We have become a friendly trio : the vet , Fatt and I :
Note : The Medical terms or applications , and items listed here are what I have experienced and used . Please seek veterinary advice as a precaution. Do email
[email protected] if there is any incorrect information here.Disclaimer :
Firstly , I am
NOT an expert NOR am I in any medical field. I am unable to give detailed information. However, as I type I am trying hard to regurgitate/recall the "precious" advice and information given to me. I am sorry that certain sources are not available. I will try to make available what I can remember. The purpose of this site serves to act as a log of what happened to my darling hammy. Websites recommended here may relate to humans or other animals but its still informative knowledge.Secondly, I’ll try to make it simple, easy to understand in layman’s terms. That’s how it was broken down to me. The information here pertains to Fatt Chye, my winter white pearl dwarf. I wanted everyhing to be simple and easily digestable.
Thirdly, I dislike calling my darling hammy "it".
J You will often find me refering to him as He or by his nick Fatt.
The Vet suggested that there may be three possible reasons why a hamster would suddenly break out in fungus :
Genetics –
In Singapore, dwarf hammies have become increasingly popular, thus the demand for dwarves. Sometimes quantity doesn’t mean quality. It applies here.The Dwarves genetic structure has become "weakened" from frequent inbreeding and cross breeding. Know little about genetics . However if you are interested in further research, do read the following websites for information (advice : do read any information with a cautious but open mind) :
genetic deformity, syrian hamsters genetic defects, basic genetics .Diet Deficiency –
Containers for fresh hamster mixes need to be tight or food can become rancid (lao hong – in the hokkien dialect it mean to become stale) and contain no nurtitional value. If you have only one hamster like me, you could find a friend to share the new package of food with, so your hamster will always have fresh foods. Also he could have been eating an unbalanced diet, even though the nutritious mix was available to him. Hamsters tend to eat their favourite items first, followed by the least favourite. High fat diets cause kidney problems. Urination in cages without frequent cleaning, causes fungus to grow on those spots. I was then advised to lessen his sunflower seed intake. Sunflower seeds are high in fat. My hamster loves it.
Read :
Diet Deficiency, Diet Deficiency, Balance DietI remember a particular incident that left me exasperated. He stole a whole sunflower seed (I was supposed to de-shell it for him). I
JUST HAD to remove it from his pouch. I massaged the side of his cheek. Each time I got close to removing it, he squealed in anger. I tried four times before giving up. He was so mad with me. That’s how much he loved his sunflower seeds. Quite hilarious.Housekeeping – Vegetables left in the cage for too long, damp shavings from urination or water from a leaky water bottle etc. Fungus thrives on moist material. There are so many reasons and underlying causes. Thus it is important to change the shavings frequently, maybe twice weekly, especially if you know that your pet has several favourite Pee spots.
Read :
Classes of disinfectants (general information), , Fungus, FungusIMPORTANT :
I do not have other pets, but if you do, it is important to keep them in separate rooms. Do wash your hands before (it protects your pet from further bacteria exposure) and after handling your animal. Wash your cage with a scrub form of chlorhexidine. The brand available in Singapore is "Hibiscrub" (about S$28). I used a pre-washed liquid soap container, filled part with Hibiscrub and the rest with warm water. I believe this is used in most hospital wards in Singapore.Prednisolone (oral drops) –
Pinkish red liquid. Steriod. Relieves inflamation. Not encouraged for long term use as it reduces bone mass etc. Application : 1 drop twice daily for a week.
Chlorhexidine –
Light blue thin liquid. Diluted form that reduces bacteria effectively. Application : Drip a couple of drops on the affected area, use a clean cotton bud to clean him up and dry him with scent-free facial tissue or cotton pad. Do NOT reuse the bud, pad or tissue. This application may irritate the hamsters skin slightly . Other than that, I am unaware of any side effects.
Neoderm Ointment (external cream) –
Thick white cream. Anti-fungal medication. Application : apply a thin layer daily. I think I stopped using it after 3 weeks. Please check with your vet.
Multivitamins -
Add one drop for every 50ml of drinking water. Essential to give him fresh water daily and fresh vitamins. Some vitamin mixes may have a different water to vitamin proportion . It is important to read all instructions before dispensing to the hamster .
Prednisolone (oral drops) : As above. Application : 2 drops once daily for 3 days.
Baytril (oral drops) : Clear liquid. Anti-biotic. Applications : 2 drops once daily for 7 days.
2nd round of medication (when the lump stubbornly remained)
Marbocyl (oral drops) : Light yellow thin liquid. Anti-biotic. Application : 2 drops once daily for 10 days.
Bactrim (oral) : Pink creamy, powdery texture. Anti-biotic. Application : 0.3cc twice daily for 10 days, used with a 1 ml syringe (this syringe is used by diabetics for insulin shots).
Probiotic : White powder. Equivalent to yoghurt. Replaces lost good bacterium in his intestines. Also aids with appetite. Application : ¼ measure per 100ml drinking water, prepare fresh daily. Read :
ProbioticsBactrim : he hated it thus I had difficulty in administering accurate doses. I had to hold him by the skin of his neck (this won’t hurt him but the hamster may not like being held in such a vulnerable position ), and put the tip of the syringe into the side of his mouth. It has to be done quickly but becareful, it might end up in the wrong tract and he may also choke). If there are any spills around his mouth, you can clean it up with a fresh cotton bud.
Litter
It is important to be careful with the type of litter you use. Initially I purchased pine shavings for Fatt’s litter. I did that because it was cheap, clean and smelt nice. After joining Hamster Galore and reading up on the internet, I discovered that it was unhealthy for small animals. In Singapore, pine and hay is the most common litter /bedding sold at petshops .I PERSONALLY in MY HUMBLE OPINION ONLY feel that maybe these products are okay for bigger pets like cats and rabbits ( don't quote me on this ). However, for small animals, pine and hay are not encouraged. Pine contains some oils that are not healthy for a hamster’s respiratory system and causes allergic reactions in some hamsters.
Read :
Problem with Pine and Cedar .Hamsters might try to carry hay using their cheek pouches . This may perforate their cheek pouch lining . Also, hay may tangle itself and the Hamster’s feet may be trapped and circulation cut off. (Source : Marianne Mays (1999) Your First Dwarf Hamster Kingdom Books pg. 16) This book gives excellent advice to first time owners. I learnt so much from it and keep it handy. It has great taming hints that worked for me.
This GIF is from Charlie's World at www.tohkatsu.or.jp/~snow/charlie_world2.html (Japan)
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We keep a list of doctors or 24 hr clinics as it is important to have on hand in any emergency situation. Likewise, it is also vital to keep a list of veterinarians contact numbers available.
Black and white pictures of Fatt
Thursday, 02 January 2003