Hamster not chewing/eating - Page 2

Ria P · 10-06-2022, 01:14 AM

I did that and saw different vets within the same surgery until i found two i felt happy with. They also have a few branches and i don't mind a bit of driving to see the ones i want.
At least the vet trimmed the teeth immediately to avoid further damage to his mouth but using a bit of gas first may have been less stressful for Cedric. I don't know about that for sure though. I'd phone up to find out if discomfort after the procedure is normal and to be expected.
Cedric will be your friend again and he's eating which is good.

BartyCrouchJr · 10-06-2022, 10:50 AM

Well I've just got back from work and he's been scratching his neck loads

has a big sore patch. So I think he probably hurts somewhere still. I'm calling the vet first thing. He's been eating but has lost more weight since I weighed him on Monday.

I'm so sad for him

Ria P · 10-06-2022, 11:02 AM

Yes, i'd get him seen asap. He may have mites or an underlying health problem that could also have caused the overgrown teeth. The vet should be able to help him though.

Pebbles82 · 10-06-2022, 12:13 PM

He could have a tooth abscess, which would be painful - or just toothache generally. As he's over a year old I would ask about Metacam for him. Meanwhile I'd give him softened food.

Still put the normal hamster mix out, as even if they don't eat much of it they like keeping up the habit of pouching and hoarding it.

And also give some soaked science selective pellets in a separate dish (just 2 or 3 pellets soaked with a bit of boiled water then leave to cool). These contain all the nutrients and vitamins etc needed to make sure he gets the nutrition. Most hamsters love it - it kind of smells of gravy. It turns to a mush after soaking slightly (don't put too much water on though).

mashed veg is fine too, if it's not too much hassle, or you can use baby food (4 months age without tomato or spices or onion or lemon juice). There are 3 or 4 at least that fit that criteria!

BartyCrouchJr · 10-07-2022, 01:13 AM

Yes he still has his normal mix out, but he's not interested in it at all

Good call on the science selective, i'll get some sent out asap.
He's currently eating baby food but will only really eat it off the end of my finger! just laps it up - he has two flavours that don't have onion/tomato/spices etc. He seems to prefer the carrot and chicken one which is good, a little extra protein!

He's at the vet today at 11:15. He's been out this morning for a bit of food and a sand bath, he still looks bright and alert, just skinny. He does a little chattering noise when I offer him something a little harder to eat, i'm not sure if this is a pain response or frustration because he can't eat it - I will mention this to the vet as an indicator that something is definitely up.

Ria P · 10-07-2022, 02:05 AM

I'm glad that you were able to get an appointment so quickly. Weight loss is always reason for concern because there's so little of them.
I think Serendipity's mention of a tooth abscess is a pretty gpod guess. That would make eating painful, account for overgrown teeth and the scratching could be because he has pain in that area.
The vet should be able to tell and treat. Good luck and keep us posted.

Pebbles82 · 10-07-2022, 02:05 AM

His teeth could be painful still after the clipping and he probably found it stressful too. I had to have this done once with an older hamster and he certainly wasn't happy for a few days and never really did get back to eating much hard food, but he loved his baby food and science selective, and still pouched the hard food.

It sounds like he needs Metacam at least if he's pain - it should make a big difference. I would ask the vet if he can have Metacam as you think he's in pain. Sometimes you have to ask if they don't suggest it.

Pebbles82 · 10-07-2022, 02:08 AM

Actually he might need antibiotics as well in case it's a tooth abscess. Trouble with things like that - as with humans - it's trapped in a bony area and even if the antibiotics work, it can come back again and the only way to stop it then is remove the tooth. The vet might need to do an x ray to see what's going on in his face/head area. I think that would be a good idea rather than just prescribing antibiotics and painkillers. Unless the vet knows what it is without that.

So has this all just started since the tooth clipping? The weight loss can certainly be caused by tooth problems as they're just not eating properly.

How old is he again? Sorry you said over a year old. The response when you offer him hard food - I think both maybe - frustration, stress perhaps (knowing it will hurt if he eats it), or being in pain and just expressing it.

BartyCrouchJr · 10-07-2022, 04:23 AM

The vet didn't think there was an abscess and couldn't see any inflammation in his mouth but we have some metacam so that's a good start (and he was very good to dose!)
The weight loss started before his teeth were clipped, I noticed on Sunday that he hadn't eaten and he was at the vets Monday where they saw his top teeth had grown curved around towards the roof of his mouth so that was the reason why he hadn't been eating properly and losing the weight (it was a slow decline until really recently, corresponding with the teeth getting longer and more curved)

Since Monday he's not really been right though which was why he was back today, hoping the painkillers will help. The new diet will be arriving tomorrow so he can have that plus some baby food

Ria P · 10-07-2022, 05:44 AM

The Metacam should help a lot if he's in pain.
What did the vet say about the scratching and sore patch on his neck?