Chest Infection and Diarrhea- Advice Needed

[Pepper]

Hi all

I noticed last week that my 19 month year old Syrian, Pepper, appeared to have aged about 5 years overnight, she has gone grey (she has been going grey for a while and has been losing hair but I put this down to age) but wasn't able to walk straight, she was very unstable on her feet and keep falling to one side. I noticed that her breathing was also very labored.

I took her to the vets the next day (thinking I would be saying goodbye as I assumed she'd had a stroke/some side of brain trauma because she was so wobbly) and he told me she had an infection (particularly in the chest area and this is why her breathing was labored). He also squeezed some pus out of her lower half (couldn't see if it was her anus or lady parts) but I think he put this down to the infection.

He prescribed her antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory (just in case) for 10 days. I have now been giving her this treatment for 5 days and whilst she seems steadier on her feet, she is sleeping constantly and hasn't really been eating her dry food/drinking herself.

I've been able to feed her a little bit every now and then (a small amount of bread or grapes and in the first instance I bought baby food to syringe fed her) and have been giving her a mixture of water and a honey/milk solution (read online that honey can help infections plus I figured the sugar would help her energy levels).

I've have also noticed that she seems to be having diarrhea but could this be due to the antibiotics? I suppose my main question is how long can it take for antibiotics to kick in? Prior to discovering her poorly she was so lively and full of life (no gradual decline of old age etc).

Sorry for the huge first post, I wanted to give as much detail as possible. I just want her to pull through

Thanks in advance for your help!

[souffle]

I'm sorry to hear she is so ill. If she is discharging pus it sounds as if she has a pyometra (womb infection) The antibiotics may give some remission but it always returns and without a spay she will sadly be unlikely to have much quality of life in her time left. I'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news but it is the biggest cause of loss of females hammies of this age. She does sound to have gone down quite low and would be unlikely to survive an operation unfortunately.
Ask her how she feels and if you feel she has had enough and is not making any progress then you may feel it is best to give her rest. It is most likely the infection that is causing the diaorrhoea as it affects the bowel. It's a horrible disease if this is what she has. Antibiotics usually kick in in around 3 days.
I'd take her back and ask them to do a scan if you feel that would help as they can see if the womb is indeed full of pus and you could ask if the spay is possible but she is very ill.
I hope her path is gentle wherever it leads and I'm sorry you have had this happen x

[PumpKinSpiceLatte]

Diarrhea is a common side affect of most pet medicines, so the medication might be the cause

[Thin Lizzy]

Antibiotics can be hard on the digestion system. She's 19 months, sometimes medication can take a bit longer to take effect when they're older.
I'd stop giving her grapes & bread. Try some porridge, scrambled egg. Try brocolli, peas and give her a little piece of normal melon to ensure she keeps herself hydrated.
Like us, when we have a stomach problem we avoid foods that might irritate it even more. Grapes and bread is 2 foods I'd avoid.

[Pebbles82]

I'd agree to try and keep food simple and bland as any kind of diet change can cause diarrhoea - at least it will rule out that cause. I wouldn't give honey and milk or anything milky or sweet just now. Hamsters don't really digest milk well anyway.

Souffle knows all about these things. Maybe the antibiotics will kick in a bit soon. With humans it can sometimes take till almost the end of the course for them to make a difference if it's a very nasty infection. The anti-inflammatories will be giving pain relief as well so that will be helping her.

It sounds positive that she is a bit steadier on her feet after 5 days. Maybe ask the vet about diarolyte (or whatever it is) liquid if she has had some diarrhoea, so she doesn't get dehydrated, especially if drinking is difficult. Otherwise I would just stick to water and little tasty healthy extras like Thin Lizzy mentioned - a bit of porridge or scrambled egg on a teaspoon (without milk).

I think honey is more for wound infections externally not sure if it would make a lot of difference internally. Other supplements you could try her with are shelled hemp seeds - when our hamster couldn't eat well, he just licked those out of a little dish. They are supposed to contain all vitamins and minerals needed and are high calorie too to help prevent further weight loss. Holland and Barrett sell Linwoods shelled hemp seeds. Charlie seemed to really like them. You could also see if she will lick some baby food off a spoon. There isn't much in the way of calories in it but it has healthy ingredients and tastes nice so she may enjoy some. Cow and Gate do 4 month baby foods in most supermarkets. Charlie's favourite is the Pumpkin and Chicken which is orange coloured. It's best to avoid any that contain onion, garlic, tomato or spices. There are about 4 of the 4 month Cow and Gate ones I find are ok - the Pumpkin and chicken, Chicken Sunday lunch (green colour) and a lamb hotpot one I think.

I hope she feels a bit better soon. I wouldn't give bread or grapes either. I hope the next vet visit makes things clearer how to proceed whatever happens next but right now if she can enjoy a little bit of tasty something it could be nice for her.

[Pepper]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice.

Just to clarify, the only time I have seen pus on Pepper was when she was at the vets (I think he may have squeezed it out of her?). I also caught her this morning going for a drink so I am hoping this is a positive sign?

I will certainly stop giving her grapes and bread. I think I only opted for these as I figured some food was better than no food (as she was showing no interest in her dry food) which I suppose is foolish because I now may have exacerbated her symptoms I do have some baby food already, although it is apple, carrot and parsnip so I will try her with something more savoury?

I bought her a product called "Pro-C Probiotic" today, a supplement to be mixed with water which is supposed to aid digestion. I mixed it and drip fed her it from the syringe (following her antibiotics) and she seemed to enjoy it, she wouldn't let go of the syringe!

I'll monitor her closely over the next few days and will try her with some of the above listed foods. If it came to it, I do not think I could put her through surgery at her age, knowing she might not survive it but I am trying to remain positive and hope that the antibiotics will kick in any day now.

Thank you all again.

[Thin Lizzy]

I found the Probiotic C Powder really helped my hams when ill. I also rubbed some into cucumber, melon & carrot, I chose to give the Probiotic powder with them, also baby foods and porridge.
Also the Pro C is so helpful when they're on antibiotics.
It's good that you're remaining positive, your little ham will sense this.
You're doing a great job.

[Pepper]

Just a quick update on Pepper, there have been no real signs of improvement (over than appearing a little more stable for the most part). She's not touching her dry food and her diarrhoea is still in full affect. On the plus side I have managed to syringe feed her a small amount of baby food today and water, so I hope this helped her alittle.

I've arranged a vets appointment for tomorrow but I'm torn. I really don't want her to suffer but I know she must be feeling terrible (after 7 days of antibiotics and no real improvement) as it's so out of character for her to sleep constantly and show no interest in anything. I'm torn because when I wake her to give her the medication and water, I see glimpses of her normal inquisitive and playful nature (whiskers sniffing away) but after being handled she immediately goes back to sleep. I would imagine this is just her attempting to mask her illness?

I will report back after the vets but my heart is breaking as I write this

[Thin Lizzy]

I've got my fingers crossed for you & Pepper xxx

[Pepper]

Thank you Thin Lizzy.

Unfortunately Pepper had to be put to sleep this evening.

RIP Pepper