Icky tummy and runnyness <graphic content!>

littlepeanut · 03-15-2010, 03:12 PM

After a bit of advice from you hardcore hamster owners...

Peanut has had soft sticky poos for quite a few weeks now, but no signs of wet tail. He is about 4-5 months old and is fed a diet of Harry Hamster and not a lot else at the moment. I have cut out treats and fresh fruit and veg at the moment to see if this will help settle his tummy down.

I recently fed him on P@H museli as the place where I get Harry Ham food was out of stock, so wondering if this change may have upset him a bit? We're back to Harry HAm and I will be sticking to it from now on.

Would it help if I gave him some probiotic yogurt to settle him? Or is the lack of fresh not helping?

When we got him he was doing hard poos that would rattle around in his ball when he came out for his evening jaunts

but now if he does a poo in the ball he ends up getting covered and it goes everywhere

Sorry.. TMI?!

It also covers his wheel and I have to clean it every day to get it all out and save his delicate feet.

Any ideas as to why he has gone from happy poo monster to poorly poo monster?

Sorry about graphic content... hope no one was eating whilst reading this...!

Flissy · 03-15-2010, 03:36 PM

I can't really answer any of your questions but I hope Peanut is ok

littlepeanut · 03-15-2010, 03:40 PM

FLISSY!! Long time, no PM!!

He seems absolutely fine in himself, thanks. Still eating and drinking and coming out for his daily plays, it's just the poos are bad. Hoping it's where I've swapped his feed without a gradual change over

Poor Nut

souffle · 03-15-2010, 03:48 PM

It may well be the food change as the P@H food does contain a lot of sugar. Can you get some ProC probiotic powder from P@H by any chance. This is better than yogurt as there is a chance the cows milk in yogurt may upset him further. You could give him a quarter teaspoon live yogurt twice a day if you cant get the pro C.
Personally I would avoid putting him in the ball for a week or so as the excitement/stress can cause looseness and this may be making him worse. Short gentle handling sessions to check him and lots of quiet.
If you see any sign at all of it worsening then get him down to the vets. Are there any normal poos in is cage? Is he lethargic at all. If he has any other symptoms I would have him checked out.

littlepeanut · 03-15-2010, 03:54 PM

Thanks, Souffle.

He's not lethargic, no changes in him at all apart from the poo. He still seems like a happy little beast!
Will keep him out of the ball and will have gentle handling too. And very limited supervised time with my son.
Will pop into P@H for some ProC tomorrow.
There appears to be a few normal poos, but his bedding is getting quite messy. I don't want to keep changing it as I'm worried this will stress him, so trying to clear out the yucky bits only and replace with fresh.

I think I'll make an appointment for the vets anyway. These critters can go downhill fast

souffle · 03-15-2010, 03:57 PM

If his bedding is getting messy definitly get him seen. Make sure he is not dehydrated and I suspect he will need Baytril. The sooner he is treated the better chance he has as you are right they do go downhill very quickly.

**Hope** · 03-16-2010, 02:36 AM

I think you have made the right decision to get him checked out by a vet - its better to be safe than sorry. Hope Peanut is soon on the mend. x

littlepeanut · 03-16-2010, 02:48 AM

I bought some ProC this morning, and will put it on his food. I can't get to the vets until next week as I have exams all this week at college, so Monday is the earliest I can get there. I'll keep an eye over the next few days and will make an emergency app if he deteriorates.

But he seems absolutely fine in himself at the moment! The Wodent Wheel was going all night and he was out to say 'good morning' when we got up!