Sick Hamster

[Rhapsody]

I just got a call from a friend needing to know what to do for a sick hamster?

The hamster is a female: she is 9 weeks old, with sick in her eyes and has little to no energy. The hamster has a cage mate that is her sister (the sister is doing fine) both the hamsters came from the litter I just help hand raise from birth... they were alert and healthy when I gave them to the daughter a week ago.

The mother has some animal penicillin still around the house and was wondering if she could give the hamster a shot of it? - mom is a nurse.

Thank you,

[karlh]

what do you mean by 'sick in her eyes'? In both eyes or just one?

[Rhapsody]

Both eyes..... look as though they have a cold in them - wet slim and crust.

I found several website's that suggested cod-liver on bread for colds in hamsters - the sick hamster ate it and seems a little better today.

[karlh]

Hamster do suffer from eye ailments, particularly one called 'sticky eye'.. It may be some infection which could have been caused by many things. I am sorry to say that cod liver oil will not help to eliminate the eye problem. A visit to a vet is the only thing to do. It may be conjuctivitis or other, which can only be treated by antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol eye drops. Keep us posted..

[Jomance23]

ohh my dog is sick and my hamster just escaped!!