Hello and welcome! I agree with that - I am really not sure Glucosamine would work and because hamsters have such a fast metabolism it could do more harm than good. I am totally with you though on the idea of natural supplements. I tried giving one of my hamsters some white willow bark once (natural aspirin basically) but he wouldn't eat it lol! At the time the vet had said he couldn't have metacam as it was contraindicated with Cushings (which it is apparently) and I didn't want him to be in pain. He ended up having to be pts
. I have since changed vets though and my new vet says there is another pain relief med they can give if they can't have Metacam.
Metacam really does help older hamsters though - especially with arthritis, toothache, stiff legs etc. Providing the dosage is correct. If it's too high it can affect their kidneys, so they need to be weighed regularly while on it in case the dose needs adjusting. There is a big leeway in dosage level though.
I'd just ask the vet for some metacam. There are some healthy supplements that might help though - the main one being brown linseeds are full of natural oils and vitamin E - mainly good for coats eyes and teeth but no doubt for joints and general health too. I give a pinch of those on a separate little dish for older hamsters and they just lick them up
Having said all that, I've looked up the Oxbow supplement and I can't see there's anything harmful in it and the amounts are probably right. Except that it's based on Timothy Hay, like their main food and that's actually not beneficial to hamsters. Too much roughage which could upset their digestions or actually reduce their absorption of vitamins etc. Oxbow main food is really not good for hamsters!
I'm guessing you're wanting to avoid meds and try something more natural? I used to be like that but am the other way now. Metacam works wonders for older hamsters and keeps them pain free so they can enjoy their life. It also tastes nice so they eat it! I don't worry about it affecting their kidneys a) because the dose is right and b) because older hamsters have almost always started with kidney deterioriation anyway - it's one of the first things that goes and doesn't usually affect them that much.
Metacam is also known as Loxicom
