how much weight loss is too much?

[pixibubbles]

hey ya! my best mate's hamster has had a minor problem with mites (which she caught from my baby *blush*) and it seems to have reoccured... shes dues back at the vet this week... thing is shes lost about 10 grams in about 3 weeks weeks... it has been fairly hot here... is this normal in high tempretures? she still weighs in at about 152-154 grms (they wriggle lol)

Shes same age as mine (15 months) and is a black / grey colour... so bald patches really show up.

no increase in drinking/peeing, activty levels are high, there are no lumps and bumps and her appetite is surpassed only by her energy and mischief making...

is some weight loss normal and should we be worried? Should vets become urgent rather than routine? Thanks for any help! x

[Moosley]

i would stick with routine vet check unless she loses more weight, its a lot of weight to loose but she isn't dangerously underweight...

have they tried feeding her some fattening up foods like babyfood or porridge?

[pixibubbles]

umm no... but she did get egg for supper today lol... it just shocked me when i could feel her ribs... do i have to cook the porridge or can i give it just raw oats?

[TiaMaria]

you can cook it or leave it as the oats. It's up to you.

[pixibubbles]

i've seen hammie treats with honey before although not fed them.... i'm thinking mini flapjacks would be good lol... any comments on honey for hamsters anyone?

[Moosley]

personally i would never give it to my hams, honey is practically sugar and thats it.

I never feed the yoghurt drops of chew stix for hamsters as they all have honey on BUT the chew stix (vitakraft) for rats are really good, the seeds and vegetables are good and there is no/less sugar.

I would weigh her every day and if there is difference of 2g or more between days then i would go straight to the vet. At one point, one of my hamsters lost 4g in 24hours, it was horrific. I would also run your fingers over her belly and press gently as you do to feel for any mass that doesnt seem normal to you.

I have had numerous hamster die/be pts due to tumours and they all lost weight rapidly.

[pixibubbles]

yeah me too... fingers crossed it seems to have stabelised now... mayube just a bit of qa bug tho no y poo or diarhea... hope its not cushings :( this is baldy butt lol.... tho none of tjhe skin symptons... ni guess shes the right age for dibetes... and shes hyper... is helping type lol vets is thurs.... will let you all know x

[TiaMaria]

Sometimes...and this is only sometimes a hamster will get addicted to a wheel and run on it constantly losing weight, so if she has a wheel and runs on it constantly this could be the cause but I wouldn't rule anything else out. it's time you take the hammie to the vet for a check-up!

[pixibubbles]

Nope... i wish it were so simple as over exercising lol... she's booked in for thursday... sigh. wish us luck...

[TiaMaria]

good luck! I hope everything goes well with your lil ham ham and you.