Veronica is very ill :(

[Lizzie]

As some of you may know, I bought a beautiful Syrian a week ago. She is called Veronica and is 9 weeks old.

I went against all my morals buying her from Pets At Home, but I had instantly fallen in love with her so just couldn't resist. One of the other hamsters in the cage with her (there were 12 altogether!!) had wet tail. I stupidly didn't think about Veronica getting it because I was too busy being smitten.

She is the first hamster since Bilbo that I have bonded with so much (I've had 5 since Bilbo). She is so sweet natured and fun, she is just perfect.

Anyhoo... she has wet tail She is on about day 3 of me noticing she had it. She had 2 injections today (the first didn't work as she was so dehydrated) and has to go back tomorrow to see the same vet. In the meantime she is wrapped up nice and warm, as she is extremely cold, and I'm syringe feeding her water and food, although she isn't taking either

I am so emotional and can't stop crying. She is so strong and has survived quite a while with it, so I hope she can fight it, but its not looking good.

I am going to make sure (even if it takes my lifetime) that Pets at Home can never sell animals in their stores, unless they have specialists working. I don't know how to go about it, but I will. Any ideas? Or am I the only hater of Pets at Home here?


x

[Katty_Sheldon]

I am so sorry to hear that i hope Veronica gets better, i read that sometimes it happens. Good luck!

[souffle]

I am so very sorry Lizzie. You must be strong for little Veronica and remember a short life filled with love is always worthwhile especially if it touches a heart as she has yours.
It is very very hard to pull a hamster through wet tail. It requires intensive nursing plus treatment which it sounds as if she is getting. Even with this the bowel is often badly damaged and the hamster fails to thrive. I am telling you this to prepare you for the worst. If you have tried then you can do no more and if she pulls through for you then give yourself a great big hug and thank your lucky stars.
She sounds to have slipped quite low. You need to keep feeding her or the bowel will stop working. A small amount of honey in water can help give a bit of energy but then you need to get proper food going through. If you can get critical care for small herbivores from the vet and syringe feed this it can help. Ready brek porridge made up can be offered on a teaspoon if she will lap. She needs to have a probiotic between antibiotics if you can get ProC or Avipro to help repopulate the bowel or live yogurt is OK to.
Keep warm but not overhot and very quiet. Is she on Baytril?
I see this problem day after day with pets sold in pet shops like P@H.
The fault with the livestock sold at P@H does not really lie with the stores but with the hamster mills that supply them and the lack of handling and human contact these animals have when they are babies. They are factory farmed and although the conditions are reasonable it is the lack of human contact that causes the wet tail because the stress of being scooped into a truck then to a store causes them to be very prone to wet tail. P@H housing and conditions are normally scrupulous.
It is not the fault of the little hammies where they were born and raised and where they were sent so falling in love with one is not wrong as they deserve a loving home and Veronica was lucky she got you who cared for her when she was ill.
My thoughts are with you and Veronica. Know in your heart if she should decide to tell you that she cannot cope anymore.
Hugs to you
XX

[Lizzie]

She has given up She is still alive although barely. She is rigid in a curled up position and is cold despite being kept wrapped up and close to me (the warmest thing in my house I figured). She cannot take anything, syringe or other. I have even forced her mouth open and she doesn't move.

She has tried so hard and fought it for a good amount of time. Sadly I think she probably only has an hour or so left I can't believe it

[Lizzie]

Quick update - I gave her some honey and water like you said. She must've swallowed some as she suddenly came alive again!! She opened her eyes and was trying to eat stuff, so I fed her some oaty porridge stuff and some water.

She was trying to clean herself as normal, but failed. She then tried to walk, but she has no use of her back half, literally from her middle down

Do you think her insides are ruined? I read that they can have a rectal prolapse Do you think this is what is going to happen??

I can't bare this

[kirsty]

I'm so sorry to hear this hugs to you. I'm thinking of you and Veronica and will cross everything for you xox

[helenf]

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and Veronica. I hope she can pull through it - it's obvious you're doing everything you can, whatever the outcome. She is very much loved. x

[suga]

Hi Lizzie
I am so pleased that you and Veronica found each other as the care, love and attention you have given her is second to none. Another owner may have given up a long time ago and she has been lucky to have you and you her. How are things this morning? Thinking of you.
sugax

[souffle]

Sorry I did not get back to you last night. No sweetie she is unlikely to prolapse. What happens is the lining of the bowel becomes so inflamed that it is unable to absorb food as it passes through. The honey provides glucose and instant energy to see her over the crisis of this but she cannot survive on honey as the body needs to have all the other bits to keep functioning. We can starve to rest our tummies when we have diarrhoea but an animal like a hammy must not do this as the bowel will stop functioning.
I don't know the outcome as I don't know how bad the damage is. If you still have her today get a little chicken and some rice and boil till mushy and like a soup. Offer her this. Alternate with the porridge which will provide fibre and some live yogurt like Actimel peach. Try grinding some hamster food and soaking it so she may take some of this. With a hamster as sick as this we would give them whatever they will eat. Bunny hamster foods do a rice flake and herb mix which can be helpful. If she is going to pull through she is going to turn around soon and start to produce less diarrhoea and some more solid poo. I have pulled through one hammy on this regime though he did have some long term problems and easily got loose again but he did live happily till 18 months.
You must get the antibiotic going through and the Bayril needs administered by mouth, normally 0.1ml twice a day.
She also needs gently cleaned with a damp cotton ball or else she will get sore. It is a fine balance between stressing her and keeping her comfy.
I am thinking of you
XX

[Lizzie]

Veronica got a lot better and was walking around. i tried to stay awake all night but fell asleep at 3ish. sadly veronica died about 2 hours later. i feel awful. x