Gertie

[cloudy]

Aw, that must be difficult. Hopefully it will just be for a short time and Gertie will be able to free roam again. I do not suppose she would enjoy playing on your bed with you supervising her?

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Aw, that must be difficult. Hopefully it will just be for a short time and Gertie will be able to free roam again. I do not suppose she would enjoy playing on your bed with you supervising her?

She's done that before but she's not keen. She always goes to a certain area when freeroaming, to sit under a bike seat and to play in the basket with the toilets closeby. That's what she wants and nothing else will do.

When she's on my lap she turns round to go back into her cage and then storms off in a strop. She's very expressive in her body language as many hamsters are.

I don't think bacteria that causes a uti is transferable but i need to speak to the vet first.

[cloudy]

I understand. Gertie really knows what she wants. She sounds amazing.

[Stanza]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Poor Gertie must think that i don't like her anymore.

I can't let her free roam just now in case she has an uti and could transfer the bacteria to others.

I let her out on my lap on a towel but that's not what she wants and she dislikes playpens.

Vet tomorrow and no idea how i'm going to explain that one to her. The mostly likely outcome will be a course of antibiotics.

Hope the vet trip tomorrow goes well for Gertie and any prob can be easily resolved. Sending positive well wishes from us.

[Ria P]

Gertie saw the vet and vet thinks she could have the beginning of a uti so prescribed 7 days of baytril but only once a day plus continue with the metacam. The vet couldn't feel any lumps which was a reassuring outcome.

Gertie hated the transport box and kept looking for a way out but was surprisingly tolerant of the vet examining her. Until the vet put her on the scales a second time.

Gertie snapped at the vet.
Then the vet looked at Gertie and said: I know, i shouldn't have called you fat.

[cloudy]

I am relieved to hear the vet thinks it is a UTI and could not feel any lumps. I have been checking for an update all day. I hope she takes the baytril okay. I know animals usually hate the taste.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

I am relieved to hear the vet thinks it is a UTI and could not feel any lumps. I have been checking for an update all day. I hope she takes the baytril okay. I know animals usually hate the taste.

I always administer baytril via syringe because it's too important to rely on the hamster eating it with food. Well, that's the way i see it and opinions and approaches differ.

I draw up the baytril first followed by a little undiluted ribena.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I always administer baytril via syringe because it's too important to rely on the hamster eating it with food. Well, that's the way i see it and opinions and approaches differ.

I draw up the baytril first followed by a little undiluted ribena.

I actually did not know people did not give it via syringe. I was always told it was the only way to ensure they would get the full dose.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

I actually did not know people did not give it via syringe. I was always told it was the only way to ensure they would get the full dose.

People also give it in very small amounts of food which is fine if the hamster eats it. Our lot isn't that co operative and reliable to eat when i need them to.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

People also give it in very small amounts of food which is fine if the hamster eats it. Our lot isn't that co operative and reliable to eat when i need them to.

Oh I see. I cannot imagine many hamsters will eat food with the medication in it. Once I injected a probiotic into a slice of cucumber for a guinea pig as she was on antibiotic's. She ate all around the bit with the antibiotic.