Hamster Health Issues / Diseases
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| Health Problems (3) |
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Hamsters
tend to be
affected by relatively
few naturally occurring
diseases. Their susceptibility, however, to a host of
infectious diseases of other animals, including people, and the case with which
these diseases can be transmitted to hamsters have made them very popular
laboratory animals for biomedical research.
‘Teddy bear’ hamsters and other genetic varieties tend to be much more
susceptible to disease and sensitive to antibiotics and other drugs than golden
hamsters. (1)
Because hamsters are very small, nocturnal
(night- active) and not closely observed, the early signs of illness are
frequently overlooked or not noted at all.
Hamster owners must be constantly
vigilant for signs
of illness and
must seek immediate
veterinary assistance when illness is suspected. (1)
Sick hamsters often become irritable and
frequently bite. They are usually
reluctant to move about and walk stiffly when forced to do so. Their eyes often look dull and sunken, and
frequently have a discharge. Sick
hamsters often stop eating or greatly reduce their intake of food. Consequently, weight loss is a common sign
(not necessarily an easy one to recognize) of illness in hamsters. Fluid losses from diarrhea also may cause
marked weight loss. Sudden
intestinal disease (with
accompanying diarrhea) is
the most common
illness of hamsters, especially amongst
those being weaned
or recently weaned.
If the serious
accompanying dehydration is not recognized immediately and corrected
with appropriate fluid therapy at the direction of a veterinarian, death is
probable. (1)
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| Predisposing factors of bacterial diseases (11) |
The incisor (front, gnawing) teeth grow
continuously for the life of the hamster (this is true for all rodents). They receive continuous wear as the uppers
and lowers contact each other,
preventing overgrowth. Misalignment of either the upper or lower incisors because of previous injury, abscess formation or malnutrition may result in overgrowth of one or more of the teeth.(1)
preventing overgrowth. Misalignment of either the upper or lower incisors because of previous injury, abscess formation or malnutrition may result in overgrowth of one or more of the teeth.(1)
Overgrown incisor teeth usually cause
serious injury to the roof of the mouth.
Sometimes the lower incisors actually grow through the roof of the mouth
and into the nasal cavity! Initial signs
of this problem are inappetence and drooling Total lack of eating, weight loss,
and a foul odor from the mouth may be noted later. These signs often are completely overlooked.(1)
A veterinarian must carefully trim the
overgrown incisors and extract them from the roof of the mouth. Antibiotics are prescribed because of the
high probability of infection following this type of injury. Periodic trimming of the incisors is usually
necessary for the remainder of the hamster's life.(1)
Some popular hamster houses made of plastic
had holes in the horizontal and vertical tubes originating from the main
rectangular enclosure. Hamsters
frequently caught and broke their incisors in these holes in the plastic. The manufacturer has since made the holes
smaller, and this injury is seen less frequently now. (1)
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Hamsters
are easily injured.
They are frequently
dropped while being
handled (especially by children), or after they bite. Pet hamsters allowed ‘free run of the house’
(even for very short periods) are often stepped on or kicked and seriously
injured or killed. Hamsters are
frequently injured while inside an "exercise ball". This is a clear plastic
sphere that is propelled along the floor by
the action of the hamster running inside it.
Injuries occur when a person accidentally kicks the ball or when it
falls down a flight of stairs. Hamsters
often perish when they are forgotten and left in these devices without food and
water. In spite of the clever design and
obvious benefits of this device, hamster owners must continually supervise its
use. Parents must be made aware by their
children that it is in use.
Trauma may result in broken bones and/or
serious internal injuries or death. A
fall of over just a foot or more may result in a broken back, for which there
is no practical treatment. (1)
Injured hamsters should be immediately
examined by a veterinarian. Broken bones
are very difficult to manage. Often an
appliance (splint, etc.) to immobilize the broken bone will not be applied because of the sometimes greater
problems they impose on the broken limb.
