She has wet tail, and she isn't drinking or eating. I have been trying to feed her dri tail and water with a dropper. I was able to give her the medicine once by holding the dropper in front of her hidy-house hole, but now she turns her head away when I do that. Now I try to administer it to her by holding her head in place, but she really resists it and I'm afraid of hurting or choking her. I can't take her to the vet, by the way; I just want advice on how to give her the medicine I have.
2007-02-20 17:09:21 · 4 answers · asked by Megan M 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
This is a common problem with ill hamsters. They don't feel well so won't eat or drink. Forcing her is the only option. Dri Tail however is completely ineffective. I suggest you go to Petsmart and buy Wet Tail Treatment Plus with Probiotic by Oasis ($8). I have found this to be the most effective medication and my vet is now prescibing that to her other hamster clients! (I'm a very experienced show hamster breeder and own over 100 hamsters at any given time. I usually know more than most vets about treating hamster illnesses). The most important thing is to keep your hamster hydrated. It is the dehydration that kills a hamster. The Wet Tail Treatment Plus has electrolytes in it to help keep the hamster hydrated. It is a tablet that you put in the water bottle and has an orange flavor that the hamster enjoy. Once the tablet is dissolved in the water bottle, draw some of the solution into the eye dropper and feed it to her drop by drop. Be careful to go slowly and not give her more than she can handle, you don't want her to inhale it. Do this every half hour. This is really all you can do. Hopefully it's not too late and she's still strong enough to fight this off.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-02-21 00:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to hold her and get as much as you can down her before she starts to squirm and resist...........after that.........give her a five minute break and try again. I don't think that trying to soak food in the meds is going to get enough down her. It's like a child, if they don't like the taste of something, trying to trick them won't work, but it MAY work to give her a small amount and then a treat (a sunflower seed or a chewie treat) and then another small amount followed by another small treat.
By the way, why can't you take her to the vet?? If you can't AFFORD to take your pet to the vet, maybe you should consider giving your pet to someone who can properly care for her?
2007-02-20 17:35:49 · answer #2 · answered by Avon Lady 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
most animal medications are an absorbant...so er..lift the tail..and uh..well..you get the picture. Be gentlle and give a good squirt. This can cure a few other probs the little bugger mat be having.
2007-02-20 17:19:20 · answer #3 · answered by ROD'R 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
is there anything that she really loves to eat? i know you say she is not eating, but maybe a fav food would persuade her to eat. then put the medicine on the favorite food. i am sorry about her being sick
2007-02-20 17:19:23 · answer #4 · answered by lightbulbsmile 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