[lucasDOG]

Hello. I'm new to this forum and fairly ignorant about hamsters. I'm here seeking health care advice for Coco, a young hamster, who's been in our family for about 6 months.

About two weeks ago, we noticed Coco's labored breathing. We took him to a local vet who said our baby was suffering from an upper-respiratory infection. Coco was prescribed Enrofloxacin 0.03 cc twice daily for two weeks. (The labored breathing subsided within a day or two. The treatment with antibiotics ended today.)

The vet also noted a damaged and displaced upper tooth. (We don't know whether Coco suffered trauma or damaged his tooth in some other way.) We were told that the displaced upper tooth is making it painful for Coco to chew because his bottom tooth is piercing the upper palate of his mouth, and this likely caused the upper respiratory infection.

On two occasions, the vet reduced the length of the lower teeth by shaving them down. According to the vet, this treatment must be repeated indefinitely to keep Coco alive (at ~$90 per visit).

Coco is lethargic. He is not eating hard food, so we're serving him soft foods and he eats it.

What do you suggest as a course of action? Can Coco be saved?