Hamster 'stroke'

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Niall Taylor — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:23:46 GMT

[quote user="Liz white"]Just an update for those interested. Daisy is now completely back to normal . Thanks for your help.[/quote]

Brilliant!

Niall

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Rebecca MacMillan — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:04:22 GMT

[quote user="CatherineThomas"]

Just out of curiosity why would you choose marbocyl over baytril? I often used unlicensed antibiotics in the exotics. But I would usually choose baytril over marbocyl to follow the cascade, unless culture and sensitivity indicates otherwise.

[/quote]

I'm also interested to know the answer to this too actually....

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Liz w — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:13:47 GMT

Just an update for those interested. Daisy is now completely back to normal . Thanks for your help.

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

CatherineThomas — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:29:36 GMT

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Stephen Courtney — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:51:59 GMT

Yup, treat for the treatable. interesting comments on antibiotic choice - we don't have marbocyl routinely available - and I need to remember to give small furries their metacam! great tips as always from Mark

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Liz w — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:41:48 GMT

I've got her on marbocyl now, and I'll try her with some vivitonin too. I opted not to X-ray her, as I didn't want to stress her out or bring her out in the cold, and I didn't feel it would change the treatment plan. She's still relatively bright and alert when awake, and eating, so I'm happy to persevere and see what happens.

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:24:33 GMT

I also often add vivitonin (10mg/kg bid - compounded as syrup for dosing) for those with suspected central cause. Not sure how much it truly helps but I feel slightly better having another base covered. Guarded prognosis for these though, CNS vascular compromise or neoplasia suspected in many but O's rarely let me do histopath on deceased hamsters which often frustratingly leaves many as an open diagnosis.

Marie

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Mark Rowland — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:40:46 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]gas down and dv head xray,[/quote]

What are you looking for Mark?

Neil

[/quote]

Looking at the tympanic bullae really (with a cautious prognosis)

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:37:14 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]gas down and dv head xray,[/quote]

What are you looking for Mark?

Neil

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Liz w — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:59:50 GMT

Thanks Mark, what sort of prognosis would you expect?

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Mark Rowland — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:55:09 GMT

metacam 1-2mg/kg bid.

gas down and dv head xray,

Antibiosis (I would use marbocyl 10mg/kg sid po,sc) You can give the injectable form orally.

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Liz w — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:53:56 GMT

Thanks. I wondered about antibiotics but as I'm not in practice at the moment, I was debating with myself whether the stress of the visit to the local vets would do more harm than the antibiotics would be of benefit.

Re: Hamster 'stroke'

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:41:03 GMT

I would provide antibiosis of some sort - usually septrin as a first choice, 0.2ml bid usually. I prefer to avoid using baytril if at all possible

The signs likely relate to vestibular disease and there is a wide range of potential aetiologies, some of which are bacterial - all you can do is treat for the treatable and hope for the best.