight

We bought a new Syrian hamster on December 9th and everything was great for a few days. He was so friendly and sociable, really enjoyed being handled and seemed to have adapted well to his new home. From past experience we know how useful it is to know the weight of your hamster so weighed him on the first day and he was 51g.

On the evening of Monday 13th he was out the cage and he did a poo on my lap which was so runny and mustard coloured. We immediately checked through his cage to see the extent, but there wasn’t much evidence of much nasty poo.
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Old 12-18-2021, 10:22 AM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Diarrhea and loss of weight

Hello and welcome to HC

How is your hamster now? A few days have passed since.

Diarrrhoea and weight loss in a young hamster is reason for concern in my opinion. I would get him checked out by a vet.
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Old 12-18-2021, 01:02 PM   #3
Pebbles82
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Diarrhea and loss of weight

Hello. 51g sounds very low. Do you know how old he is? If he seems healthy enough in himself, then diarrhoea can be caused by too much veg when they’re not used to it. Just a thumbnail sized piece daily is enough - every 3 days for the first couple of weeks and then daily.

So has he actually lost weight or is he just low weight? There is a difference between a sloppy poo and diarrhoea that is basically watery - like the diarrhoea of wet tail. But any diarrhoea should be checked out - so yes he probably does need to see a vet for a check over.

It’s possible that it is just over excitement and/or too much veg, but if it is still happening (ie not a one off) then I would call the emergency vet number over the week end rather than wait till Monday. They can get dehydrated very quickly.

If you got him on 9th December it’s only about a week ago and it may just be stress and over excitement. Because usually it’s recommended to let them settle in their cage for two weeks without changing or cleaning anything, and take taming and handling slowly.

Weigh him again tonight and tomorrow and check if his poo has returned to normal. It may settle down, but if it hasn’t he needs to see a vet. An exotic vet (they know a lot more about hamsters).
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Old 12-18-2021, 01:05 PM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Diarrhea and loss of weight

50g is about the average weight of a four week old hamster. By 6 to 8 weeks it’s about 85 to 100g. That is just an average however - he may be a very small runt. They’re usually 6 weeks plus when they go to new homes but it’s possible he’s younger. Where did you get him from?

When they’re babies they often poo on you when out of the cage - nerves usually. They get more in control as they get older. So he may just have been feeling a bit scared.

Tonight I would keep feeding him as usual but not get him out of the cage and let him settle a bit - and monitor him - see if he is active and looking well and normal poops. You could maybe give him a little bit of scrambled egg as well. Binding. Make it with water not milk. You just whisk an egg in a mug with a couple of teaspoons of water and microwave it for about 20 to 30 seconds then scramble it with a fork - then 10 seconds at a time till it looks about right. Let it cool for a bit then put a bit on a teaspoon (no more than half of the teaspoon) and hold that out to him in the cage. Or put it on the floor of the cage near his house. So he can eat it in his own time. He should enjoy that (they often bite the spoon for more!). No more than that though or he may pouch/hoard it.

If he still has diarrhoea maybe ring the vets in the morning.

But if he is not in a good way then call the vets tonight.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 12-18-2021 at 01:13 PM.
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Old 12-19-2021, 07:36 AM   #5
Robel_Hamster
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 2
Default Re: Diarrhea and loss of weight

Thanks for the responses everyone. Unfortunately the second half of the post got cut off as the website was not letting us post it. Please find it below as it explains a bit more about the rest of the situation. Sorry we didn't get it on here earlier!

We took him to the vets the next day (Tuesday) and they gave us some Baytril and science selective liquid recovery mix. The vet also re weighed him and he was down to 47g.

We have been trying everyday to give him the medication and extra feed, (unfortunately we are experienced in giving hamster medication) but we are really struggling to restrain him, partly because we’re obviously in very early stages of handling, but mainly he is so skinny. We have been weighing him every day and the weight has still been decreasing, he was yesterday (on dec 18th) at 41g which means he has lost 10g in about a week. We have been cleaning his bum with warm water everyday to try and keep him clean.


He seems to be eating and drinking plenty on his own accord, but he does seem to be a lot less active in his cage, not running so much in his wheel. He has also had flat ears since since all this started which I know can be sign of illness or stress.

We went back to vets 2 days ago (17th dec) and they gave him some spot on worming treatment just in case that was, but they said there is not really much else to do other than persevere on with the antibiotics.

His feces have hardened a little since the weekend, but are still soft and still the same yellow colour, and our main concern is the huge loss of weight daily.

Another big worry is the twice daily struggle with antibiotics and bum cleaning is causing extra stress to him. In the first few days he would happily climb onto our hands to come out of the cage and now we have to handle him quite firmly he tries to avoid us lifting him out of the cage (I mean I don’t blame him!)

I really don’t feel like the antibiotics are having any impact because we just can’t get them in him. Has anyone else had any experience with a similar situation and managed to find anything to help?
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Old 12-19-2021, 07:51 PM   #6
Lilafernim
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: Diarrhea and loss of weight

Also, I had a hamster who passed and I really don’t know what caused it but I did wonder if it was from an underlying health condition not checked by the Pet store. I don’t know and as it happened so suddenly I had no vet examination. I’m only saying this because I read of a lot of stories where the pet store can cover vet bills if you can show it happened shortly after purchasing and the vet determines it’s something pre-existing.

Just I understand if you just got a hamster it could be disheartening they’re already ill and you might have the dread of costs but please if they really are like this go to a vets as runny poo is never a good sign. Best of luck!
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