Mr Maggie's Diary

[Maz]

I would just keep it simple In a hospital cage they often only have bedding and a house.

 

[Magpie]

Well he’s up and about- spent a good bit of time in his cornflake house grooming then had a little taste of the baby food and off into his MCH.

He seems his usual self.

I soaked a teaspoon of oats in boiling water and it’s worked fine. Will see in the morning what he’s made of it!

Will get some ready brek tomorrow for ease.

 

[Maz]

Aw sweet little boy. Poor thing. He's a brave little boy.

 

[Maz]

I'd definitely phone the vet and ask about some pain relief. He looks fine but it must be sore after surgery.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Get well soon little Mr Maggie

 

[Magpie]

Mr Maggie’s porridge was all gone this morning along with 1/2 the baby food.

I’ll see if I can get another pouch that has no lemon today while I’m waiting for the jars to arrive.

I put in another 3 soaked SS pellets this morning in case he gets up while I’m out at work all day… but maybe that’s a mistake though if he takes them away but doesn’t eat them?

 

[Socks' Mum]

It's a good idea to leave him a bite to eat. He might stow them, but there's not much you can do. Getting back to solid food soon is probably good, but perhaps ask your vet. He needs to keep his teeth worn down so you can't leave it too long

 

[Socks' Mum]

I have seen the critical care mentioned, but it's not usually recommended for post surgery in the Uk - maybe for a sick hamster with some other condition though.

Critical Care is good but I think it is more rabbit and guinea pig oriented. Hamsters eat more grain and don't find the amount of fibre in CC as useful or useable. I think support feeding for hamsters is more hamster pellets, oats, baby food and possibly cat or dog food in tiny amounts.

 

[Socks' Mum]

A quick retraction, Critical Care Omnivore is OK for hamsters

 

[Maz]

Mr Maggie’s porridge was all gone this morning along with 1/2 the baby food.

I’ll see if I can get another pouch that has no lemon today while I’m waiting for the jars to arrive.

I put in another 3 soaked SS pellets this morning in case he gets up while I’m out at work all day… but maybe that’s a mistake though if he takes them away but doesn’t eat them

That's great he ate all his porridge. Personally I would only put food out during the evening - a regular pattern of feeding. Things like baby food and porrdidge will fill up his tum! And yes he will eat so little of that science selective that there's a chance he'll hoard it - but don't worry.

I understand - you might feel like your starving him but you're not He has everything he needs in a a few pellets of science selective. The porridge and baby food are extras and to make life more interesting

 

[Magpie]

Thank you. You’re right in that I definitely feel like I’m starving him

I’m just back home and 1 and 1/2 pellets are gone so he’s been up to his bowl. I’m sure he’s eaten 1/2 of one anyway as it’s been nibbled in half then left outside the bowl.

I couldn’t get any alternative baby food or ready brek today…

Other baby food jars should arrive tomorrow and I can just keep using the porridge oats soaked in boiling water then mashed up like I did last night.

 

[Magpie]

Morning All. Mr Maggie is back to his usual routine of not being out and about until around 1am!

He sat and ate 3 of his soaked pellets and I then mashed 2 of the remaining ones in with his porridge before I went to bed. This morning I can see that he's eaten most of the porridge and most of the baby food.

I think I am going to have to put his whimzee back in or the lotus Head (if safer as its really big) for him to chew on as he has started shredding his seagrass tunnel! Alternatively I do have a new croc whimzee that I could use- its even bigger than the one he's already been working on as it still has all its legs!

 

[Maz]

That sounds positive. Actually shredding the seagrass tunnel would also be good for his teeth and might be keeping him occupied. Did you manage to get any pain relief from the vet? Just wondering if shredding the tunnel might be because he was in pain. Sometimes they chew at stitches if they're in pain, but he can't do that in the location of his wound.

 

[Magpie]

No- they didn’t give me any pain meds as concerned re potential gastro upset and say no need if he is eating and drinking and acting as normal (which he is)

He never had any pain meds after the last 2 surgeries either.

He did previously have a bit of a nibble at the sea grass tunnel but not ever like last night where he’s properly shredded a ring off the end. I think it’s because i’ve taken away his sticks and whimzee so that’s all he has to gnaw on. he’s a real chewer!

I’d rather he didn’t shred it to be honest- so I think I might put his whimzee back in tonight or the lotus head and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Maz]

That sounds very unfair - metacam shouldn't cause a gastro upset. It's fairly standard that hamsters need pain relief, at least for a few days, after surgery. I think in future I'd see if you can find a different vet if possible! But it's good he is doing ok. Hamsters are very good at hiding pain as prey animals.

 

[Magpie]

Yes it does seem a bit odd and unfair.

Unfortunately even my closest town (2 hrs away) which i thought would have an exotic specialist apparently doesn’t. So we would be looking at aprox 4-4 1/2 drive EACH WAY to potentially get to another practice who actually has a specialist in exotics!

I’m very rural!

 

[Tulsi]

Your 2 hour drive away vet can always phone an exotics vet to get advice from them. That is what my local vet did when Kulfi (rip) was ill and they were unsure of the diagnosis.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I wonder if Vetster is any good (online vet)

 

[Socks' Mum]

I wonder if Vetster is any good (online vet)

No, Vetster bad