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Old 05-03-2021, 07:56 AM   #11
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Thank you, Ria - I will try cucumber or cheese tonight.
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Old 05-03-2021, 09:16 AM   #12
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am so pleased the vet has been helpful. Antibiotics will help if this is caused by infection. Lets keep our fingers crossed that either the antibiotics or steroids will help.

Baytril is absolutely foul tasting and most people find it needs to be disguised. Honey has worked for some. If she hates the syringe then I would put a drop of honey on a little dish (I use a baby food lid) and drop the baytril onto that and mix it in a bit. It is important they get the whole dose so if it's not all licked up then it will need to be syringed again. Hopefully it will be.

With our robo I couldn't syringe feed him - he was far too stressed by it. I had a brilliant tip from an experienced breeder on here to use Country Hunter beef dog food. Just a pea sized amount on a dish. That not only worked but our robo started pushing the dish around for more. It's a bit wasteful as a pouch only lasts 2 days in the fridge once opened so you only get three days of doses out of each pouch. But I found it a godsend. It seemed very much like corned beef in jelly to me! So that may be something to try - a pea sized amount of corned beef with the drop of baytril mixed in. Important thing is the baytril isn't at the bottom on the dish or it'll be left. I just dropped in on top then "turned" a tiny bit of the beef on top of it wiht a cocktail stick.

There aren't many things that will disguise the taste of baytril. If it is infection the antibiotics could work wonders within a few days.

Country Hunter Dog Adult Pouch Beef 6x150g (Pack of 3): Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Many people think hamsters are vegetarian because hamsters mixes are like that, but they're not and they love meat! Too much wouldn't be good as they could get too much protein but for a course of antibiotics its fine.
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Old 05-06-2021, 03:46 AM   #13
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Thanks for your reply, Serendipity. Thus far the honey seems to be doing the trick in as much as the Baytril is getting inside her. But 5 days in there doesn't seem to be any change. She is still unsteady and falling over, and this could leave me with a very hard decision to make over the weekend. The really hard question is that I can't tell how much quality of life she has. She is eating less and looking a bit thinner, and not really playing as she used to. Last night she tried briefly running in her wheel but quickly gave up as she was very wobbly. She emerges in her nest late evening to be fed and medicated, and then goes back. I don't hear her at all at night. Her ears are not pressed back so I still don't think she's in pain, but she's not herself, seems disorientated and sways her head about as she walks. She often seems to be trying to stare up at the sky, and sometimes falls over backwards as a result. Seeing her like this breaks my heart. I really don't know what to do for the best.
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Old 05-06-2021, 04:18 AM   #14
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am so very sorry to read this and wished i could help in any way. If there are still no signs of improvement by the time the course is finished i'd ask the vet for advice and support to come to a decision that is in Freya's best interest.
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Old 05-06-2021, 10:43 AM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am also so sorry to hear this and would also finish the course of antibiotics - how long is the course - it could need at least a week. In my experience also they get a bit worse while in the antibiotics due to the side effects. Our Robo looked absolutely terrible when on antibiotics - greasy fur, haggard looking etc. It wore off afterwards.


Sometimes though you have a gut feeling that something isn’t right. It definitely sounds neurological. And if it’s infection we would hope there would be some improvement once the antibiotics are finished and out of the system. If not then I would suspect a tumour pressing on her brain. And yes then you would want to relieve her suffering.

For the next few days or however long the course of antibiotics is (our Robo was on then for two weeks once) you have that time to talk to her. If you think she may be in pain I would ask the vet for metacam as well as antibiotics. It isn’t just pain relief, it’s anti inflammatory and may help. They like that one - it tastes nice. I think that is what I would do now and say you think she might be in pain and want to see if it helps.
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Old 05-11-2021, 04:40 AM   #16
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Freya was put to sleep this morning. Thanks to a recent thread on this forum, I knew enough to check that she would be anaesthetized first, so I know she didn't suffer. I could see it coming, so I've had 10 days to mentally prepare myself, but it doesn't make it easier when it actually happens.

I don't think I could bear to have another hamster - and on the other hand, I don't think I could bear not to.
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Old 05-11-2021, 05:09 AM   #17
VOESSY
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I'm sorry to hear.
I hope you can feel confident in your choice to help her on her way at some point.
Sweet sleep, little Freya.
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Old 05-11-2021, 05:48 AM   #18
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am so sorry. I think you felt it was going that way. Freya is playing free over the rainbow bridge, free from pain. You helped her with love.

I am sure you will have room in your heart for another, different, hamster, who needs good care x
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Old 05-11-2021, 05:59 AM   #19
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am so sorry to hear this sad news.

Once your grief for Freya eases, you may be able offer another little hamster a home filled with love and care.
You have too much to give not to.

Play well at the bridge Freya.
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Old 05-12-2021, 02:20 AM   #20
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts. The rain has stopped now, so we will bury her in the garden today close to Theo, her predecessor. I like to think she will have company and someone to play with beyond the bridge. She looks very peaceful, and it's good to know she is no longer distressed.
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