The veterinarian will determine the best course of action in each
situation. (1)
Signs include sneezing, wheezing, lethargy,
nasal or eye discharge, or difficulty breathing. Various bacteria may cause
these infections. Treatment involves using antibiotics with caution, since
hamsters may develop severe bowel upsets during treatment. To minimize the risk
of respiratory disease, provide a warm, clean cage; avoid the use of wood-chip
beddings; and feed your hamster a balanced diet. (5)
This condition is usually due to internal
ear infection, sometimes secondary to a respiratory infection. The hamster
often tilts her head to one side and loses her balance, falling or circling
when she tries to walk. Bacteria are the usual cause and treatment is with
antibiotics.(5)
Golden hamsters are very sensitive to cold
and may become unconscious at temperatures in the mid-60s or lower. Their
breathing is very shallow and they often appear dead, but may slowly revive
when warmed in one’s hand. Avoid air temperatures below 70 degrees in the room
where your hamster lives, and keep the cage away from cool areas, such as
windows. Provide warm bedding, such as recycled paper or tissue paper, for your
pet to nest in; a small nest box also helps conserve body heat when the hamster
is sleeping. (5)
Hamsters tend to be aggressive and
antisocial with each other; they often fight if housed together. This may result
in bite wounds; their eyes are also easily popped out of the sockets during
fighting. Any visible wounds on a hamster require immediate medical treatment;
the risk of infection is great, and treatment of abscesses in hamsters is difficult. Early antibiotic
therapy to prevent infection is the safer option.(5)
Hamsters are susceptible to formation of
stones within the urinary tract. The
bladder is the only location within the urinary tract in which a veterinarian
would likely detect stones upon physical examination. (1)
Signs of bladder stones may or may not be
detected by hamster owners and are usually associated with infection within the
urinary tract, frequent urination, straining on urination, blood in the urine,
increased water consumption, listlessness and inappetence. (1)
A veterinarian may be able to remove the
stones. This is accompanied by appropriate antibiotic therapy. Dietary management to help dissolve the
urinary stones and prevent their recurrence is not practical with hamsters. (1)
Cancer is very common in pet hamsters. The incidence increases with age (as is the
case with most animals) and is higher among females than males because of the
variety of cancers that involve the female
reproductive tract. Tumors
of hamsters may be benign
or malignant.(1)
Hamsters are vulnerable to an unusually
large number and variety of benign cancers.
Cancers involving hormone-producing organs (such as the thyroid and
adrenal glands) are among the
most common tumors
found in hamsters.
These cancers cause
hormone imbalances, hair loss and changes in behavior, as well as other
significant signs. (1)
Veterinarians can often perform surgery to
completely remove small external tumors. Internal tumors, however, are much
more difficult to diagnose and remove.
The small size of the patient, the even smaller size of the organ(s)
involved, the sometimes inaccessibility of the tumor and the expense involved
are some of the reasons why an owner of a pet hamster might elect euthanasia
(putting the pet to sleep) or do nothing and allowing the hamster to live out
its life instead of surgery in these situations. (1)
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| Hamster back image (3) |
Abscesses are most often caused by bite
wounds from fighting. These wounds
become infected, forming abscesses that appear as firm, painful lumps under the
skin. Abscesses from injuries other
than bite wounds may be indistinguishable from those that result from fighting.
(1)
Abscesses of one or both cheek pouches are
also very common among pet hamsters. These commonly result from penetrating
wounds to the lining of the pouch caused by harsh foods or bedding
materials. It may be very difficult for
you to know whether a swelling in the area of the cheek pouch is an abscess or
simply food or bedding being temporarily stored within the pouch. Generally speaking, the swelling resulting
from a cheek pouch abscess persists, but a pouch swelling from stored food or
bedding disappears when the animal empties its cheek pouch.(1)
If an abscess is detected or suspected, the
abscess must be opened and the pus drained or removed by a veterinarian. An appropriate antibiotic also will be
prescribed. Furthermore, the underlying
cause(s) for the abscess must be eliminated, if possible. (1)
The most serious intestinal disease of
hamsters is ‘wet tail’. The bacterium
suspected of causing this disease is called Campylobacter, which can also cause
intestinal disease in swine, dogs, ferrets, primates and other animals. This disease most often afflicts hamsters of
weaning age (3-6 weeks old), but hamsters of all ages are susceptible. Since weaning hamsters and those slightly
older are commonly sold in pet stores, wet tall is a fairly common disease
among recently acquired hamsters.
