Maestro is here! - Page 29

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2019, 09:04 AM

It certainly is a large amount - about the size of one of those 75ml mouse bottles. I have not heard of such a thing.

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2019, 09:06 AM

I think he's already had antibiotics hasn't he? In case it was a kidney infection.

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2019, 09:27 AM

Most of the medical things I'm aware of (and have just googled!) in humans seem to related to blood sugar or diabetes. Polydipsia is the name of excessive drinking. Did diabetes definitely get ruled out? When sugar can't get into the cells, the body starts breaking down fat which produces weight loss and ketones. Ketones in the blood can cause excessive thirst. Some diabetic urine sticks only test for glucose but you can get ones that test for ketones as well. In humans the breath smells a bit acidic when they have ketones.

There is also a different kind of diabetes that isn't sugar related - diabetes insipidus (I know someone with that). The symptoms are the same - drinking and peeing a lot. This is caused by kidney damage (sometimes drug-induced kidney damage) and they have a lack of an antidiuretic hormone. Maybe that is what your vet meant by hormonal.

It can either be caused by a pituitary problem (not producing enough hormone to the kidneys) or a kidney problem (not being able to respond to the hormone).

If there's not enough hormone being produced by the pituitary it can be replaced with a drug. If it's the kidneys not functioning to process the hormone then another drug - a type of diuretic that regulates the kidneys can be used. If these are available to pets - I assume there is something.

If it's any consolation I know someone who has lived with this for many years and just drinks and pees a lot! It can be lived with.

Fingers crossed the next drug helps if it may be hormone related.

Coco61 · 11-13-2019, 01:23 PM

I phoned the vet this evening and the new medicine can be collected tomorrow. They keep telling me the name of the hormone and I keep forgetting! I will know more once I have the new treatment.
From recollection, diabetes was ruled out by the blood test and kidney function was ok at that stage. The only abnormality shown up was the potassium deficiency. He only had the blood test once antibiotics failed so no infection.

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2019, 02:42 PM

Is it desmopressin?

Coco61 · 11-13-2019, 02:50 PM

Don’t think so. Looked up hormones from the adrenal gland and the 2 are cortisol and aldosterone. The latter rings a bell.

Ria P · 11-13-2019, 03:22 PM

You could test Maestro for diabetes yourself, just to double check.

I work with people and have come across some who have Polydipsia. They can't go past a tap for example without trying to drink from it but there are measures in place to restrict their fluid intake to avoid kidney and brain damage. They are fine when not faced with a water source or otherwise occupied but soon as they see one this compulsion to drink takes over.

I fully understand your worry about Maestro because my Percy dwarf who is a diabetic drinks and pees an awful lot. At least i know what's wrong with him but it is still worrying to watch the water level in his bottle go down so quickly.

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2019, 03:27 PM

The desmopressin is a human drug to replace the missing hormone from the pituitary to the kidneys. If it's an adrenal hormone it might be aldosterone?

souffle · 11-14-2019, 02:24 AM

If the nephrons in his kidneys are very depleted by kidney disease then there is no treatment for this sadly. I think all you can do is monitor and decide when his quality of life is so poor with the drinking and peeing that you feel he is unhappy. That is not a bad weight though for a senior hamster however it could be fluid rather than body mass. I'm sorry he is struggling

Coco61 · 11-14-2019, 10:01 AM

The new medicine from the vet is called Prilactone. Once again, like the Cushings treatment, it is primarily for dogs. The tablets have been crushed and diluted and only one drop to be given.
I looked it up and the medicine is designed to block aldosterone and so encourage excreting fluid and to retain potassium. It is for dogs with heart problems. Maestro does have a potassium deficiency from his blood test and giving him the potassium supplement did not help. No wonder this is rare in hamsters and I hope it will do some good.