Hamster Health

Common Health Problems and Diseases in Pet Hamsters
By Lianne McLeod, DVM, About.com

Hamsters are pretty hardy pets, but are so small that injuries and illness can quickly become serious. If you notice any signs of illness in your hamster, you need to see a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Signs to look for include loss of appetite, inactivity, huddling in a corner, ruffled or unkempt coat, sneezing, discharge from the nose or eyes, wheezing, wetness around the tail, and diarrhea. Hair loss can be a symptom of skin disease or parasites, and also warrants a trip to the vet.
If a hamster is ill or injured, keep the hamster warm, and encourage it to take some food or water (by dropper if necessary) until a vet can be seen.
Abscesses: these are pockets of infection, which can form from fairly minor breaks in the skin. Pus accumulates under the skin, sometimes forming a sizable lump (which may sometimes begin draining on its own). Abscesses can form from cuts or scratches on the skin and also in the cheek pouches if abrasive food material causes scratches in the lining. If a hamster continually looks like it has food in packed in its cheek pouches, there may be an abscess or an impacted cheek pouch present. Abscesses require veterinary attention for draining, flushing, and treatment with antibiotics.
Respiratory Infections: hamsters can get respiratory infections that can lead to pneumonia. Signs include sneezing, discharge from eyes or nose, wheezing and labored breathing. Occasional sneezing is not too worrisome, but if there is any loss of appetite, decreased activity, wheezing or difficulties breathing, immediate veterinary attention should be sought.
Wet Tail: also called proliferative ileitis and regional enteritis. This is a highly contagious disease, and most common in recently weaned hamsters. The cause is uncertain, but a bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni may be involved, and in some cases the disease is associated with stress, crowding, and diet changes. Affected hamsters may die very quickly, exhibiting signs such as diarrhea (causing wetness around the tail), lethargy, loss of appetite, and ruffled coat. Note: not all hamsters with diarrhea have this disease, see below.
Diarrhea: a number of infections can cause diarrhea (including but not limited to wet tail), along with diet changes and treatment with antibiotics. Over feeding vegetables and other fresh foods is a fairly common cause of diarrhea, but in this case there is usually no loss of appetite or decrease in activity. Dehydration is a real concern, so make sure the hamster is drinking if diarrhea occurs, and a veterinarian should be consulted. With diarrhea, withhold fresh foods for a few days and resume only if the diarrhea is completely resolved, and start back onto fresh foods slowly.
Skin Diseases: hamsters can be infested with a number of mites, which can be identified by a skin scraping by a vet and treated accordingly. Ringworm (actually a fungal infection) can also occur, and requires treatment by a vet. Allergies and skin infections can also occur. Hair loss is not all that unusual and can be seasonal or happen in older hamsters. If there is flakiness or redness of the skin or any lesions on the skin, or the hamster appears to be itchy and scratching more than usual, a vet should be seen. Hamsters do have scent glands on their flanks which can be dark and sometimes alarm owners. These occur on both sides of the body and do not appear irritated or bother the hamster. Cedar bedding can also cause skin irritation or allergies in addition to lung problems so should be avoided.
Hibernation: if the room temperature is allowed to drop below normal room temperature, hamsters will go into a sort of hibernating state, where they are very still and breathe very slowly. Many owners panic and think their hamster is dying or dead, when might be a matter of the hamster getting too cold (for exapmle if the owners go away for the day and turn the thermostat down in the house). Rewarming the hamster should be sufficient.
Important Note About Cedar Bedding: cedar emits volatile compounds which are irritating to the respiratory tract (and may also cause changes in the liver). Pine shavings also release volatile compounds to a lesser but still significant extent. These beddings (particularly cedar) may also cause a skin sensitivity or allergy, and should be avoided. Aspen shavings or some other hardwood shavings are a better, safer option. See "The Problem with Cedar Shavings" and "Top Ten Alternatives to Cedar and Pine."
Antibiotics: several antibiotics cause a fatal toxicity in hamsters. Penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, tetracyclines, lincomycin, erythromycin, vancomycin, cephalosporins, and gentamycin should be avoided.

Unusual species replace classic pets as top fashion accessories

By Sarah Howden

ONCE upon a time a goldfish, hamster or rabbit would suffice. And, if you were a seasoned pet owner, you'd splash out on a pedigree pup or domestic kitten. Now, it seems exotic pets are the ultimate accessories, with more and more of us forgoing the classics for fashion.

Chihuahuas and pugs, iguanas, alligators and tortoises, boas, pythons and cobras, pot-bellied pigs, spiders, monkeys – the list of unusual creatures now kept as pets in homes throughout Scotland is endless.

Jear-old Hannah Chapman takes her pet skunk, Ichi, out for walkies on her very own lead after paying £700 for her.

But Ichi, like many exotic pets, can be unpredictable and has bitten her partner's fingers, stamps her feet and charges at her owner. "She is just such a cutie, but tends to be a lot of work to look after," admits Hannah.

And this, according to Kenny Sharp, assistant manager of the Scottish SPCA, is something a lot of people don't realise.

He explains: "Like puppies and kittens, exotic pets need a lot of looking after, and there's a misconception that you don't have to do much with them.

"They need to be properly housed, as they can escape relatively easily and make their way under the floorboards and into other people's homes."

Earlier this year Scotland got its first dedicated shelter for abandoned pets with a halfway house to care for up to 40 exotic animals.

"We have 14 centres throughout Scotland, and Edinburgh has the only exotic pet centre," adds Kenny. "We do get a lot of snakes and other exotic pets, including iguanas, from Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, compared with the rest of Scotland."

In December last year, kune kune pigs – a small-to-medium-sized breed that used to tour the country as part of a circus – became another unusual pet in the Capital. And in 2005, Edinburgh had an alligator pet, which lived in a bath within a tower block in Leith.

According to Kenny, the dumping of exotic pets is becoming increasingly common, as owners struggle to look after their unique family members.

"It happens a lot. However, with some of the exotic animals, we don't know whether they've been abandoned or have escaped. And they can survive for some time. If people do want an exotic pet, then it's vital they get a strong enough home for them."

He adds: "I think these types of pets are seen as a status symbol for some people – a macho thing to have. And there's the misconception that you can stick them in a tank, leave them and feed them occasionally. Each animal needs a tank specially set up for it or it will suffer."

While the most popular exotic pets – which include spiders and snakes – are relatively easy to care for, experts stress that some are more demanding, time-consuming and expensive than others.

"Before deciding on a pet, think hard about it," stresses Edinburgh vet Paul McAdam. "Yes, they may look adorable and it is tempting to snap them straight up, but you need to do your homework on the species, and whether you can give them proper housing."

Moving to a new environment is stressful for all pets, so make the move easier by organising a cage or tank in advance. Many pet stores will advise on homes and help with information on the right temperatures and humidity.

And don't underestimate the cost. "Housing, food and equipment cost money, and while the exotic pet may have been relatively inexpensive to buy, they're rarely inexpensive to keep," adds Paul.

And don't forget to check the legalities of owning certain exotic pets. Otherwise you could face a fine and a criminal record. Article Source : living.scotsman.com