im almost positive my dwarf hamster has diabetes. So, im going to change her diet, and do her water bottle half water, half flavorless pedialites, but she also lives with another dwarf hamster who doesnt have diabetes, do you think i should still switch the diet and water, or will it affect the healthy hamster negatively
2007-07-01 14:46:54 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
You shouldn't make any changes based on a 'guess'. Pedialyte will not help with diabetes. Diabetes is not a listed problem in my medical texts with hamsters. Go to a vet experienced in pocket pet medicine if you want to pursue a diagnosis.
2007-07-01 15:02:17 · answer #1 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-18 16:35:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-17 23:52:19 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can verify that your hamster is diabetic by buying keto-diastix and testing fresh urine. The strips are for humans and can be bought over the counter (though you usually have to ask the pharmacist to get them for you). The test glucose and ketones. If the results aren't 0 then your hamster is most likely diabetic. You only need to give the pedalyte if ketones are high. The pedalyte helps keep the hamster hydrated. Please check because if just the glucose is high this is not needed.
There are many good sites out there that can teach you about diet change for the diabetic. It is recommended to split up diabetic and non-diabetic hamsters. The reason is because you can monitor the diabetics diet better and make sure he is getting the right amount of food he needs. Also I've been told that diabetics can lash out when they aren't feeling well and fights can occur.
The diet you will be giving your diabetic will not be bad for the non-diabetic. It's not a requirement for you to split them up you need to decide whats best for them. If you feel they get along too well and just "can't bare" to split them then don't as long as you feel that you can monitor the diabetic's diet while they are together.
Main diet change is NO sugar (fructose, molasses, etc) including natural foods with sugar like berries, fruit, and some veggies. Broccoli is good for them, for a full list of good veggies do a search for the "South beach diet" and use the list for phase 1. High fiber, High protein, Low fat is the rule. Tofu is good source of protein as well as chicken. Join the group listed under source.
Last thought whether you end up splitting them up or not, follow the same rules (maybe with little cheats) for your non-diabetic. It's generally a good diet and he could have late on-set diabetes and need it anyway someday.
2007-07-02 08:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by Pixi6s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not change the diet of both. You might want to separate the hamsters because then the healthy one would probable get sick from the special diet you are trying to feed the diacetic hamster. Don't even change the diet of the one you 'think' has diabeties because you might be wrong and probable are. Take it to a vet that'll know for sure. What are you basing this theory on?
2007-07-02 07:35:07 · answer #5 · answered by Rawr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds such as you have purely have been given a twitchy hamster. as long as he's eating and energetic he would be fantastic. If he stops doing the two of those issues, you will desire to probable have him euthanized.
2016-09-28 21:19:39 · answer #6 · answered by torrez 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answer --> http://DiabetesGoGo.com/?StIj
2016-03-23 02:18:58 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