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Old 01-21-2017, 06:09 AM   #1861
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Charlie's thread

Thank you Thin Lizzy. No I think that's what had my head in a bit of a spin. Taking in that he might have Cushings and being told - no test, no medication, no Metacam. And that was that. It was left that I will see how he goes and might want to think about helping him on his way.

I can see their point that they don't want a hamster to suffer (and neither do we) and if there is no treatment available (in their view) - but it's not something to be considered when he enjoys his food and a bit of out of cage time. She said I would know if he was in a lot of pain as he would get withdrawn and not want to come out. But Charlie has never wanted to come out lol. He always had to be tempted out - once out he enjoyed it.

Coco thank you so much for that information and the offer. I was considering it but if I'm not sure he has Cushings I'd better not. Although frustrating that some vets will treat it and others won't!
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Old 01-21-2017, 10:52 AM   #1862
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Default Re: Charlie's thread

I remember that my vet only gave me one month of meds to start with. He wanted to see if Mocho tolerated it ok. He did and the vet said hamsters usually do.
If there is a small tumour growing beside and pressing on the pituitary gland then that will send the wrong messages to the adrenal gland over cortisol. That cause for Cushings cannot be treated. Mocho cannot have that type.
All the research you have done over herbal remedies sound very sensible. I got some EPO for Mocho but ended up using it myself as I thought the meds were enough for him.
Maybe Charlie's discomfort was due to his teeth. I hope he perks up now that he should be able to eat more easily.
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Old 01-21-2017, 11:44 AM   #1863
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Default Re: Charlie's thread

Just caught up with Charlie's thread! Glad his teeth trimming went well I am a little confused, though, as to how your vet can come to a diagnosis without doing any tests?! If my doctor did that I'd freak out!! Anyway, I hope Charlie isn't in too much pain. It could be worth getting a second opinion maybe, but if Charlie is going to need to have an anasthetic in order to have a blood test I think most vets won't do it because of his age. There must be something that can help him if he's in pain though. I loved your recent videos of Charlie too! He really is such a sweet old man!
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Old 01-21-2017, 11:56 AM   #1864
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Thank you Coco and Pink Neon. I'm leaving him in peace tonight after his hectic day yesterday. He has Ella's kitchen parsnip baby food (seems to be a favourite), soaked Science Selective, Harry Hamster, brown linseeds in his little wafer cup, a piece of fresh coconut and a small piece of fresh peach. Plus a bit of raw brussel sprout for his veg. Thought he deserved something especially nice after his day yesterday.

I have almost got it sussed with a regime and am having a herbalist work out a dose of the agnus castus - which may or may not help. The best way is going to be to buy the dried berries and boil them up - just waiting for a safe dose. Plus a particular homeopathic remedy in case his legs are arthritis.

I'm also wondering about a tiny bit of manuka honey on a teaspoon (which would be good for mixing the tiny amount of rodipet herb in). Want to ask Cypher about Manuka honey!

Coco I see what you mean - if there is a small (usually benign) tumour pressing on the pituitary then medication won't help the tumour - although the Agnus Castus has been found to reduce cancers as well. But it might still balance the signals the pituitary puts out. If the problem is actually with the adrenal glands then it may help or may not.

If it's old age then the general supplements and homeopathy should help a bit, particularly with the digestion and kidneys.

Anyway I'm going to see how he is over the next few days. He's still eating normally.
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Old 01-21-2017, 10:36 PM   #1865
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Thinking about it - the vet maybe wouldn't want to do further investigations/treatment for Charlie anyway - in view of his age and the stress it might cause. They probably take the view of - leave him as he is and when he starts to go downhill think about pts.

My concern is making sure he is not in pain now, while he's still active and eating, and relieving any symptoms he has.

Anyway tonight he stayed burrowed down in his nest - I think he's avoiding me! Not surprising after being taken out of his cage twice in one week (he had a day in his pet carrier earlier in the week while some minor work was being done in the lounge).

I came down to check after lights out and he'd been out to have his veg and been on his wheel, so he seems fine.
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Old 01-21-2017, 11:38 PM   #1866
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Default Re: Charlie's thread

I think that's a good point about further tests or treatment possibly being more harmful than helpful at Charlie's age & just doing what you plan to keep him comfortable & pain free is the best way ahead.
I know he seems stiff & wobbly now but do you think he's showing signs of being in pain just yet, it never really sounds as though he is but obviously I can't really tell just from posts & videos, you know him best so I'm sure you would know if he was.

