Sick hammy and vet useless

[Pumpkinhammy123]

Hi everyone!

This is my first post so hope I'm doing this right. Woke up today and my hamster was very sick. Has loud clicking/wheezing breathing noises, drool down her chin, her eyes half closed and slight crustiness. She's also very wobbly, like she's drunk and 'passes out' as if she's died and then wakes up again. Also has made screeching sounds once. She's also on the skinny side. She's not eating much unless I syringe her food and water. However she is very active still, her coat is in good condition and her nose looks clear.

She is a female Syrian approx 1 year 3 months.

I took her to the vet where she has been prescribed baytril antibiotics and loxicom anti-inflamattories. I'm also giving her thyme tea with a bit of honey and sprinkled thyme around her cage. Also syringing her water and blended veg/pellet mixture.

Has anyone any clue what this could be? Is there anything else I can do and do you think she has a good chance of pulling through?

[Amethyst_ice]

Hello,

Im sorry your hammy is in a poorly way.

The vet doesn't sound useless at all, baytril is a broad spectrum antibiotic and the first port of call for most respiratory infections. It sounds like your hammy may have pneumonia which is more serious, did your vet listen for any fluid on her chest? Loxicom is also a pain killer so both that and the baytril are what I would expect.

Thyme tea is really pretty useless but unfortunately has spread around the internet as a bit of a fad (dangerously in my opionion as many owners put off going to the vet and give the tea, glad to hear you got her to the vet asap!)

They have such delicate systems that it can go either way but you have acted quickly and you just need to watch her carefully and go back to your vet if she worsens. It may be worth giving her some soft foods (which will make meds easier to give). You said she is skinny, she may have been ill for a while then, some egg and high protein soft foods would be beneficial,

Keep us updated

[Pumpkinhammy123]

Hi, thanks for the reply! Yeah the vet wasn't too awful, just the fact she didn't listen to her chest or heart or anything. She seems a bit better today, her breathing is quieter and her eyes are clear now, but still early days so fingers crossed!