Longhaired ‘teddy bear’ hamsters are highly susceptible to wet
tall. Signs include lethargy, inappetence,
unkempt hair coat, sunken, dull eyes, increased irritability, hunched posture,
very fluidy diarrhea, and a wet, soiled anal area and tail. Blood from the rectum and protrusion of the
rectal lining
(prolapse) may be noted in particularly
serious cases. (1)
Hamsters with wet tail must be immediately
examined and evaluated by a veterinarian. Fluid
replacement, oral anti-diarrheal medication,
and antibiotics will
be given, along
with supportive care to keep the patient warm, clean, comfortable and
well nourished. Treatment is often
unrewarding, and death may occur as soon as 48 hours after the onset of initial
signs. This disease is not transmissible
to people. (1)
(from HH's MissPixy) (22)
1) Give your syrian
hamster a few days alone without handling when you first bring her home;
2) If you notice
signs of profuse diarrhea, contact immediately a
hamster-experienced vet so you can
start on a more
appropriate antibiotic;
3) Get your
hamster's water bottle filled with 50percent children's unflavored pedialyte,
and 50percent bottled spring water. The dehydration that occurs from diarrhea
can also kill a hamster quickly.
4) Remove all food
from your hamster at this time except for organic yogurt (My note: Always check the label!) which she can eat freely. Do
not introduce any other food until stools are normal again.
Several
species of the
bacterium, Salmonella, can
cause serious intestinal
disease (salmonellosis) in hamsters under certain circumstances. Salmonellosis is transmissible to and
equally serious in people. The bacterium is usually acquired by eating food
contaminated with the organism. Pet
hamsters established in homes would most likely become infected via this
route. For this reason, fresh fruits
and vegetables must be thoroughly
washed before they
are offered to
hamsters. Newly purchased pet hamsters may harbor the Salmonella
organism, having acquired it from the colony into which they were born. (1)
Salmonellosis in hamsters may manifest
itself as sudden illness that often is fatal or as a more long-standing disease
that causes weight loss. Salmonellosis
can be diagnosed on stool culture by a veterinarian. Antibiotic treatment of the disease may or
may not be recommended by the veterinarian, depending upon the public health
implications. Euthanasia (putting the
patient to sleep) would be recommended if treatment were not undertaken.(1)
The subject of rabies inevitably comes up
whenever a hamster bites an individual and
because hamster bites are so common. Hamsters are not natural hosts of this
virus. Therefore,
the only way that a hamster could become
infected with the rabies virus is to become exposed to
infected saliva from a natural host of the
virus (skunk, fox, bat, etc). This is
highly unlikely,
since hamsters are almost exclusively
indoor pets. (1)
This viral disease can be transmitted from
hamsters to people. A large number of
cases
in 1974 and 1975 were traced to a common
infected hamster colony. Signs of this
disease in
people include recurrent fever, headache,
fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, rash and arthritis.
The natural host in the wild for the
causative virus is the rodent population.
Hamsters
would
most likely acquire
their infection from this source.
Because hamsters are
almost
exclusively indoor pets, they are unlikely
to become infected with the virus. Hamster owners
must, however, restrict contact between their pets and orphaned wild rodents that have been
adopted. (1)
Mites
that reside within
the hair follicles
and certain glands
of the skin
cause Demodectic mange, a common external parasite problem of
hamsters. The mites cause dry, scaly
skin and significant hair loss, especially over the back. (1)
This disease is rarely a problem by itself
and is frequently associated with long-standing, debilitating diseases, such as
those involving the kidneys. A
veterinarian should examine hamsters exhibiting hair loss as soon as
possible. The doctor will do a skin
scraping and examine it under the microscope.