I forgot to mention the EPO before but a tiny drop on some food might well help him.
I don't see any reason why you shouldn't give him a tiny bit of manuka honey too, it does have a lot of benefits.
The Rodipet powder stuff has quite a lot of banana in it so he might like it anyway, I hope so, mine would never touch it but they have very different tastes to syrians!

Is he still drinking & peeing about the same as usual as far as you can tell? It's normal for the kidneys to weaken & not function so well as they age, that can result in peeing more or in a degree of fluid retention & that might explain the bloating but that could also be down to his liver & heart not functioning as well as they did when he was younger, sounds a bit scary put like that but really just signs of age.

He sounds as though he's still doing well really & you're certainly giving him all the care he could wish for.
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Old 01-22-2017, 08:36 AM   #1867
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Thank you Cypher! Yes I have sent for a bottle of Evening Primrose oil and have a couple of 1 ml syringes to use as a dropper. He has been drinking a lot and peeing a lot for some months now. I had put all of it down to general ageing and the issues of liver and kidneys with age. I do think he has been in pain sometimes recently. Something about his face or eyes looking strained and a bit dull. Which is why I'd decided to get some more Metacam for him. Of course they can't tell you where the pain is! Somehow I don't think it's his legs, he just seems to carry on despite them being stiff and wobbly. And yes he does perk up sometimes and enjoy a bit of exploring and finding bits of food.

I shall have to see how he is now he's had his teeth clipped - it could have been tooth discomfort or just misery at not being able to eat properly. But I was still flummoxed at being told he couldn't have Metacam as I did think he'd need it at some point. And I don't want to think he's in pain.

He has been a bit reclusive since coming back from the vets - understandably. I put a new chew stick out for him - a Vitakraft one. I don't normally give those as they're a bit sweet with the honey but wanted to tempt him to chew if he can and noticed he'd had a little go at it this morning so the tooth clip must have helped.

Might try the Manuka honey myself too!
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Old 01-22-2017, 04:28 PM   #1868
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Charlie is a bit reclusive after his vet visit, which is understandable. He didn't come out for his veg and food last night until lights were out and after we'd gone to bed (I came down and checked). Whereas normally he's straight out for the veg when it appears.

I left him alone last night. He didn't appear again tonight so I decided to coax him out for a little bit of out of cage time. He really did look a bit the worse for wear. A bit dishevelled and fragile looking and very tired and wobbly and seems to have lost even more hair from his back. Poor little boy. I think it's taken it out of him a bit, but I'm hoping he soon feels comfortable and at home again.

Once out in the tube he enjoyed eating the piece of cheese. And then ventured out onto the sofa and wandered round a bit. He climbed in his snooze cube and had a groom and I told him I was sorry for dragging him out and handing him over to someone but he was safe back home now. He did sit for a stroke on my arm for a few minutes. He licked a little bit of manuka honey off the end of a teaspoon then gave himself a good wash as it was a bit sticky. Then ventured out of the snooze cube to inspect a tub of pumpkin seeds. And he then explored a little bit round the bottom of his cage.

After I put him back in the cage he did his old routine of pouching the veg, licking up a bit of his baby food, had a drink and pouched some Harry Hamster then went in his house.

So I think getting him out helped get him back in his routine a bit. He does seem to look in worse condition by the day though so I'll be keeping a close eye on him. It must have been stressful for him having the vet visit, but I noticed he had had a good go at a new chew stick I put out last night so at least he can eat properly now and chew chew sticks.
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Old 01-22-2017, 04:45 PM   #1869
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Default Re: Charlie's thread

It's hard when you see them start to show their age more and the stressful vet trip probably has unsettled him but I hope he continue to show his determination and settled back into his normal routine soon. Lovely to hear that he enjoyed some cheese and ventured out onto the sofa and groomed himself in his snooze cube and enjoyed some other tasty treats.
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Old 01-23-2017, 01:58 AM   #1870
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Thank you SKB. Yes it is hard. My feisty little boy is so weak and fragile and has aged so rapidly recently. He can still show he's annoyed now and then or have quite a strong push against something now and then. But his little body is rather frail. I think he really wants to carry on as normal but is struggling physically.

He's just having a bit of porridge for breakfast. He burrows down in his nest these days and then struggles to get out again because he seems to end up upside down. At first this morning he ate it off the spoon while lying on his back and twisting his head round! I tried to help him get up and turn over but he didn't like that so I left him to it and he's finally got himself the right way up and eating his porridge.
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