OH NO! WHAT HAS GONE WRONG with my poor roborovskis? Following 2 days of food torment, during which Spherical took to frustratedly nibbling on the avocado stone that I put in as entertainment (it looks like a curled-up roborovski, only a curled-up robo is actually smaller than said stone...)... (but they did eat. They had plenty of stray seeds: just didn't know there the big stash was stored!...) eventually I relented and lifted their seeds dump-bin tube allowing a scattering of hammy food across the floor...Because their fur's gone all shaggy, like baby Porkshire terriers or Airedales (or wire fox terriers, to use Canadian nomenclature) I put them in their diggery for a good hour yesterday. This combs them all over with innumerable pine-shaved-curlings and makes them look airbrushed from top to toe. Very posh. Just the thing for exhibitors at a roborovski show....
Anyway, Baby Itchy, in said former lollypop-jar diggery, lifted her bum and did a scent marking wee-wee. And for the first time I actually saw said wee-wee coming out. IT WAS BRIGHT RED AND FULL OF BLOOD..!
Please, someone! What does this mean?
Is she merely on heat? Surely you don't pee blood when you're on heat... the urethra does not come from the womb, so even if blood was coming out like a "period" she wouldn't PEE it out, surely?
She's showing no signs of bad health whatsoever (apart from the shaggy Porkshire terrorizer-style fur)... so I don't know what to think.
I just don't want poor Baby Itchy to die!
Oh no I don't know what it means as i've not had small rodents since I was a child. I hope someone can enlighten you on this!
ReplyDeleteGet well Baby Itchy!
Oh dear! Well, let me start by saying I don't know anything about hamsters. But, I found this on line:
ReplyDelete"Hamsters can suffer from bladder or kidney infections. The most common symptoms are excessive urinating, blood in the urine and excessive drinking. Other symptoms may include squealing when urinating and listlessness.
A hamster with a bladder or kidney infection will require antibiotic treatment by a vet to cure the infection and will need to be kept warm. Access to sufficient water is also essential. It is also advisable to clean the cage more regularly, using a disinfectant designed for small animal cages to prevent the Aspergillis Fungus developing in the area of the cage the hamster uses for urinating.
Once treated hamsters usually recover from bladder and kidney infections within a few days. However, very rarely a hamster may have a severe kidney disorder or kidney failure and as well as the above symptoms may show severe wasting. Unfortunately such severe problems may not be curable.
Hamsters that are fed a poor quality diet or a diet high in fat content are more susceptible to developing bladder infections as this causes the urine to become more alkaline."
I hope it's just something simple and Baby Itchy gets better soon.
Just stopped by to say "Hi"!
ReplyDeletePlus, I find that English is like any other foreign language--if I don't read something in it every once in a while, the language skill atrophies...
Has she been eating beetroot? It has that effect on me!
ReplyDeleteOther than that, no helpful suggestions except: have you got a PDSA near you that you can take her to?
And, of course, meant to say: hope she's better soon!
ReplyDeletexxx
Oh dear, that's not good. Sorry to hear she is under the weather. Here's wishing her all the best.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new digs; hope your new neighbourhood treats you well.
Oh dear it doesn't sound too good does it? Is there an RSPCA nearby you could take her there, they will probably treat her for free as you're not working.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say bladder/kidney infection ... had the same happen with one of my cats - you have to act fast and get antibiotic treatment. Can you get to an RSPCA for help?
ReplyDeleteOuch I hope your critter gets better soon.
ReplyDeletePoor Itchy! I think Daisy and Bimbimbie have covered the problem... hope she feels better sooner than later!
ReplyDeleteOuch, sorry about the little thing!
ReplyDeleteJust ask on a forum, I'm sure people who own little rodent could help.
That said don't panic. Pets can be strong, just like humans... might need some antibiotic though. Seeing a vet would be best.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI was going to say that sounds a lot like bladder/kidney infection but that was already covered.
My brother's dog Bell peed blood when I was taking care of her while he was in the hospital. I took Bell to the vet and it was kidney stones. She was an older dog. She was put on medication and got better right away.
I don't know if this will help your hamster, but I either drink plenty of cranberry juice or take cranberry juice extract when I have a bladder infection. It cures it in two to three days.
If your can't afford vet care for her, maybe if you could find some cranberries for her to nibble on that might help?
Janice~
Awww poor wee wee roborovskeeee. Gleds. RSPA defo.They're too little to muck about with. The longer you leave it the harder it will be. Don't know where you live but here are the branches in London . .http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=rspca+london&btnG=Search
ReplyDeleteHow odd . .coming from Australia. Quick now . .
You should attend a vet.
ReplyDeleteHope your baby is better soon. Might need the antibiotics. Many years ago we had one that needed to be treated but off hand I can't remember the symptoms she had. Good luck.
ReplyDeletesounds like a bladder infection..... hope she is well soon x
ReplyDeleteHow is Baby Itchy doing?
ReplyDeleteChecking in on Baby Itchy! It's Thursday a.m. in the United States
ReplyDeleteI'm frightened for little baby itchy!
ReplyDeleteDaisy could be a vet, she could!