The presence of mites in the scraping
confirms the diagnosis.
This disease can be treated,
but the patient
may have an underlying problem for which there is no
practical treatment or cure. (1)
Hamsters frequently harbor tapeworms within
their small intestines. Heavy
infections may cause weight loss.
Lighter infections usually go undetected unless pieces of the worms pass
out of the hamster's anus or appear in the faeces. People can become infected
with the same organism. Tapeworms can be
transmitted to uninfected hamsters (or people) when faeces harboring tapeworm
eggs are inadvertently eaten.(1)
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This underscores the importance of
restricting access to hamsters and their enclosures by very young children. All such encounters should be carefully
monitored. Hamster owners suspicious of
this parasite problem should submit a faecal sample to a veterinarian for
analysis. The presence of tapeworm eggs
in the sample (noted microscopically)
confirms the diagnosis. The veterinarian can institute
treatment. Pinworms are a less common
intestinal parasitism of hamsters.
These extremely tiny worms reside within the large intestines and
usually cause no signs at all.
A
veterinarian via microscopic
examination of the
faeces can diagnose
pinworm infections. Pinworm eggs
passing from the anus of the hamster sometimes cause intense itching in this
area. A veterinarian may be able to
detect the presence of pinworm eggs by pressing tape to this area and examining
it under the microscope. Pinworms of
hamsters do not cause disease in people. (1)
In the winter, hamsters stay in their
burrows, blocking up the entrances with soil. They are not true hibernators but
sleep in a grass-lined nest, waking up every five to seven days to feed from
the food they stored during the autumn. (7)
Hibernation is a physiologic adaptation of
many hamster species to harsh winter environments. Hamsters are permissive
hibernators who may avoid hibernation if there are insufficient food stores in
the burrow or may arouse from hibernation if the temperature temporarily rises.
Cold exposure is considered an important factor in inducing hibernation.(14)
Hamsters may hibernate if the temperature
falls below 8_C (48_F). Testicular regression or atrophy due to decreasing
photoperiod or daylight predisposes male hamsters to hibernate. During
hibernation, body temperature, heart rate, and respiration are lowered;
however, the hamster remains sensitive to tactile and thermal stimulation. (14)
While hibernating, the pulse rate of the
golden hamster drops from 400 per minute to 4, and it takes a breath only twice
a minute.(7)
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(from VSPN (Veterinary Support
Personnel Network) thru Veterinary Information Network)
WARNING: VETERINARY CONSULTATION IS STILL THE BEST
WAY TO MANAGE HAMSTER HEALTH ISSUES AND CONDITIONS. THIS BLOG SUGGESTS HAMSTER
OWNERS TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE USING ANY MEDICATION. IT IS YOUR OWN DISCRETION IF YOU'LL
ADMINISTER THE DRUGS LISTED HERE AND THIS BLOG AND ITS OWNER WILL NOT BE HELD
LIABLE FOR ANY REACTION THAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOUR PET.
Antibiotics (oral,
and sometimes topical) can cause fatal changes in intestinal microflora. (Gram
negative bacteria overgrow and cause enterocolitis and diarrhea.) Oral
lactobacillus supplements have been used to ameliorate the gastrointestinal
side-effects, but their effectiveness is debatable.
