Ill Hamster Any Advise

MINMOUSE

My daughters little one year old hamster is usually a little energenic bundle of fun but on Monday night I noticed she had not ate or drank much. We checked her and gave her some water but she looked very shakey. Took her to the vet on Tuesday as had googles her symptoms and thought she might have something called wet tail. They gave her an injection, antibiotics to give her at home and some food to give her from a syringe. However as yesterday progressed she seemed to be looking worse. Am giving her tepid water again via syringe to try and re hydrate her together with the food every few hours but she just looks so ill. Re phoned the vet who basically said that other than the anti biotics there is not much they can do - feel like I am pulling my hair out as I just want to help her but feel I am fighting an unwinable battlwe

Hannah2

Ahh bless, they do look so sorry for themselves when they are not well dont they.

When you say you googled symptoms and came up with wet tail does she have diarrhea? If so make sure that you clean her with some wet cotton wool very gently.

If she doesnt have diarrhea then she probably doesnt have wet tail (I dont think)

Is she in a cold room? Sometimes when the temperature drops they can start to hibernate/slow down which may result in not eating or drinking.

Does she take the food/water from the syringe?
Are you managing to get the antibiotics into her?

What is her favourite food, will she eat that? My hamsters used to love their banana or tofu when they were not well and if they were really bad I used to give them babyfood porridge (jar) which they used to lick off a teaspoon.

If they wouldnt take water I used to give them cucumber or apple as at least they would get fluids from that

If you are not happy can you take her to another vet to see what they suggest?

Apart from the above I dont know what to suggest. I hope that she starts to improve soon.

MINMOUSE

Thanks for your reply, yes she does have an upset stomache too hence the link with wet tail, she is taking the water but I have to hold her little mouth open to do so. She is nothing but skin and bones. Tried another vet but they basically just said I would be wasting my money if I came down as I am doing all the right things! Doesnt make me feel any better. She will not take solid food just sleeps in her little home area apart from when I half wake her for water etc.

ClareEmily

MINMOUSE wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, yes she does have an upset stomache too hence the link with wet tail, she is taking the water but I have to hold her little mouth open to do so. She is nothing but skin and bones. Tried another vet but they basically just said I would be wasting my money if I came down as I am doing all the right things! Doesnt make me feel any better. She will not take solid food just sleeps in her little home area apart from when I half wake her for water etc.

Hi there

We lost a hammy years ago to wet tail, caused by eating lettuce, we had no idea at the time that they shouldn't eat this.

I would pop him in a smaller cage, with a heated pad or hot water bottle under the cage.

Or if he is not moving wrap him in a warm towel and sit with him on your lap.

Make up some porriage, or some rice or scrambled eggs, we have done this for our older or ill hammy's.

Hannah2

Ahh bless her, I hate it when the little furballs are not well.

I found that if you put/gently rub the tip of the syringe against the back/side of their mouths they open their mouths a little easier to accept the syringe/swallow what you drip out.

It sounds like you are doing the best you can for her and she is lucky to have someone who cares so much for her. Not everyone does and that breaks my heart. I had someone say to me once "why pay vets bills, you only paid £5 for it in the first place, just leave it to die and get another one" I could have killed them there and then :mad:

I wish you all the best and hope that she pulls through for you.

ETA: If you make up scrambled egg make sure NOT to add salt to it

MINMOUSE

Thanks again for your replies. I haven't tried scrambled egg as not sure how sure I would get it into her. She has had more warm water and some of the rescue type mixture the vet gave her (both by syringe). She just looks so pitiful her eyes are tight closed but whiskers still twitching. In all honesty I have no idea how she has held on so long. I dont want to lose her but feel that if she were to go it might be the best thing for her. Have explained to dd that she is very ill and there have been tears all around.

samboette

Hi there

We have 8 hamsters and have had one with wet tail that has survived.

What is the dosage of antibiotics you're giving her and how are you administering it?

We gave our Syrian 0.6ml of Baytril from our Vets 3 times a day using a Syringe directly into his mouth NOT diluted in drinking water (you never know if they are getting the correct dosage). It's good you're getting fluids into her but you really need to be adding a probiotic into the water or trying to feed yoghurt to encourage the stomach to produce good bacteria, antibiotics will kill the good bacteria in the gut and unfortunately they rarely pull through if this happens as they will not be able to digest their food properly.

Try a jar of baby food, i.e porridge, rice pudding, maybe something with chicken and vegetables in it, nothing with onions. With ours we made a solution up of milk, warm water and sugar or syrup, something to give them a boost as well.

Is it definately poo? As your hammie is a female, you have to take into account something called Pyometra as well, they can have an open pyo which produces a horrible discharge and makes them very poorly or a closed pyo.

Just try and make her as warm and possible, try to clean her rear end to make her feel comfortable, even when poorly they don't like to feel dirty. Fingers crossed for her, they can be resilient little creatures at times!!

It doesn't matter how big or small your pet is, it's still upsetting when they become ill.

Our hammies are sending your little furry 'get well' thoughts!!

MINMOUSE

Just a wee note to say thanks for the posts, unfortunately she passed away sometime between Midnight and 5am. We had been giving the antiboitics via syringe, she battled hard but this was just too much for her.
We inheritated our previous hamster when she was 1 (owners were emigrating) and she lived till she was just over 3 so I didnt feel as bad as she had a longer life. This little one was only 14 months ish, dd and I devastated but in away am glad she is no longer suffering.

MORPH3US

Sorry to hear she passed away minmouse... you obviously looked after her very well though and did all you could so she was lucky to have you.

kindofagilr

Awww so sorry to hear she passed away xxx

Hannah2

Oh no, I am so sorry that she didnt make it. These little furballs tug at our heartstrings so much for such little animals! You did all you could for her and she was lucky that you cared so much for her and she obviously had a lovely home.