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Old 12-27-2021, 01:02 PM   #1
Peanui
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Default Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

Hello!

My hamster, Peanui (male, Syrian hamster, 23 months of age), was having a pus-like white fluid in his urinary tract since the last 10 days or so. His exotic vet had first prescribed Marbocyl but because it completely killed his appetite, she asked me to discontinue it after 3 doses. Since the last 10 days, my exotic vet is on vacation and hence I had to contact an emergency vet in my area (there are very few) and he suggested me Baytril 5% (0.03 ml/day). It's been three days since I started it.

Just today, I saw a drop (or two) of blood in his urinary tract (which seems to be clotting as well). It doesn't seem like a continuous flow. He is otherwise active and is eating his food. My appointment with the Exotic vet (for another check-up) is on Wednesday but I will try to advance it to Tuesday (tomorrow).

Do you have any suggestions? Should I continue the Baytril? Will cleaning the area help or can it worsen the situation because of friction? Any advise will be very helpful.

Many thanks.
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Old 12-27-2021, 01:16 PM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

Sorry to hear this. Blood in the urine does suggest an infection - but he’s on antibiotics. Sometimes the baytril can take a week to 10 days to resolve an infection though. Are you sure the blood is from his urine? Also how old is Peanui?
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Old 12-27-2021, 01:30 PM   #3
Peanui
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Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Sorry to hear this. Blood in the urine does suggest an infection - but he’s on antibiotics. Sometimes the baytril can take a week to 10 days to resolve an infection though. Are you sure the blood is from his urine? Also how old is Peanui?
I am not sure if it is from his urine. I didn't see it in his urine but it could have been diluted. It is not a constant flow. It seems to be inside his urinary tract and I am afraid of opening it up in case it prolapses. Peanui is 23 months old. I am trying to get an appointment tomorrow.
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Old 12-27-2021, 03:40 PM   #4
Ria P
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Location: Wiltshire, UK
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Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

My hamster peed blood and didn't respond to antibiotics so the vet suspected bladder stones and put him on pain relief/anti inflammatory medication.

I'm not saying that this is happening with your hamster but it could be a possibility at his age.

The antibiotics probably need more time to work though.
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Old 12-27-2021, 04:00 PM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

I think that sounds like a good idea getting an appointment tomorrow. At 23 months he is quite elderly as well. A two year old hamster is the equivalent of an 80 year old human. And gradually things can start to pack up. Kidneys beginning to fail is common in older hamsters (signs of this are drinking and peeing a lot more). But they tend to just carry on, like humans. They can get arthritis and toothache as well. Any sign of blood is, as you know, more of an acute issue. It’s a common sign of urinary tract infections but could be something else as well.

In view of his age I don’t think you really want to be having a lot of stressful procedures and hopefully the antibiotics will start to work. I would also ask the vet to prescribe some Metacam as well - it’s anti inflammatory and the only real pain relief for hansters. He is likely to be having some pain if he’s passing blood and they are very good at hiding it. The anti inflammatory can also help in a number of ways.

If it’s a kidney infection (a sign of that can be blood in the urine as well) then it may take the full course of antibiotics, or a change of antibiotics. I would ask the vet about that too. Ie the possibility of it being a kidney infection and if this is the right antibiotic for it if it is. (I say that having recently had a kidney infection myself! It was very painful initially and needed a broad spectrum antibiotic).

There are limited antibiotics that can be used with hamsters but there are others that can be used.

Thinking positive, if he started with discharge, hopefully it’s nothing too serious. But medication is the only option really.
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Old 12-27-2021, 06:19 PM   #6
Peanui
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Join Date: Sep 2020
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Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
My hamster peed blood and didn't respond to antibiotics so the vet suspected bladder stones and put him on pain relief/anti inflammatory medication.

I'm not saying that this is happening with your hamster but it could be a possibility at his age.

The antibiotics probably need more time to work though.
Hi, thank you so much for this input. I was also thinking along similar lines. I would request the vet to do an X-ray of his stomach along with an ultrasound (if possible) in case there are stones. Also, you are absolutely right and your statement is corroborated with some others with whom I spoke to. The antibiotics can take up to 10 days, and sometimes even more, to show any marked effect.
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Old 12-27-2021, 06:26 PM   #7
Peanui
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Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 21
Default Re: Blood in hamster's urinary tract (please advise) ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I think that sounds like a good idea getting an appointment tomorrow. At 23 months he is quite elderly as well. A two year old hamster is the equivalent of an 80 year old human. And gradually things can start to pack up. Kidneys beginning to fail is common in older hamsters (signs of this are drinking and peeing a lot more). But they tend to just carry on, like humans. They can get arthritis and toothache as well. Any sign of blood is, as you know, more of an acute issue. It’s a common sign of urinary tract infections but could be something else as well.

In view of his age I don’t think you really want to be having a lot of stressful procedures and hopefully the antibiotics will start to work. I would also ask the vet to prescribe some Metacam as well - it’s anti inflammatory and the only real pain relief for hansters. He is likely to be having some pain if he’s passing blood and they are very good at hiding it. The anti inflammatory can also help in a number of ways.

If it’s a kidney infection (a sign of that can be blood in the urine as well) then it may take the full course of antibiotics, or a change of antibiotics. I would ask the vet about that too. Ie the possibility of it being a kidney infection and if this is the right antibiotic for it if it is. (I say that having recently had a kidney infection myself! It was very painful initially and needed a broad spectrum antibiotic).

There are limited antibiotics that can be used with hamsters but there are others that can be used.

Thinking positive, if he started with discharge, hopefully it’s nothing too serious. But medication is the only option really.
Thanks a lot once more. His vet did recommend him Inflacam (which is diluted Metacam). I am administering it twice a day for him. You are absolutely right. Hamsters being prey animals hide their issues very well. However, I checked his urine today (just half an hour back) and I didn't see any blood. His somewhat bloodied urinary tract (the reason I started this post) again seems to be clean. I don't know if he perchance scratched something in that area. I will continue the Baytril unless his exotic vet changes it. She first started with Marbocyl which she discontinued after seeing Peanui's loss in appetite. Before her, another doctor (not an exotic vet) had recommended an ointment which contains a somewhat harmful substance phenylmercuric nitrate. I didn't give it to him except for twice (including the time the vet gave it to him). I am really wishing that I will get an appointment today and that he can be checked including some tests, perhaps even a culture test of his urine/pus/blood. Peanui is otherwise very active and is eating fine.

I am really sorry that you went through a hard time with your kidney infection. I hope that you are well now.

Once again, many thanks for helping us through such difficult times.
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