Bruce

[Maz]

I do think there needs to be some flexibility, eg if a hamster is shy or newly settling in and 6" of bedding is not too bad for a dwarf hamster. You might remember that I decided to give Tino less bedding and he's seemed much happier and more sociable since! And enjoys digging down inside his multiroom house. I literally didn't see him for weeks when he had 10" of bedding. And I don't think he was happy with it necessarily - it was a big mess underground - no nice burrows or tunnels - just a big smelly mess lol! Personally I think it's good for them to get some interaction with humans. And you can add more later when they've gained in confidence a bit maybe? Just my view.

 

[Doodleham]

I do think there needs to be some flexibility, eg if a hamster is shy or newly settling in and 6" of bedding is not too bad for a dwarf hamster. You might remember that I decided to give Tino less bedding and he's seemed much happier and more sociable since! And enjoys digging down inside his multiroom house. I literally didn't see him for weeks when he had 10" of bedding. And I don't think he was happy with it necessarily - it was a big mess underground - no nice burrows or tunnels - just a big smelly mess lol! Personally I think it's good for them to get some interaction with humans. And you can add more later when they've gained in confidence a bit maybe? Just my view.

I filled my plazas to just over the top of the tray. But I notice on some FB groups that people get severely bullied for that. And told it's abuse . If they'd seen Some of the hamsters I've rescued over the years before I got them then that's abusive. They've no idea what abuse is. And I'm likely old enough to be their mother Anyway rant over. Lol.

 

[Maz]

Yes some places can be a bit extreme and that's not very nice being accused of things. It's only a couple of years ago that 6" of bedding was the norm and seen as very good! There is the view that very deep bedding is best for them and maybe it is, but I do think there needs to be flexibility, depending on the hamster.

For example with robos - they are much happier with deep bedding and are often out a lot as well. I don't even like the term "ghost hamster" as I think their behaviour depends on various things. For example, Tino would have been described as a ghost hamster for the first 6 months of his life - but he's not any more!

 

[Maz]

Sorry just edited that post above!

 

[Doodleham]

Yes some places can be a bit extreme and that's not very nice being accused of things. It's only a couple of years ago that 6" of bedding was the norm and seen as very good! There is the view that very deep bedding is best for them and maybe it is, but I do think there needs to be flexibility, depending on the hamster.

For example with robos - they are much happier with deep bedding and are often out a lot as well. I don't even like the term "ghost hamster" as I think their behaviour depends on various things. For example, Tino would have been described as a ghost hamster for the first 6 months of his life - but he's not any more!

Exactly they are all individuals and have different wants and needs. They can't tell us but their behaviour can.

 

[Doodleham]

Yes some places can be a bit extreme and that's not very nice being accused of things. It's only a couple of years ago that 6" of bedding was the norm and seen as very good! There is the view that very deep bedding is best for them and maybe it is, but I do think there needs to be flexibility, depending on the hamster.

For example with robos - they are much happier with deep bedding and are often out a lot as well. I don't even like the term "ghost hamster" as I think their behaviour depends on various things. For example, Tino would have been described as a ghost hamster for the first 6 months of his life - but he's not any more!

I'm hoping Bruce gets more keen for interaction. As it's early days yet for him too. However if he doesn't want interaction I'll need to accept that. As I'm not forcing him if he's uncomfortable

 

[Maz]

Of course - I wonder if Waffles likes to come out, if Bruce starts appearing at the bars . Because I remember now that Tino only started being keen on coming out when I got Higgins - I think he got a bit jealous of me talking to Higgins.

 

[Doodleham]

Not so good news about Bruce. He has the vets at 2.50 today. He's always been a quiet wee hamster (not like his nextdoor neighbour waffles ). I hadn't seen him for a couple of days although his food was going down. So I just thought that he was not wanting disturbed. I saw him last night, he was up eating and drinking. But something is going on around his eye/jaw area. His little eye is shut. I think it's tumors or a dental issue. (Would that pop up in 2 days though?) So confused about what's happening he's only estimated 8 months old . I'm scared this vet visit isn't going to have a great outcome. Feel like the worst owner in the world. I didn't see him everyday because of his deep bedding he'd burrow right down.

 

[Maz]

Not so good news about Bruce. He has the vets at 2.50 today. He's always been a quiet wee hamster (not like his nextdoor neighbour waffles ). I hadn't seen him for a couple of days although his food was going down. So I just thought that he was not wanting disturbed. I saw him last night, he was up eating and drinking. But something is going on around his eye/jaw area. His little eye is shut. I think it's tumors or a dental issue. (Would that pop up in 2 days though?) So confused about what's happening he's only estimated 8 months old . I'm scared this vet visit isn't going to have a great outcome. Feel like the worst owner in the world. I didn't see him everyday because of his deep bedding he'd burrow right down.

Good luck at the vet's today. He may have an eye infection or tooth infection - hopefully nothing serious at his age- fingers crossed.

 

[Doodleham]

Good luck at the vet's today. He may have an eye infection or tooth infection - hopefully nothing serious at his age- fingers crossed.

