Hamster not chewing/eating

[BartyCrouchJr]

I can give tofu a go, I don't mind eating tofu if he doesn't enjoy it! It's a shame that they all developed health issues I hope the metacam wouldn't be a permanent fixture but if it has to be then it is fine.
He's currently having a snooze in his sand bath, not sure how normal that is but he seems ok.

[Ria P]

Haha, i'd say a snooze in the sandbath is normal dwarf behaviour. You may know this anyway but the tofu needs to be the plain, unflavoured one. I also give ours a bit of plain, cooked pasta sometimes.

[BartyCrouchJr]

Oh good! He can now eat small pieces of grated cheese (more calories!) but couldn't manage a small bit of carrot. So he is starting to eat more solid food again, tofu would definitely be worth a try as it is a bit more solid than baby food.

Thank you for all your help, it's been really reassuring to have someone to talk to

[Ria P]

You're welcome.
You could try him with a small piece of par boiled carrot. I give ours a bit of baby porridge sometimes but make it up with water not milk. It has some crispy bits in it so is not completely smooth.
Ella's kitchen strawberry and raspberry porridge.

[BartyCrouchJr]

I'm a little bit concerned about him today, he seems to have dropped a little weight and he was sat in his sand bath after weighing and his breathing is a bit more rapid that normal.
He still looks bright and he's had a bath and some food today but just a worry still.

[Ria P]

A few grams either side could account for full or empty pouches at the time of weighing but i so totally understand your worry.
He should be chewing by now i would have thought.
I do wonder if the vet overlooked an infection in his mouth. You could email the surgery and explain that Cedric isn't eating properly yet or make another appointment with a different vet for a second opinion.
My regular vet is good with hamsters but i saw a locum once with the same hamster and she had quite different ideas.

[BartyCrouchJr]

Yeah I think I'll have to take him to the vets again he's seen two different ones so far but another would be a good shout. I'm worried about his breathing though today.

[Ria P]

Phone them now if you're concerned. Most vets are open till 20.00 and they'd give you an emergency appointment if needed.

[BartyCrouchJr]

He saw the vet and now has some antibiotics in case of infection. His eye was looking a little like it was bulging too which the vet was a bit concerned about but he has been scratching a bit more recently, and scratching around his eye area.
Got to give him the antibiotics and metacam until mid week, if no improvement he'll be going back to the vets for further, more invasive tests. Poor little thing, he's had so much done to him in the last two weeks and he still doesn't mind me waking him up and getting him out to give him meds or take him to the vet.

[Ria P]

It sounds like there is something going on. Hopefully it's something antibiotics can fix.