Tino's thread

[Socks' Mum]

The test of a true animal lover is when their pet becomes old, they become more proud of him or her and love them more

 

[Socks' Mum]

The test of a true animal lover is when their pet becomes old, they become more proud of him or her and love them more

Your love for Tino is a beautiful thing

 

[Yorkie]

Tino is getting older. I noticed last time I had Higgins out, Tino didn’t come to his door to come out as well. And the last few nights he hasn’t been out in his cage or using his wheel (I check the nightcam next day). He comes out to get his veg when it’s put out.

Maybe he’s just sleeping more with old age but I thought last time he was out, his nose looked slightly different but wasn’t sure. A slightly different shape.

So tonight I gave him a bit of baby food and he really enjoyed that. But seemed a bit weak for climbing into his tube - so I lifted him out. He had a good rummage around on the sofa for a bit then went to sleep in a blanket. He does look a bit strained around the eyes and his nose bone definitely looks slightly different - not a lump exactly but more rounded shaped than before. So I think I’ll be taking him to the vet when I get an appointment - don’t like the idea he might be in pain or has a possible infection.

Or maybe he is just older and sleeping more.

Anyway I then popped him down and the floor and he perked up quite a lot and was his usual self and his been out for a while now.

Here he is on the sofa earlier - little old man. Still has loads of fur.

And here he is wandering around on the floor.

View attachment 12549

You can’t see his nose from that angle - only from a sideways angle. But it maybe seems a bit swollen.

He’s just pottering in his playpen area on the video but has been nippier while out.

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Awwwww he is such a cute little old man

 

[Yorkie]

Thank you. His fur is pretty good actually. But I think his eyes seem a bit strained, which suggests to me he might be in pain. And I do think the area above his nose and between his eyes is a bit swollen. Which might be putting some pressure on. He feels a bit bony on his back but that's fairly normal for an older hamsters.

If you look at the photo, I think the space between his eyes (ie over his nose) looks wider than it should.

He wasn't quite as active out of the cage tonight. Nipped about a bit but sat dozing the odd time, like he did on the sofa.

I'll have a tweak of his cage over the next few days. So far I've moved his food and water lower so he doesn't have to climb up to them as he does struggle a bit with climbing. And moved his cork log over a bit and removed a small hide he never uses, so he can reach his food and water on the level without having to squeeze past anything or climb over the cork log.

I agree,on the photo I have just seen,despite being so adorable,he does look a bit swollen on his face

 

[Maz]

Thank you both. I know he's not well. It's just a bit of a sudden change. He is having a bit of Metacam and seeing the exotic vet on Monday. First Metacam was last night. From the nightcam video, he did come out of his nest/house briefly shortly after I went to bed - but it was clearly just a "checking session" after I moved his food and water lower and moved the cork log a bit further over and removed a hay hide he never uses, so he had a clear flat walk to his food and water. So he went over and checked those out. Then investigated his house roof (no food and veg bowl there any more) and actually went up onto his corner shelf, just to show me I needn't have moved his food and water! Sat and groomed in his sand bath a little bit (which he has been using as a toilet but also pees in his house). So I hoped that meant the metacam was helping and he was feeling a bit better. But no - he then went back in his house and wasn't out again all night last night or on his wheel. He only came out to "keep an eye" on the changes in his cage - as they do.

I actually think he is dying and has taken to his nest - apart from coming out for food and water. He did come round a bit last night once I got him out. They can have the odd burst when out. So feeling a bit sad today. But hoping it might be an infection that could resolve.

@Yorkie - it's just across his nose bone area between his eyes it seems possibly swollen.

Poor little boy. So I'm assuming the vet will try antibiotics and metacam to see if it's infection, and if that makes no difference then it's probably a tumour.

 

[Yorkie]

Thank you both. I know he's not well. It's just a bit of a sudden change. He is having a bit of Metacam and seeing the exotic vet on Monday. First Metacam was last night. From the nightcam video, he did come out of his nest/house briefly shortly after I went to bed - but it was clearly just a "checking session" after I moved his food and water lower and moved the cork log a bit further over and removed a hay hide he never uses, so he had a clear flat walk to his food and water. So he went over and checked those out. Then investigated his house roof (no food and veg bowl there any more) and actually went up onto his corner shelf, just to show me I needn't have moved his food and water! Sat and groomed in his sand bath a little bit (which he has been using as a toilet but also pees in his house). So I hoped that meant the metacam was helping and he was feeling a bit better. But no - he then went back in his house and wasn't out again all night last night or on his wheel. He only came out to "keep an eye" on the changes in his cage - as they do.

