Urgent

[sophiegrace]

Hi,
My hamster is really poorly. Been given antibiotics today but unsure of the dosage, please help! As his presentation has got a lot worse from this morning, so much so that now he’s literally just breathing but not moving or reacting at all (to the point where I thought he was dead’. The vet description for the antibiotics were.. ‘draw up 0.05ml in the syringe then dilute in 0.5m orange juice. Then give 0.05ml by mouth.’ Does this mean make sure you give the whole of the antibiotics or give 0.05ml of the whole diluted solution? I’m very confused and don’t want to overdose him, cause he’s only a little fella! Help!

[souffle]

I'm so sorry he is so poorly. If is is unresponsive he may well choke on meds I'm afraid so I would be reluctant to give them. If there is an emergency number you can call maybe they can clarify and advise whether to try and give the meds at all. If he feels cold to the touch he is unlikely to make it and I would suggest tucking him in his nest and talking to him gently. He will feel your love around him and decide where his path should lead himself. He will not be in pain now if he is deeply unconcious but he will feel your love.
I hope his path is gentle.
If he does revive a little you could try a dose of one drop but not orange juice. I'd suggest ribena or even just a sugar solution and only a little drop as he could choke on it otherwise.

[Pebbles82]

I am so sorry to hear this. How old is he? Some people have used a drop of honey with the meds mixed in (assume the antibiotic is baytril? It tastes really bad so the taste needs disguising). It sounds like the strength of dose you have is too big to measure out on its own (ie smaller than 0.01ml) so get the dose down lower then it needs diluting to give a fractional amount.

What you could do is add 0.5ml of water rather than orange juice to the 0.05ml of antibtiotic - then drop the dose of 0.05ml of this mixed solution onto a little bit of honey on a teaspoon and see if your hamster licks it off. So a tiny bit of honey on a teaspoon (a drop or two, drop the 0.05ml of diluted antibiotic on top of it - mix it in a bit with a little cocktail stick so it's incorporated and let the hamster lick it off the teaspoon.

If he can't lick it off the teaspoon then it sounds like he is too poorly to take meds as Souffle says.

[sophiegrace]

Thanks for your advice guys. Unfortunately he passed away in the night. Hopefully it was peaceful and not in pain. I am devastated.

[velma]

I’m very sorry to hear that. But please know you did all you could and he would have passed in warmth, comfort, feeling loved & protected.

[Otaku]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. At least he passed at home, where he felt most comfortable and secure. R.I.P. little guy. My thoughts are with you xo