He.....tested positive...

[Hopefullygettingahamster]

Today I tested toothless for diabetes. I felt horrible watching him struggle to get out of the container. He kept pooping but finally peed. I put him back into his cage and pulled out a test strip. I tested the urine.... stared at the strip and pulled out another to try again. pretty much the same result. He has high glucose levels. I have called multiple vets to ask how much a check up would cost, but its a lot more that we expected. I'm glad I at least switched him off the sugary food and onto oxbow instead. From now on I will try to give him a low sugar/fat, high fibber and protein diet. I feel bad that I didn't test him sooner, and that now I am struggling to find a vet to look at him. I'm not gonna give him many nuts but instead millet and mealworms, as he seems to enjoy them. I feel like I might be failing him...

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi Hope, Lizzy here, just read that he tested positive for diabetes, at least you now know and can do whatever is needed to keep his glucose on check. I don't know where you're located but if I have a queries I would check in at Pets At Home stores and they're usually and often helpful. Also, I'd just like to point out that you're not a failure so stop beating yourself up about it. It's onwards and upwards for you and toothless.

[Hopefullygettingahamster]

Thanks. I'm just frustrated that the only thing I forgot to look up before I got him was vets and the cost.

[Teddy001]

Hey Hope-

Please do not blame yourself. Even with " controlled" diet, it depends on what is causing the high glucose- whether genetics, and he has diabetes type 1 or genetics, with diabetes type 2, or genetics, and there could be other medical conditions causing the high glucose. Taking into consideration, Toothless most likely is a Russian Campbell hybrid, young, and if no weight issue, or other signs of symptoms of possibly another medical condition, as there are other causes that cause high glucose results, such as obesity, thyroid problems ect.

If you can find a vet, the sooner the better. Vet may determine, what form of diabetics, and what course of medical treatment, or simply diet control for Toothless. Simply to know what vet's in your area treats hamsters, in case of medical emergency's, is good to have on hand.

Do you know appx. Toothless age?

Also, some vet's do take payments, and if you can if nothing else, have Toothless seen, by a vet, at least once, so you know what to expect, and your option choices for Toothless.

I'm happy to chat with you anytime if you should need to talk to someone via PM.

(Hugs)

[Hopefullygettingahamster]

Thanks teddy, it's comforting to know that people here care, and don't just say "well you're a bad owner because you can't properly care for him." Believe me I looked up everything from wheels to toys to bedding to how to catch an escaped ham .... Basically everything else before I got him, so someone saying I didnt research....ugh...

Anyway so I have noticed that one of his front legs looks red and is missing fur, but someone suggested it might be the sand dried his skin so I took it out. It may also be a allergic reaction to the dirt I am using as substrate under the carefresh. But I am not sure. I will see if it improves after a while of no sand, and if not I will try to change beddings.

[Teddy001]

Originally Posted by Hopefullygettingahamster

Thanks teddy, it's comforting to know that people here care, and don't just say "well you're a bad owner because you can't properly care for him." Believe me I looked up everything from wheels to toys to bedding to how to catch an escaped ham .... Basically everything else before I got him, so someone saying I didnt research....ugh...

Anyway so I have noticed that one of his front legs looks red and is missing fur, but someone suggested it might be the sand dried his skin so I took it out. It may also be a allergic reaction to the dirt I am using as substrate under the carefresh. But I am not sure. I will see if it improves after a while of no sand, and if not I will try to change beddings.

You are welcome .. There's much to learn about hamsters, that although researching as much as possible, before owing an hamster, there are things that come up, that you wouldn't know about, until they come up.

BTW-What level (color) did the diabetes test strip, show?

[cypher]

Hopefully what do you mean by the "dirt" you are using? Whatever it is that could well be causing a problem, as Teddy says the sand can dry the skin out if they over use it but I doubt that would actually cause hair loss. Have you checked to make sure there's nothing rough in the cage that he could have caught or rubbed his leg on?

[Pebbles82]

Sorry to hear that. I'm sure he will be fine with a good sugar free diet from now on.

[Teddy001]

Hi Hopefully,

If your ham's Diastix results showed on the high end, I'd really recommend you get Toothless to a vet. Diet alone will not be enough to control the glucose. The build up of ketones in the blood, can result to fatality, without medicine.

I'd continue to test Toothless's urine to see if the Glucose levels go down with change in his diet- if the test results stay the same as you mentioned, " high results," he needs to see a vet, ASAP. High glucose/ketone levels are serious. Hamsters are so small, once they start to decline, they can continue to decline very quickly.

[ThePipsqueakery]

Yeah, I too recommend you get to a vet ASAP (I understand the difficulties with that though). It's very unlikely diet alone will control the diabetes and he likely needs oral medication and/or insulin injections. I currently have one hamster that is doing fabulously on insulin so it is possible to control the diabetes and allow them to live a good life. In my experience with previous diabetic hamsters if you don't get treatment pretty quickly then the downhill slide can be pretty fast. I'm happy to talk about my experience treating diabetes in hamsters if you need help.