Cowboy

[Maz]

Science selective is the way to go really - it contains everything needed. For weight gain - the hemp seeds and crushed nuts help.

I know what you mean about it being harder when you’ve had then from a baby and a decline is always hard. He may not have a disease and it could just be that he hasn’t been getting the nutrition due to his teeth. They can lose weight quickly with tooth problems but can gain it again.

I’m having similar feelings about Raffy who is getting in for two and a half and he’s not quite as mobile as he was - and getting thinner. He was a bit off last night but seems fine tonight . I didn’t have him from being a baby but it feels like it as he was so tiny when he came and only weighed 97g! He was supposed to be about three months old.

That's a good selection if baby food there . Raffy had some Ella’s kitchen strawberry porridge tonight and grabbed the teaspoon and ate the lot

This is the pack of shelled hemp seeds. Normal hemp seeds would be too hard for him to chew. The shelled ones are light and fluffy and taste nutty. All mine have loved them. They’re supposed to be high in calorie.

I think Holland and Barrett still sell it and possibly Amazon. Or direct from here

Linwoods Shelled Hemp

It is one of only a few complete protein foods, which means it has the full spectrum of Amino Acids; the building blocks of Protein. Protein is important for the growth and maintenance of muscle mass and helps maintain normal bones.

linwoodshealthfoods.com

 

[heidi]

Thanks for the wonderful idea about freezing! I was worried about opening one and then having to keep using it to get it done but that’s great!

I’ll check Holland & Barrett out this week too!

Will I have to transition him from his current diet to Science Selextive mush?

 

[Maz]

Generally it’s best to keep putting out the regular mix as well as the science selective mush. They still like to pouch the usual mix and hoard it - maybe just habit - even if they don’t eat it. And they can try the odd bit maybe.

I have soaked regular mix as well in a small dish - it’s not always that popular though and the science selective seems to work better. And they do seem keen on it - it smells a bit like gravy or yeast. To me anyway! Sorry - you probably already know that.

Porridge always goes down well. I make it very runny as it can congeal quickly. Doesn’t matter if it’s too runny as they just lick it up.

 

[heidi]

Generally it’s best to keep putting out the regular mix as well as the science selective mush. They still like to pouch the usual mix and hoard it - maybe just habit - even if they don’t eat it. And they can try the odd bit maybe.

I have soaked regular mix as well in a small dish - it’s not always that popular though and the science selective seems to work better. And they do seem keen on it - it smells a bit like gravy or yeast. To me anyway! Sorry - you probably already know that.

Porridge always goes down well. I make it very runny as it can congeal quickly. Doesn’t matter if it’s too runny as they just lick it up.

All advice is helpful! I haven’t used science selective for a hot minute now but it is probably time to incorporate it back into both hams diets as Neptr is getting on.

I put out a dish of soaked science selective today, and he’s eaten half of it already!! I think that’s great, since he isn’t normally “actively eating” in the daytime.


Ignore the bedding on the floor, haven’t gotten round to hoovering from having him out!

He wolfed down his seed mix that I had softened with a baby pea pouch. And last night he sat with me for ages just having treat after treat. I don’t want to limit the amount he takes from me right now, should I? I just want him to be my big chunky boy again.


Let me know if I can overfeed an underweight hamster - because I also refilled his bowl. Using the leftovers from this morning, I moved some of the mushy pellets into baby pea food, and added a couple small freeze dried chicken pieces. I really want his food bowl to be a fun experience.

I’m sure his neighbour (Neptr) is livid seeing him get all this food.

 

[Maz]

I think they tend to just eat what they need. My concern over putting larger amounts out is he might decide to pouch and hoard it . They don’t eat a lot each day so maybe just the equivalent of what you’d normally put out.

Glad he liked the science selective

 

[heidi]

The joy of wet food (especially those baby pouches) is I can see him eating it as it is basically a liquid. That’s what I’m hoping on at least. I’ve offered his regular mix but he’s yet to take it since the science select - guess he is a big fan!

