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Old 04-30-2021, 02:46 PM   #1
Petite
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Join Date: Aug 2019
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Unhappy Hammy doesn't seem right....

My hybrid dwarf, Freya, is behaving oddly, and I'm hoping someone can shed some light. She is around 15 months old.

A few weeks ago she started looking slightly unsteady on her feet, sometimes rolling over onto her left side. I thought maybe she was groggy and uncoordinated from having just woken up, but as time goes on it is happening more. Tonight when I went to feed her, she seemed to be going manic, shaking her head frantically from side to side and often rolling over as she was going about her cage. She was keen to eat, and I can't see any apparent injury on the left side in either paw; she seems to be using them normally. It was very worrying to see her like that and I wonder what could be wrong.

Could she have had a minor stroke? But would that explain her balance seeming to get worse in the last day or two?

I gave her a whimzee and a stroke to try to calm her down, but then she tried to take the whimzee back to her hoard, rolled right over onto her back with the whimzee still in her mouth, and didn't seem able to right herself without a wee bit of help from me. Even burrowing into her substrate she went head over heels and struggled to right herself.

Of course, it's Friday night, and I've no idea what kind of hours the vet is keeping these days. There used to be a late night emergency service, but I'm not sure if this is an emergency - yet. She doesn't seem to be in physical pain, and is still using her wheel, although noticeably less. We've been giving her Maxitrol eye drops recently for an persistent eye infection, and I did wonder if it was a sight rather than mobility issue, but her eyes look fine tonight.

Apologies for the long post, but I'm really worried. If she was your hamster, what would you do?
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Old 04-30-2021, 05:53 PM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Hello. It sounds a bit like a neurological condition and could be associated with the eye problem. I think you should try and contact a vet even though it's the week-end. Could be a stroke too but sounds neurological and the eye and brain are quite near each other.
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Old 05-01-2021, 01:24 AM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I'm sorry to hear that Freya is unwell. I read you post last night but didn't know how to respond. I wouldn't have classed it as an emergency because she's been like that for a while and doesn't appear to be in pain but on the other hand i would have felt very bad voicing this opinion and then to read next day that she had deteriorated overnight.

I agree with Serendipity, it does sound neurological but maybe or hopefully, it's a treatable ear infection That nay have spread from the eyes. Issues with ears can also cause balance problems.

Only a vet will be able to tell. I'd try and make an appointment for today. Keep us updated please.
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Old 05-01-2021, 06:57 AM   #4
Petite
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Unhappy Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Thank you, Ria and Serendipity for your messages - I'm really grateful for your feedback.

I phoned the vet, who said that there are no appointments until Tuesday, but when I explained what was happening they offered Freya an appointment this morning. She was with the vet for around half an hour. We're not allowed to go in with them just now due to Covid restrictions. They think it's not a middle ear infection, as it's her whole body that is tilting rather than only the head; but they are thinking it could be meningitis or a tumour. She has been given a long-acting steroid injection that seems to be settling her down a bit (her behaviour was getting quite manic and distressed) and also an antibiotic injection. She has been prescribed 0.2 ml of Baytril for 10 days to be administered orally, and now it's a waiting game to see if she responds. If she doesn't, they said it would be kinder to help her on her way.

I've never had to administer antibiotics orally before. What is the best way of doing this? The vet said she might object (presumably to the taste) so it would be really helpful to be armed with one or two strategies.

It's hard to see her like this.
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Old 05-01-2021, 10:34 AM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

I am so sorry that you have to go through this again and see your hamster ill. Let's hope that she responds to the medication.

There are a number of ways of giving Baytril which tastes bitter apparently.

My approach with Henry was direct, quick and probably a bit unsympathetic but it had to be done.
I drew up the Baytril in a small syringe then drew up the same amount of undiluted Ribena, picked up Henry and held the syringe to his mouth. Of course he pushed it away with his paws so i put him down briefly, picked him up again and squirted. He got the sweet first so took the bitter as well. It got easier as he got used to it but i didn't usually give it in one go, mostly two. I had to be careful that he swallowed it so squirted slowly and careful not asphyxiate him.

I think he was on 0.2ml but he was a big Syrian and Freya is a dwarf, isn't she? I'm just going to check his thread for the dosage.
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Old 05-01-2021, 10:51 AM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Henry was on 0.1ml Baytril twice daily.
I'm just trying to figure out how this compares to 0.2ml for a dwarf hamster but the vet would have worked out the dosage. Is Freya on it once daily?
I said in my previous post that i drew up the same amount in Ribena but that would work out as too much liquid at 0.2ml of Baytril.

Some people disguise it in baby or dog food or squirt it inside a pea but Henry never ate on demand so the syringe was the only sure way.
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Old 05-01-2021, 01:37 PM   #7
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

The vet said that she is "trying to cover all bases" for Freya as it's not easy to say exactly what the problem is; that might explain the dosage of Baytril, perhaps?

I don't have any Ribena, dog food or baby food, but the pea might work. I also wondered about putting a tiny dot of honey on the end of the syringe. The vet mentioned that giving it to her in two halves might work better too. We'll see what happens tonight....
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Old 05-01-2021, 01:42 PM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

Yes, people use honey as well. Whatever works really.

If she wriggles a lot you could swaddle her in a towel.
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Old 05-02-2021, 09:03 AM   #9
Petite
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

The honey went down well, so with a bit of luck she might actually be looking forward to the next dose this evening. She's still very unwell, but we will wait and see which way things go.

Edit: Okay, she's just had dose 2. She pushed the syringe away with her front paws, although I think I managed to get most of the liquid in the right place. After she had had it, she seemed to go a bit barmy, chewing the rails at the front of the cage (a detolf), plastering her little body against the front glass, and trying to chew the bendy bridge she was hiding under. Is she trying to get rid of the taste? I gave her some nuts and sunflower seeds afterwards, and thought that might have done the job. Her sense of direction seems to be off-track and she is not herself at all.

Last edited by Petite; 05-02-2021 at 02:50 PM.
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Old 05-03-2021, 03:32 AM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: Hammy doesn't seem right....

It really is a matter of wait and see which way she goes in the next few days. That's all you can do at the moment.

If it's the aftertaste that's bothering her and it's very hard to tell then i'd give her a tiny piece of cheese to cover up the bad taste or a piece of cucumber to dilute it.
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