Thanks. I've given him his favourite treats today and some yellow pepper. He loves peppers.

 

[Doodleham]

So, back from the vets. It's an abscess. We've got antibiotics. Eye is totally fine. It's closed because of where the abscess is. Vet cleaned it up and gave us antibiotics. Need to get baby food to put antibiotics in as he's not taking it from the syringe

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think Maz suggested if baby food wasn't working, which hopefully it will, something meaty such as tinned dog food is an option. The antibiotic should knock it. I hope your lovely Bruce hammy gets better soon

 

[Maz]

I wonder if it's a tooth abscess. Anyway, good you have antibiotics. It needs something strong flavoured to disguise the nasty taste. You could either draw up a bit of runny honey in the syringe (after the meds) and see if he'll take it that way, or - if he just doesn't like the syringe full-stop, then yes I've found meaty dog food works. Specifically the country hunter beef dog food (a great tip I had from another experienced hamster owner). It comes in little pouches for small dogs and it's a bit like corned beef in jelly inside so you can easily get a small, pea-sized amount. I used to put half the pea-sized amount on a little dish (eg baby food lid), drop the antibiotic on top then put the other half of the pea-sized amount on top. It has always worked and our robo used to demand more ha ha. Started pushing the plate around and looking at me - it was always licked clean.

I keep some in now just in case! The pouches last a long time until opened. Once opened they need to be kept in the fridge and used within a couple of days, so obviously there's quite a lot of waste, but it does get the meds in!

I think I got this one last time as couldn't find the beef on its own. Maybe the other meat flavours will be popular too. "Human grade meat".

Country Hunter dog food pouches

 

[Doodleham]

I wonder if it's a tooth abscess. Anyway, good you have antibiotics. It needs something strong flavoured to disguise the nasty taste. You could either draw up a bit of runny honey in the syringe (after the meds) and see if he'll take it that way, or - if he just doesn't like the syringe full-stop, then yes I've found meaty dog food works. Specifically the country hunter beef dog food (a great tip I had from another experienced hamster owner). It comes in little pouches for small dogs and it's a bit like corned beef in jelly inside so you can easily get a small, pea-sized amount. I used to put half the pea-sized amount on a little dish (eg baby food lid), drop the antibiotic on top then put the other half of the pea-sized amount on top. It has always worked and our robo used to demand more ha ha. Started pushing the plate around and looking at me - it was always licked clean.

I keep some in now just in case! The pouches last a long time until opened. Once opened they need to be kept in the fridge and used within a couple of days, so obviously there's quite a lot of waste, but it does get the meds in!

I think I got this one last time as couldn't find the beef on its own. Maybe the other meat flavours will be popular too. "Human grade meat".

Country Hunter dog food pouche

I think Maz suggested if baby food wasn't working, which hopefully it will, something meaty such as tinned dog food is an option. The antibiotic should knock it. I hope your lovely Bruce hammy gets better soon

Thanks both. I will try the baby food. I could only get fruit type ones. All the savoury had onions or garlic in. My dog is on the scrumbles chicken wet dog food I wonder if that'd work.

 

[Doodleham]

I'm just so relieved it's not been a tumor. And at least there's a chance at helping him.

 

[Maz]

I’m relieved for you . He is young though and they can get abscesses. We do tend to worry it might be a tumour though.

 

[Doodleham]

Well he took the first dose last night in a bit of dog food. But....this morning it's been a big huge NO! I tried baby food too as well as the dog food, strawberry flavour and nope. He ran!! On the plus side he seems to be happier being handled. I might try corned beef tonight (I saw that suggested on another post. Desperate times call for desperate measures) lol.

 

[Maz]

Is he having a dose twice a day? Tricky. It's normally only once a day I think. I suggested corned beef as it's a similar idea to the dog food pouches Which look a bit like corned beef in gravy. It is quite high in salt but it's a temporary thing and a tiny amount.

 

[Doodleham]

Is he having a dose twice a day? Tricky. It's normally only once a day I think. I suggested corned beef as it's a similar idea to the dog food pouches Which look a bit like corned beef in gravy. It is quite high in salt but it's a temporary thing and a tiny amount.

Yeah 2x a day. 0.02ml so a tiny tiny amount. And yes I wouldn't normally feed corned beef but I need him to take these meds. Well if once a day is the normal I will not panic as much if he only takes it once a day. As it's better than none.

 

[Maz]

Oh I meant it's normally a full dose once a day - I assume your dose is split over twice a day - ie so he gets it more often. But then 0.02ml once a day doesn't sound too off either. The vet may have decided the infection needs hitting hard and it needs a full dose twice a day. I suspect that's the case because tooth abscesses for humans are like this and need hitting hard as the infection can be trapped between a tooth root and the jaw. So if your vet has said twice a day at that dose then maybe you'd best just try and get that down him.

If you can find something he really likes and doesn't notice the meds in then I'm sure he'd eat it twice a day! Beef was the only thing that did it here! I think someone had some success dropping the meds on a bit of prawn cracker as well. Haven't tried that.