Sick Teddy Bear hamster - Squeekie

[billybaddad]

[COLOR=Cyan]I have a very sick 1 1/2 year hamster. I am giving him water (sugar, salt, baking soda) by dropper but he is not drinking on his own for about 3 days. He kinda of tries to eat his fav. treat but very little. Any suggestions? Please help....a child's pet......:(

[yodelinghamster]

Are there any bulges around the mouth? Are his teeth too long? Has he been wareing his teeth down? Look at his teeth. Then give me some more details. pictures would be REALLY nice too.

[billybaddad]

Thank you for your response. I see no bulges, his teeth....hmmm do seem a little long, he has not had chew sticks for awhile, they are however yellow, ugh! The other hamster Quickie is just fine....so I don't see how one could have gotten a cold when their cages are in the same spot. Will send pic's

[flowerpage]

why are you giving sugar salt and baking soda?

[billybaddad]

I was searching the web (all morning!) and saw this home remedy for sick hammies. Specially for ones that have not had anything to drink for a few days. It helps hydrate them better than just plain water. Also, they drink it more readily because of the sugar. PS the amts of sugar,salt and baking soda are very 'small'

[flowerpage]

Hmm. Sorry I can't help much. I would recommend trying to call your vet. Most will at least do a consult over the phone at no charge.....

[Jiffykat]

Definately contact a vet and try to figure out if it is something you can remedy yourself or if you need to take him in.

[billybaddad]

thanks Jiffykat.......he seems to be drinking better and is not a weak looking.

[Jiffykat]

That's good, did you call a vet and talk to them?

[billybaddad]

Yes, I called my regular vet and he said that if he was getting 'better' then it couldn't hurt. The sugar water combo makes them want to drink more than just regular water. However, he did tell me that hammies are hard to treat succesfully because they are so small and don't really have a long lifespan.

[SnowPrincess]

if you need a vet for hamsters try looking up an exotics vet.

[billybaddad]

thanks..........sorry to say........i don't think he is going to make it; now he only opens 1 eye :(

[Jiffykat]

Yes, I called my regular vet and he said that if he was getting 'better' then it couldn't hurt.I don't know if I like how your vet responded. I mean if you break your arm or get a cut, even when it is healing and getting better it still hurts right? So how could he assume with out seeing your hamser that because it appears to be getting better, that it doesn't hurt?

[babyboos]

Any decent vet would have asked for you to bring your hamster in for a saline injection to ward of dehydration and given you a course of antibiotics. I would seek a second opinion immediately before it is too late. Good luck!

[billybaddad]

Update: Sorry to post that Squeekie passed away last night. Thanks to all that have responded to my post. Must go and comfort my child............ :(

Remember: Friends are not remembered by the length of time know; but by the quality of that time.

[Cammiehammie]

I am sorry about the loss of Squeekie, and I wish you luck with your child. When my daughters hamster Snowy 1 passed, I did not have the heart to tell her. I searched for an entire day for the exact hammie, and replaced him, while she was at a friends house. I was attatched to him too, so it was hard for me. I hope she understands, and the two of you are in my hearts. Good Luck!

[Cammiehammie]

I am sorry about the loss of Squeekie, and I wish you luck with your child. When my daughters hamster Snowy 1 passed, I did not have the heart to tell her. I searched for an entire day for the exact hammie, and replaced him, while she was at a friends house. I was attatched to him too, so it was hard for me. I hope she understands, and the two of you are in my heart. Good Luck!

[billybaddad]

Thanks for your reply. I too, for a brief moment, thought about running out to the pet store for a 'clone'. But my daughter has known from the start that Squeekie was sick and I couldn't in all honesty replace it and tell her that, "It's a miracle Squeekie has made it!" This is not to say that I did not at one time replace a parakeet (I thought with the same color pattern) and try to pass it as the 'original.' Needless to say the imposter did not know the same tricks/traits as the old! lol. She has taken it pretty well and we had a proper burial and I did remind her that life is a circle. Time spent here is precious. Thanks again for the post. PS by the way........she wants another one!!!

[SnowPrincess]

I'm so sorry about Squeekie and i'm so glad your daughter took it so well.

good luck with your new hamster!

[Chaos]

I'm so sorry about Squeekie. :( I'm glad you told your daughter the truth though, I never understood the replacing a departed pet and not telling a child. My parents never did it to me, and I was glad because I got to say a proper good bye and not learn the truth years later.

Its good she wants another one. Of course assure her its not a replacement, but Squeekie would want her to have a new friend.

[lilforjc]

I am so sorry to here about you lil guy! :( I also have 2 kids and it is so sad to hafta tell them things like that-as you can see from my signature we have lost many a beloved pet. :sorry: ..it doesn't get any easier, but time does help...I hope ya'll enjoy the next lil guy as much!

[billybaddad]

Thank you for your post. I think she handled it well

[billybaddad]

Thank you for your reply to Squeekies passing. We also have lost several pets. My son had two pet rats (yes rats), actually if I didn't see the tails there were very nice pets. Anyways Splinter (after Teenage Mutal Turtles) passed away I was bound and determined to get a pet that had a life span of longer than 3 years!! But......as you can see it did not turn out that way. I wish hammies had a longer life span.....3 years is not long.....as you can see I too was very fond of Squeekie! Thanks again.

[Jiffykat]

Are you going to get another Hamster?

[billybaddad]

yes, waiting for the holiday week-end to to pass

[lilforjc]

I don't wanna tell you what to do, but I reccommend a totally different looking one than what Sqeekie looked like...how old is your child?

[billybaddad]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. She is 11 and we did look at some that were the same but she couldn't decide on what to buy. Now she wants a different cage (but because of the cost I kinda of told her No we have all the stuff needed, she has a pretty extensive collection of tubes and huts and "potty chamber" and separate rooms) I did sterilize the complete cage and items. Kids.............lol