Emergency help please!!!

[hammieluvr]

Please help,
my hamster, jazzy, has a cold i think. her eye was sticky and kind of shut with like gunky stuff on it and she has been sneezing!!!! What do I do? I am buying her a heating pad tonight to put under her cage... i don't know what to do besides keep her warm!!! Please help, those of you which have had a hamster with a cold, what did you do to keep her alive? Will or can she die from a cold? please help. I'm so worried about her!!! And the symptoms just started today, so I hope it's not too far in!!!

~Katie. :( :sad:

Edit: And there is not a vet that does hamsters near me. The last time I took her to a vet the vet wouldn't even touch her because they were scared of hamsters, and there is no vet around that will see her! Please tell me what to do!!!

[Moosley]

Don't worry hun, I very highly doubt hamsters can die from a cold. Mine have had them numerous times now.

That gunky eye often happens when a hammy wakes up, same as us humans often get that dusty stuff in our eyes after sleeping etc. Same as we sometimes sneeze but dont have a cold!.

Have you changed her bedding at all recently? could she be allergic to it/is it dusty?

Please don't give her a heat mat, it isn't at all neccessary and is likely to make her too hot.

Just make sure she has lots and lots of torn up tissues to make a nice warm nest with. Im not sure where you are but in the UK we have a type of cold prevention medicine from chemists called Metatone or rehydrating powder (to add to water) called Dioralyte. I believe it is called Pedialyte in the USA.

Tip out her water from her bottle and give her just 100mls of warm water and metatone/dioralyte/pedialyte.

You can alwasy give her a small teaspoon full of warm porridge (per day).

Seriously though, a cold is a cold and she will be ok.

[hammieluvr]

wow, thanks, moosley, that sure is a relief! The reason I was so worried is because I was looking online at some sites, and they were all saying that colds were really serious and could cause death... :confused: I'm just a bit worried about her eye... I have not changed any bedding or anything lately... and the bedding is not really dusty, it is aspen... her eye seems to have gotten worse, as it is now sort of wet and still closed. Someone on another site recommended rubbing it with a warm, damp cloth. Is this a good idea?

Once again, Thank you! That really took a load off of my shoulders... :D

[Punkygirl0101]

Actually, it sounds like an upper respiratory infection. Telling someone their hamster is fine when you don't know or are not a vet isn't the best thing to do. I would take her to a vet.

[pixibubbles]

If it is an upper respiritory infection you should be able to hear it as hammie will whistle slightly or gasp when breathing. weigh hammie and see is weight is constant as usually infections will cause a drop in appetite.

the vet would probably give baytril, pedialyte and possible inject some saline if hydration is an issue. try ringing round and finding someone who WILL treat. if your vet really wont treat hammie at least you could get the baytril so if you do need it you have it as it's the first treatment for most infections and has a long shelf life. it might be worth considering.

Colds can cause death (when they become chest infections) but i wouldnt call it sudden.

When you get a cold it wont kill you, but it could become pnemonia or somthing that will. hammie isnt any different. it could just be a cold x

As to the eye dont rub, it would hurt. but yes you cna gently use a little damp warm cotton wool to clean VERY gently. Cotton buds or even tissue will do.

[hammieluvr]

Update On Jazzy: (And thanks everyone for input! It really helped!)

Well, this morning Jazzy's eye was almost completely better!! I gave her some Pedialyte. And she is still eating and drinking regularly, and her weight has not changed! I think she is getting better! She has not sneezed at all today and her eye is not sticky at the moment! I tried hearing her and cannot hear her breathing at all (as in wheezing, or having labored breathing, etc.) I mean, she IS breathing, just I don't hear anything. :) The vets will not be able to see her until Saturday, because of Thanksgiving holidays and all. So I made an appointment, but if she is fine then I probably won't go. Thanks for help everyone, I will keep you updated!

You guys are great!!!

[tvrodents]

Doesnt sound like its a chest infection yet. Watch out for 'clicky' breathing. The vet should give you baytril without touching the hamster, hell, its all the vet is likely to give her anyway!
Moosleys advice is sound, If your hamster doesnt look really ill try to avoid putting her on antibiotics... remember- a cold is a virus and antibiotics wont clear it. however they will prevent any secondary infections should she go down hill. I am starting to hear stories of small animals become de-sensitised to baytril because it is over used. When are the pharmaceutical companies going to come up with another, less used antibiotic for our furries eh?

Kat