Tuesday, August 24, 2010

How treat your sick hamster


    1. Check your hamster's symptoms:
    • Is your hamster sleeping longer than usual? Keep in mind that old hamsters naturally sleep longer.
    • Has your hamster lost its appetite?
    • Does it no longer groom itself?
    • Is it irritable?
    • When awake, is it slow moving, or has has a hard time getting around?
    • Has your hamster lost any of its fur, or has bald spots? Keep in mind that this is normal for older hamsters.
    • Does it have a runny nose, teary eyes, and/or wet bottom?
    • Hamster droppings should be rod-shaped. Watery droppings indicate too much fresh fruits and vegetables. Hard, dry droppings indicate not enough.
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    Find out what your hamster has and how to cure it:

    • If your hamster has a cold, he will have a stuffy nose, sniffles and irritability. Give it cod-liver on some bread and it should be fine.
    • If it has teeth problems, it won't do anything really noticeable but you should look in their mouth occasionally! Dry milk helps almost all dental problems.
    • If your hamster has wet tail it will have a wet bottom and will be slower and more cranky. Act immediately, as this can be deadly. Wet tail comes from dirty cages, so you should keep cages very clean. To treat, get a broad spectrum antibiotic immediately.
    • If your hamster has diarrhea, stop feeding fruits and vegetables until he is better. It is usually caused by intestinal or stomach blockage. The best way to avoid this is to provide some alfalfa as part of the diet.
    • Constipation - this is caused by lack of water in the diet. Make sure fresh water is available at all times. If your hamster does become constipated, give him some carrots or other fresh fruits or vegetables (Plus, give him/her more water.)
    • Runny eyes, teary eyes - this indicates foods stuck in the food pouch. This occurs if you feed you hamster too much soft fruits and vegetable. Avoid this by giving your pet small pieces and watching to make sure he doesn't hoard it. If your hamster does get food stuck in his pouch, use a medicine dropper to flush the pouches.
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    Find out how to prevent it (this isn't treating, it's making sure it won't happen again) and your hammy should be all set:

    • Colds: Make sure you wash your hands and dry them with a clean towel. Keep the cage away from drafts and never give your hamster a bath.
    • Teeth: There really isn't anything you can do except make sure they have a chewing block. If dry milk doesn't work see a vet which is the best choice anyway.
    • Wet Tail: keep the cage clean and it shouldn't be a problem.
    • Diarrhea: Don't give it more then one soft treat a day.
    • Constipation: Make sure there is always water available
    • Runny Eyes: Make sure they eat soft foods right off. Check their pouches occasionally to make sure nothing is stuck.
Information was taken from http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Your-Sick-Hamster

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