Jack

[Member ID2]

He's just being a hamster.
Same with the dig box. I put two bendy bridges there but no, he has to jump out the side that doesn't have a bendy bridge.

 

[Member ID2]

I've moved all the playthings around to make freeroaming interesting for them.
Jack's having a rest by the door of the playbin.

 

[RainbowBrite]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Jack looks so cute and cuddly there.

 

[elusive]

That’s such a lovely photo
I’m sure they’ll enjoy investigating what you’ve been up to.

 

[Member ID2]

They've been up since 18.30 and running around with stops in their cages inbetween.

Jack is starting to slow down though. He naps more and doesn't jog as fast on his wheel. Sometimes he hops off his wheel and crushes out in front of it for a quick nap which is what he's doing just now.

His breathing is fine but i'm starting to wonder if his heart is not as strong as it used to be.

No point in taking him to the vet because they can't do an ECG or Echo on a hamster plus a vet visit stresses him out.

They are youngsters and then they are suddenly seniors.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is like they still have the desire to do as much just not the body. Like us humans really. He sounds like he is still have lots of fun. How lovely to be up earlier tonight so you can spend lots of time watching him.

 

[Member ID2]

Just watched Jack pick up the rest of his fresh food before disappearing into his house.

 

[Maz]

Lovely to see Jack. He is doing very well. Yes it seems like no time and then they are seniors. I am sure he is happy within his limitations though.

 

[elusive]

It does seem that they suddenly start to age but Jack seems happy doing his own thing at his own pace, it’s probably just general aging, if his heart was getting that much weaker his breathing would most likely show it.

 

[Member ID2]

Jack eating banana just now.

 

[Member ID2]

I'm concerned about Jack again. He made a lot of very low volume squaky noises tonight while hamstering about. He looked a bit dozy at times and i found two abnormal poops on a shelf (took a photo for the vet).
He's been showing signs of aging lately and i'm not sure of his age because he's a rescue.
There's something not right and i need to get him checked by the vet. I know that he gets stressed at the vets but he gets over it.

Henry started to have health issues around 20 months, Rory and Rodney just after their second birthdays. Sadly, Jack is approaching that time of his life where things start to go wrong.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I really am sorry to hear this. It is very sad when hamsters appear elderly.

 

[Zara]

So sorry to read Jack does not seem himself tonight. Such a shame they grow elderly so fast. Hope the trip to the vets is as stress free as poss.

 

[Member ID2]

That's Jack tonight. I also wondered if his breathing looks a bit odd.

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[elusive]

Sorry to hear how worried you are about Jack, I hope it’s nothing too serious & the vet can help. They do begin to show signs of aging & deterioration around that age, it is sad but I hope Jack has plenty of happy time with you yet.
I can’t really tell from the vid if his breathing looks off but he doesn’t look as though it’s causing him any distress, looks fairly content hamstering about there.

 

[Member ID2]

The vets are fully booked today, tomorrow i'm working and it's not an emergency because Jack isn't exactly showing signs of an acute illness. He's booked in for Monday morning with a vet i know is great with hamsters.
Had a look at the video again and i think he's just sniffing when i thought his breathing looks odd.
The two abnormal looking poops reminded me of Rodney's poops (minus the smell) so i immediately thought he has a parasite and wanted Xeno 50.
Maybe i need to cut back on his fresh veg a bit. He has always been a little poopy and i need to clean his shelves from time to time.

He could have issues with a parasite though as many hamsters carry internal parasites without ever getting any symptoms or get symptoms as they age like constipation, diarrhoea, weight loss etc. The vet explained that to me.

I just woke him up for a health check and couldn't see any abnormal poops in his house.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Cutting back on his veg sounds like a good idea. I know with guinea pigs when their poops are a bit iffy you stop veg totally until they improve. I do not know if that is the same with hamsters. It is good you could not see any odd poops when you looked in his house.

 

[elusive]

Parasite problems are really not that common although hams often get treated for them on the off chance it might be a problem, I’m not saying they don’t happen but I do think it’s better to try alternatives to the quite toxic treatments if possible first, I’m sure the vet will know whether it may be that any way.
It might be an idea to cut back on his veg a bit in case he can’t handle it so well, I would try a probiotic which as well as helping digestion helps with immunity & the ability to cope with normally occurring mites/parasites.
Hope all goes well at the vets on Monday & there’s nothing too serious to worry about.

 

[Zara]

Morning, good to hear there are no more odd looking poops. I think I heard a little squeak at the very beginning of the video but then he looks quite content foraging around and nibbling. Hope he has a good day.

 

[Member ID2]

I can't find the Benebac powder to sprinkle on top of food which would work.

Dr S are drops at 3 drops per 100g of hamster. For a 200g+ Syrian this doesn't work because it makes food too wet and then he won't eat it.

A vet suggested the Pro C but i think i had trouble working out the tiny dosage because it's aimed at guinea pigs, rabbits upwards in size.