After 4 days, my sis had to baby sit him for couple of days whilst I went on my trip. I missed him so much. He lost so much weight, from the stress of being handled. He is such an easy going hamster, never biting me as long as I respected his space .

A 3^rd visit was soon on the cards as I couldn't bear the heartache of watching him waste away . Another vet was on duty. She said he was dehydrated, and placed him on polyaid (some powder to be mixed with water).

I was instructed to clean his cage with "hibiscrub" (which is an undiluted scrub version of chlorhexidine). LIKEWISE the chlorhexdine twice a day treatment was to continue .

 Alas, although he put on weight, he developed an impacted cheek pouch. On 10.11.2002 , I noticed a lump at the end of his cheekpouch, initially I figured it was a peanut. However, on Tuesday, the lump remained the same , never moving.

The Vet flushed Fatt's cheek and found some sharp items there namely a sharp ended shell-less sunflower seed and dried carrots . There was pus in fatt's pouch. After the flushing, Fatt's pouch flattened. Again, he was placed on prednisolone (two drops once daily for three days),an antibiotic Baytril (two drops once daily for a week). If that didn't work, she proposed that Fatt be allowed to undergo GA and surgery to remove his pouch.

I was worried because the lump had reappeared . The Vet tried to flush it, but nothing came out. After a week, the lump remained. Fatt however remained bright eyed and was putting on weight. I gave him soft food every night and cleaned him as instructed . I also washed his toilet each time. I was down with the flu. I really wanted to kiss my hammy but resisted for fear of passing the germs on to him .

 21.11.2002 : He was placed on Bactrim Syrup (0.3cc twice a day for ten days). Fatt hated this medicine (I had to force it on him.. **sob**), as well as marbocyl (two drops daily for ten days).

I was worried and sad. His lump stubbornly remained. I didnt want surgery as I was afraid he would not survive it .The Vet suggest pause therapy and said it hadn't been tested on hamsters yet. I agreed to this . So once again, from the 7^th of Dec, Fatt was placed on marbocyl and bactrim to be fed on weekends. Finally, on weekend of the 14^th of Dec I noticed that Fatt's lump was getting smaller. By Monday, it had flattened. Praise the Lord for his kindness towards Fatt.

As usual, I babied him by removing the shells of all the seeds in the mix. I made sure also that his water was changed everyday and he had multi-vitamins as well as probiotics (which prevents diarrhea when a hamster is taking anti-biotics). I still clean him with chlorhexdine twice daily and wash his toilet as well.

 I change his shavings and bedding two times a week. I give him fresh vegs or cook foods like macaroni at night before I sleep. He loves broccoli (great! it has calcium), cucumber and cauliflower.

 He has improved. His lump is gone, his fur has grown back steadily and his feet no longer look like hairless sticks . I have spent almost over S$200 on him. But its all worth it.. coz I love Fatt so much. Once I get a job in Jan, I will definitely bring him in for another check up at the vets!!

More pictures of Fatt Chye

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