New owner- baptism of fire!

[MissMaggie]

Hi there.

I’m new to owning a hamster! We got our sirian girl ‘Maggie’ a month ago and realised after bringing her home that we needed a much bigger better enclosure.

I’ve spent an absolute fortune in a short space of time and although not the best I’ve seen, feel we are doing an ok job and Rome wasn’t built in a day!

We’ve hit the ground running with a UTI yesterday. She’s not very tame yet but I had to dig her out of her burrow and take her up to the vet. She had an injection of antibiotics and I was sent home with 3
Syringes for daily dose oral antibiotics.

She seems ok in herself, not eating as much as normal but hopefully she’s just feeling a bit rough. I’ve eventually managed to get a dose of antibiotics into her tonight (but wasted 2 trying to disguise in food so will need to replace tomorrow) I managed to draw up a bit of honey into the syringe and when she locked on I got the dose into her. She wasn’t best pleased and not won’t even lick honey off the syringe now so not sure where to go from here! Will she maybe have forgotten by tomorrow night? Or traumatised forever

She takes treats from my hand but not hand tame and im not confident to pick her up and try and syringe by hand.

For such a tiny thing she has had a massive impact on my life- it’s like having a newborn baby again!

 

[Maz]

She's adorable Especially that first photo - so sweet. Don't worry, she'll get over the palaver of the meds and you can start taming then. Saw you posted on the "disguising baytril" thread as well Hope it has helped!

 

[Socks' Mum]

She is a darling I think that often they understand that the yukky stuff is making them feel better. Great that you picked up that she has an infection. I think she will become tame quickly once the UTI is gone ❤

 

[MissMaggie]

Thank you maz. She’s stolen my heart for sure!

Starting to think I’m too emotional to be a hamster owner- I’m so worried for her!

I’m glad I eventually got some meds into her. I don’t think the honey on syringe is going to work tonight though. She knows it brings nasty stuff now. I don’t know what their memory is like though?! Do you think she will remember? She wouldn’t accept a drop of honey from the end after I’d medicated her last night so I don’t fancy my chances.

Need to speak to vet this morning to replace the two ‘spilled’ doses so will discuss with them. Such a shame they couldn’t give one long acting injection while she was there!

She’s definitely still a little off her food so droppings are smaller and fewer. Wheel was clean this morning but there was a pee in the sand which looked normal (no visible heamaturia) so I’m hoping she’s on the upswing.

X

 

[MissMaggie]

She is a darling I think that often they understand that the yukky stuff is making them feel better. Great that you picked up that she has an infection. I think she will become tame quickly once the UTI is gone ❤

Thank you! She’s really very sweet. A bit of a shy girl but has been coming up to the door and almost climbing out more recently so I’m taking that as a positive. She’s still a little skittish some nights but I guess thats just her personality.

I’ve never had a hamster before and I was woefully ignorant about their proper needs when we got her a month ago… she’s had a drastic enclosure upgrade and she’s mad for the sprays so think she’s going to cost me a fortune ongoing!

We are learning together as we are both a little timid I guess! Horses- no problem… Hamster- terrified im going to hurt or scare her!