Boomer worrying me...

operationotohamstry · 02-21-2011, 07:03 PM

I have a young 3 month old Campbell named Boomer who has started worrying me lately.

She's been getting smaller in size, even smaller than the runt of the litter, and drinking a bit more water than the others. Everything else is normal, she eats normally, walks normally (no hunch) and I've seen her darting around the cage with her sisters and zooming on the wheel. I'm thinking it might be a UTI or (and I hope not) a liver problem.

I got some Baytril from the store I work at and have been giving her a mix of half water and half Baytril just for the past two days once a day. Something similar to this happened with another hamster I've had (except he was hunched over and covered in poo) and the Baytril did wonders. I'm hoping to get the same affect...however...my vet has stopped carrying Baytril at the worst time! They got into an 'argument' with the manufacturers of Baytril and now dont carry it as revenge (thats how it sounded anyway from the vet). I'd like to get more, because she was just sort of wobbling a little while walking and I took the last of the Baytril so I'm not sure what else to get or where to get it from. I tried searching the web but could only find Baytril for dogs in pill form.

Anyone know anything else I could do or give to her?

StarlightSerenity · 02-21-2011, 07:08 PM

Take her to the vet for a proper diagnosis?

operationotohamstry · 02-21-2011, 07:14 PM

Ah yes, I forgot to explain the vet situation heh. We dont have a vet that specializes with hamsters...at all. The vet here has even told me that I know more about hamsters than him. I've tried searching for a specialist because I had another hamster with a problem, but unfortunately I dont live near anywhere that has a vet who knows about hamsters. Even the 'small animal vets' I've called admit they know a limited amount and charge...no lie...nearly 100$ for just an office visit for a hamster. I dont have that, and my mom refuses to pay for anything having to do with 'those rodents'. I even had one vet tell me 'Not many people bring their hamsters to vets, so I dont know what to tell you'. Basically...I am the vet...

internet_nobody · 02-22-2011, 03:59 AM

If it is a liver problem, antibiotics are probably completely inappropriate as they can both cause liver damage and make existing damage worse. Sorry, but the answer is always see a vet for a serious problem, even if they don't know hamsters they are trained to recognise symptoms.

alexarcano · 02-22-2011, 04:22 AM

Drinking more water and weight change can also be a symptom of diabetes.....
Hope you find a vet who knows what he is doing

Hope this ends well for you and Boomer

souffle · 02-22-2011, 04:29 AM

Dosing with antibiotics puts quite a strain on the system because although they kill infections they also kill all the good bowel bacteria which a hamster needs to digest it's food properly. They also need processed by the liver and kidneys which can strain them.
I notice you mention that she is drinking more. Have you considered diabetes? You could do a check on her urine using test strips from the chemist.
It is always possible with a youngster that there is some internal fault either physical or genetic that is now affecting her causing failure the thrive.
You should not give meds for other animals as the strength may be totally different and unsuitable so you could end up seriously damaging a hamster.
If you really cannot see a vet, though this is the route I would strongly suggest, I would suggest you start her on some probiotics such as Avipro, ProC or even some live yogurt though sometimes the milk does not agree with them, to repopulate her bowel and kick start her digestion, and see if she picks up. Test her urine as the strips are cheap - Diastix from the pharmacy and if it is positive start her on a diabetic diet. There is an article inthe WIKI on this.

operationotohamstry · 02-22-2011, 10:43 AM

I'm still looking for vets but the search isnt going well and its very disheartening.

And yeah I was thinking of coupling the antibiotic with a probiotic since I know some people who have done that with good results. I've bought the sticks before I just have to get them again. I've also got some pedialyte but I wanna make sure before I start adding that to her diet.

I checked on her this morning and she's actually doing really well. She was up and bright eyed and zooming around with the others, no sings of distress or anything but I know that sometimes that can be misleading.

Thanks much guys! I have half a mind to open an all hamster vet in this area *grumbles incoherently*

internet_nobody · 02-22-2011, 01:33 PM

Remember that pedialyte is full of glucose, so although will re-hydrate a diabetic ham, it'll also give them a sugar spike.

operationotohamstry · 02-22-2011, 05:15 PM

Yeah its never a huge amount of Pedialyte. I usually do one part pedialyte to 3 parts water.

I got her some activia today, and will be doing a morning feeding where she gets a small drop of it at the end of a spoon (half a sunflower seed size) and at night I give her a small measurement of baytril mixed with water. The only baytril that I had available to me was mixed with cherry syrup, so I diluted it...which is good to do anyway.

She's looking so much better already. I've been checking up on her regularly and she is zooming about with the others, eyes open, stuffing her face with food (these girls are nuts when it comes to that haha) and just looking very chipper. I'm going to continue this regiment till the new Diastix sticks come in (ran out of the ones I had) and then re-test everyone. I'm getting another new hamster so I needed to get some more anyways.

operationotohamstry · 02-28-2011, 04:06 PM

The test sticks finally came in, and unfortunately Boomer does have Diabetes.

I have already been giving her the new diabetic diet, and did the tests which confirmed. So she's getting 20% Pedialyte in her drinking water. Luckilly all of my hamsters already eat the Supreme Hazel Hamster diet, recommended for Diabetic hamsters, so I just had to take out some pieces and make her her own mix. She's getting mealworms everyday for more protein (normally I do mealworms mon, wed, and fri) and so far she has already improved in just 2 days!