I actually think he is dying and has taken to his nest - apart from coming out for food and water. He did come round a bit last night once I got him out. They can have the odd burst when out. So feeling a bit sad today. But hoping it might be an infection that could resolve.

@Yorkie - it's just across his nose bone area between his eyes it seems possibly swollen.

Poor little boy. So I'm assuming the vet will try antibiotics and metacam to see if it's infection, and if that makes no difference then it's probably a tumour.

Awwwww,yes,that's exactly.what I see. Poor baby,I hope this can be resolved and that you have more time with him. Sending hugs for you both

 

[Maz]

Thank you.

 

[Coco61]

This sad news has come very suddenly indeed. Poor little Tino.
Hopefully it is an infection that he can overcome.
Sending the strongest possible good wishes for your handsome and much loved little man

 

[Maz]

This sad news has come very suddenly indeed. Poor little Tino.
Hopefully it is an infection that he can overcome.
Sending the strongest possible good wishes for your handsome and much loved little man

Thank you Coco

 

[Tulsi]

Oh my goodness Maz it only seems 5 minutes since you got him. They do have such short lives.

I hope all goes well at the vet on Monday and that they can keep him comfortable for as long as possible. Bless him.

 

[Maz]

So I was tidying some treats near the hamster cages and it woke them up earlier than they normally get fed. So Tino was up looking for his food. He still looks very strained in the face but was keen for his food so put it out anyway. When I moved his food and veg dish down to the low platform I also put out a small water bowl. He sniffed that a couple of times but decided to climb on his house roof and use his bottle instead. He’s only ever had a bottle. However I noticed he is quite wobbly at the back end - staggering a bit - and lost his footing a couple of times so I do think I need to have everything on one level for him - just don’t like changing things too much - but at least lower everything at some point. For now I’ll leave him to get used to the minor changes and nothing is particularly high in there except one corner platform and the cork log is in front of that.

So watching him tonight he just seems to be gradually failing. But still eating and drinking and even looked interested in coming out. Poor little boy - it’s come on so quick.

 

[Yorkie]

Poor little man,wishing all the best.

 

[Maz]

When Pickle had this (head swelling) it was secondaries. I remember the vet telling me that was common to get secondaries in that area. So much is unknown with hamsters. What’s going on inside etc.

 

[Yorkie]

So sorry for you

 

[Socks' Mum]

So I was tidying some treats near the hamster cages and it woke them up earlier than they normally get fed. So Tino was up looking for his food. He still looks very strained in the face but was keen for his food so put it out anyway. When I moved his food and veg dish down to the low platform I also put out a small water bowl. He sniffed that a couple of times but decided to climb on his house roof and use his bottle instead. He’s only ever had a bottle. However I noticed he is quite wobbly at the back end - staggering a bit - and lost his footing a couple of times so I do think I need to have everything on one level for him - just don’t like changing things too much - but at least lower everything at some point. For now I’ll leave him to get used to the minor changes and nothing is particularly high in there except one corner platform and the cork log is in front of that.

So watching him tonight he just seems to be gradually failing. But still eating and drinking and even looked interested in coming out. Poor little boy - it’s come on so quick.

Yes, it has been quick. The fast metabolism of these little creatures can count against them at times. It is very sad. Wishing you comfort

 

[Maz]

So sorry for you

Have to see what the vet says - but when you’ve seen things before you can’t help thinking ….. I think it’s the fact it’s his head that bothers me more than if it was somewhere else.

Apparently even a scan can’t definitively tell whether it’s tumour or infection. So will just hope it’s infection that resolves.

Meantime he will enjoy his baby food and Metacam.

 

[Maz]

Just realised he wouldn’t be out again tonight if he’s already been out for food and drink - as that has been the pattern. So put the baby food and Metacam inside his house next to his nest and he licked it up from there like a good boy. Wish I’d had him out earlier now when he looked interested in coming out.

 

[Yorkie]

Awwww bless him.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Thank heavens Metacam is so palatable. Poor boy

 

[Maz]

I’ve just removed the tall platform from the back corner, I couldn’t find the shorter legs to lower it a bit so that meant taking the Bucatstate hide out as well - so instead I moved his cork log further back, so he doesn’t need to climb over it - and put his old coconut hut in from his previous cage instead of the Bucatstate hide. Just in case he comes out again tonight. Didnt want him falling off that taller platform through the gap between that and the lower one.

Not worried about his house roof as it’s a shallow ramp to get up there. So left that end the same. And he has water in two places.