Poorly Hamster

HamletHammy · 02-22-2016, 09:41 AM

Our lovely Syrian was looked after by a pet sitter for a few days when we went away. When we collected him I noticed he had some dry caked on brownish yellow poop under his rear. I took him to the vets and they have given him Baytril (0.5ml twice daily) and a fluid injection in his back to help rehydrate him

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I've put probiotic powder in his water and he is only having his normal dry food, no fresh stuff due to the Diarhea. Is there any dry food that I can give him that will tempt him to eat without upsetting his stomach? He has his normal food and I gave him a small pile of organic oats. I tried giving him a tiny bit of baby food (apple&pear, no sugar, organic - the vet suggested it) but he wasn't interested.
I'm hoping this isn't wet tail - I once had a hamster who got it but it looked quite different - very greasy and smelly on the top and bottom of his rear end, whereas our current hamster's poop is underneath and isn't wet. I've had to bathe it off him a couple of times with damp cotton wool.
If anyone has experienced this and can give me any suggestions I'd be really grateful - thank you!

velma · 02-22-2016, 12:02 PM

I'm really sorry to hear about your poorly ham. It's not happened to me so I've nothing really useful but some of the other more experienced members will have some good suggestions for you. Some foods I've seen for elderly and poorly hams have been porridge, a little scrambled egg, some cooked chicken, a piece of cooked pasta. Science selective is a complete pellet food that I think you can add water and mash up, may also be worth a try. I think things which are soft and tasty encourage them to eat. Normally, you want hard and crunchy for their teeth but I think soft when they're poorly is more tempting for them. I hope he's better soon

**Sm_banks** · 02-22-2016, 12:17 PM

Pumpkin or Squash seeds are good temptation for hamsters.

cypher · 02-22-2016, 10:09 PM

The probiotics & the oats should both help to readjust his digestion so you probably don't need to do more for now if he's happy to eat what he has, just see how he goes for a few days, the probiotics should prevent any side effects from the antibiotics too.
I agree you could try making him some porridge with the oats too as most hams seem to love that. I wouldn't try to introduce any other foods he isn't used to until this has settled.
Hope he's better soon.

HamletHammy · 02-23-2016, 01:05 AM

Thanks so much for the helpful comments!
When I gave him his antibiotic this morning his bum was dry and there was no poo for the first time in 4 days - fingers crossed the antibiotics and syringing a few mls of probiotic water morning and night to hydrate him seems to have worked. Hopefully he will be ok and just needs to put a bit more weight back on now - I will try the food tips. Thanks again!