Hamsters:
Fatal
reactions: penicillin, streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, erythromycin,
lincomycin, clindamycin, and tetracyline
Antibiotics
generally regarded as safe (see dosage table below):
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin,
chloramphenicol palmitate, and tetracycline
Antiparasitics
Miscellaneous drugs for various conditions (see
table below)
Routes of Administration
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| Antimicrobials used in Hamsters, Gerbils, Rats and Mice |
Ivermectin
is safe in most rodents for treatment of endoparasites and ectoparasites
Dosage:
200 – 400 m g/kg; two treatments, 10 days apart; subcutaneous or oral
IvomecÒ 1%
solution: 1 part IvomecÒ + 19 parts propylene glycol = 1 mg ivermectin/2
ml solution
For
large rodents: ivermectin equine paste (18.7 mg ivermectin/ml), orally or mixed
with food
Pinworms
in mice cause perineal pruritus and can be treated with: Ivermectin orally (2
mg/kg, two treatments given 10 days apart); other treatments include
mebendazole orally (40 mg/kg two times, 7 days apart), thiabendazole orally
(100 mg/kg once a week for 4 weeks), or piperazine citrate mixed with drinking
water (200 mg/kg body weight SID for 7 days, wait 7 days, and repeat
treatment).
Lime
sulfur diluted 1:40 in water, applied as a dip once a week for 6 weeks
Sarcoptes
mites in guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters
Fur
mites in mice and rats
*Keep
animals in a warm draft-free location after dipping
1%
lindane baths, once a week for 3 weeks
Sarcoptes
mites in guinea pigs
*Keep
animals in a warm draft-free location after dipping
0.5%
malathion dip, sponged on
Lice
in guinea pigs and mice
NOT
SAFE in preweanling animals
*Keep
animals in a warm draft-free location after dipping
Amitraz:
diluted with water according to package directions (wash animals at two-week
intervals for 3 - 6 treatments), or diluted at five times the package
directions for greater safety (1 bottle per 10 gallons water, and
wash animals at two week intervals for 3 - 6 treatments)
Demodicosis
in gerbils, hamsters, and rats
*Keep
animals in a warm draft-free location after dipping
Flea
powders, sprays, and foams approved for cats are usually safe
Lice,
fur mites, fleas in guinea pigs, rats and mice
Thoroughly
clean and sanitize the pet’s environment prior to returning it to that
environment. Repeat thorough cleaning with each subsequent treatment.
Dermatophytosis
(Trichophyton mentagrophytes) is zoonotic. Treatment must include clearing the
lesions and eliminating the organism from the environment (cage and
accessories).
Griseofulvin
is teratogenic and should not be used in pregnant animals
Rats:
topical therapy of povidone-iodine (one-time) solution, followed by
griseofulvin orally (25 mg/100 g body weight every 10 days for 3 doses
Guinea
pigs: griseofulvin 15 – 75 mg/kg/day for 14 – 28 days (doses up to 100 mg/kg
have been reported)
Topical
antifungals applied SID for 2 – 4 weeks may be used for localized or mild
disease
Hypovitaminosis
C (scurvy) in guinea pigs can lead to secondary systemic and infectious
diseases due to immunosuppression
All
sick guinea pigs should be given supplementation (50 – 100 mg/day, injectable)
Normal
supplementation dose: Vitamin C 200 – 400 mg/liter of drinking water
Vitamin
C deteriorates rapidly in stored feed/water; fresh solutions should be made
frequently
Organophosphate
poisoning: treat with atropine
Anaerobic
infection: treat with metronidazole
Warfarin
poisoning: treat with vitamin K
Delayed
parturition: treat with oxytocin
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| Miscellaneous drugs used in pet rodents |
Drinking
water, as a route of administration, has many drawbacks. It is difficult to
monitor consumption (especially if in multiple-animal housing), patients tend
to drink less (or even none) because of taste and color, and desert dwellers
always drink little (healthy or ill).
Antibiotics,
if used in drinking water, must dissolve easily, mix well, and be changed
daily. Deionized (not tap) water must be used.
Oral
administration is cheaper and more convenient.
Parenteral
administration is the most effective route, but usually costs more than oral.
(Some owners can be taught to give injections at home.)
Educate
clients to monitor closely, discontinue medications at any sign of side
effects, and contact the veterinarian if any problems arise. (31)
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