 

[Maz]

He looks very happy there Must check Raffy's teeth as well as he's gone bonier. I saw him cracking open a white pumpkin seed a couple of weeks ago so assumed his teeth were ok but really must check.

 

[heidi]

I’ve invested in some omnivore critical care tonight to try and boost his weight up more. I think he’s putting on weight nicely but still am quite worried.

Because of this, I’ve had to redo his cage once more (kill me). I’ve temporarily taken out basically all of the bedding, and feel pretty bleak about it. But he can’t be in a burrow when it’s time for his critical care so here we are.

In other news, I scoured his breeders instagram & found some baby photos. Today I caught one with his tongue out and i actually found a baby photo with his tongue out too!

Added some baby photos too.

I’ve made him a tiktok! Don’t think I can advertise it here, but it’s more so just a way where I can document his recovery & have dates for things

 

[Maz]

He's so cute as a baby with his tongue out It's difficult isn't it. I was wondering the same about Raffy's current set up tonight. But decided to leave things familiar at the moment - but he's not on critical care. I'll post about it on his thread.

 

[heidi]

Haven’t used it before but with Neptr being 2.5 I think it’s time. Always good to have on hand anyway. It’s hard to know when. Also been considering making Neptrs cage more for seniors but he is so active and healthy currently.

 

[Maz]

Raffy is two and a half as well He's on metacam and a bit of baby food now but everything else the same. He's also gone quite bony but when I weighed him a couple of nights ago, his weight was fine.

 

[Helens hamster]

Oh he’s gorgeous! I love the fact that you’ve done his habitat soo naturally!

 

[heidi]

What’s metacam? Can sure tell I’m new to having senior hamsters!

Thank you, Helen! I always prefer Cowboys setups to my other hamsters for this exact reason

 

[Helens hamster]

What’s metacam? Can sure tell I’m new to having senior hamsters!

Thank you, Helen! I always prefer Cowboys setups to my other hamsters for this exact reason

Metacam I’m sure is pain relief? My dog used to need it.

 

[Maz]

Metacam/Loxicom - it's the same thing, differently branded. It's the equivalent of Ibuprofen for hamsters. So yes, as Helen says, it's for pain relief (it's also anti inflammatory). It can help a lot when they get older - they may have some arthritis or toothache. It's contraindicated in Cushings though, but my exotic vet said there is other pain relief they can use in that situation. Vets need to work out the dosage for the hamster and it's only available on prescription.

 

[heidi]

Metacam/Loxicom - it's the same thing, differently branded. It's the equivalent of Ibuprofen for hamsters. So yes, as Helen says, it's for pain relief (it's also anti inflammatory). It can help a lot when they get older - they may have some arthritis or toothache. It's contraindicated in Cushings though, but my exotic vet said there is other pain relief they can use in that situation. Vets need to work out the dosage for the hamster and it's only available on prescription.

Ah right! I know of Loxicom!

Biggggg day for Cowboy!!! We’ve FINALLY hit 200g. Still a chunk smaller than what he was at, but I’m so glad! He’s put on about 70+g (though this was before we had hamster specific scales so I don’t really trust the initial measurement, which had him weighed at 100g) and I’m so happy!

I noticed the most weight through feeding just a science select mush & critical care twice a day.
When feeding critical care 3x, he wasn’t touching his science select mix so I reduced it as I feel he put on the most weight with just that mash.

But I’m so glad! Here’s praying it just goes up from here. I’m monitoring his skin but honestly cannot tell if he’s putting his fur back on or not

 

[Maz]

That's great news

 

[Helens hamster]

I’m thrilled! What a milestone! Long May it continue

 

[Maz]

He is looking very furry and fluffy there though - I find a daily pinch of linseeds good for their fur It seems to get thicker and shinier.

 

[heidi]

Cowboy has deteriorated. It’s so upsetting. He was doing so well, such a thick coat & keeping on his 200g.

The other day I noticed he was thinning. His 2nd birthday is in two months, so sI put it down to that.

In just a few days, this is what I saw.

I am mortified. He’s booked into the vet. I have an awful, awful feeling it could be cushings.