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I used to buy Carefresh but found another product at a pet expo some years back that I highly recommend as an alternative: http://www.papershavings.com It's a non-toxic recycled paper product that does an excellent job of keeping down the dust and smell. I use fleece bedding, but put this product in the hay boxes. One package is 12 cubic feet (compressed) and costs ~$8. 2 or 3 of these last me an entire year. The downside is it's hard to get and you're going to need to email them to find where the nearest retailer is. For me it was their manufacturing facility about an hour's drive from me, which is kind of annoying but I just buy a year supply at a time. The cost savings compared to Carefresh, which I used to buy, makes the minor inconvenience completely worth it. Even at the current sale price, the equivalent amount of Carefresh is about 6x as expensive.
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Dec 26, 2017 20:19
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I guess if it isn't one thing it's another. Runty's eye has been great for over a week now since switching the bedding, but her age seems to be catching up with her. I've got her down to one bin so everything is within easy access. She is still eating, drinking and nesting as usual and has a healthy body temperature, but she is certainly at the crotchety old lady stage of her life. Since I was removing parts of her cage and cleaning them for future new ham use, I took apart the wodent wheel and there was a perfect bald spot in the middle of the track from all those thousands of hours of running. Money well spent on that wheel. Edit:  Ivy got her first dehydrated strawberry today and was being super adorable as usual. -CHA fucked around with this message at 23:49 on Jan 9, 2018 |
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Jan 9, 2018 00:23
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^ omg  Kirby update: I started teaching him tricks so now he is an EXTREMELY GOOD PIG. He can shake hands and spin on command, working on getting him to hop into my lap. He really likes to do shake shake. He'll get excited about it and walk towards me and already be raising his right paw and slapping the air with every step until he gets to my hand. It's obnoxiously cute
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Jan 21, 2018 16:13
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Pasketti posted:He really likes to do shake shake. What an adorable little mischief maker  .
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Jan 21, 2018 16:23
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Neddy Seagoon posted:What an adorable little mischief maker he picks me up and shakes me until I give him a treat 
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Jan 21, 2018 17:24
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Boobie has an abcess on his cheek. I'm not sure if it's a tumor or just an abcess, but it's gotten bigger. I'm guessing vets don't really do surgery on hamsters due to the tiny nature of them and how anesthetics are real not good for them, so hopefully it's just an abcess and they can drain it.
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Jan 21, 2018 19:36
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Captain Invictus posted:Boobie has an abcess on his cheek. I'm not sure if it's a tumor or just an abcess, but it's gotten bigger. I'm guessing vets don't really do surgery on hamsters due to the tiny nature of them and how anesthetics are real not good for them, so hopefully it's just an abcess and they can drain it. We're in a similar position. Tonight we noticed Mariette has a lump between her tummy and her hind leg. I swear it wasn't even there a couple of days ago. I remember our previous hamster had a tumor, and the vet tried to drain it, sometimes it's liquid, but it was solid and he lost the use of his hind legs soon after. She's not even that old (1 years 4 months), but she's a mix of Campbell and Siberian and apparently they have a shorter life span? We'll try to go to the vet tomorrow, if it is a tumor, what can be done, and how long do you guys think she has left? We feel pretty lovely about it, she's a wonderful hamster. BTW, vets did surgery on our previous ham. One of his cheek pouches got infected and came out (not a nice sight). They put it back in and he lived another year. Like you said, anesthesia is tricky. It has to be gas, but they tend to hold their breath as long as possible, and when the can't hold out any longer, they inhale very deeply, which might give them too much.
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Jan 21, 2018 22:14
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I had one who had a cancerous tumor on the side of his head that he managed to live for a good six months with before it got really big, began to inhibit his everyday living/started to look super gnarly and we had to put him down, he was over two at that point so it was about that time anyway. So as long as it's not preventing them from their daily routine, it might be okay to leave them be for a while, but at least have a vet check it/drain it, yeah.
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Jan 21, 2018 23:52
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Well, turns out it is a tumor, and there's not that much that can be done about it. Luckily, at the moment it doesn't seem to affect her much, except that she doens't seem to bother going to her toilet anymore, and just goes in her house. Anyway, we hope she'll be with us for a while longer.
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Jan 23, 2018 20:39
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Stupid question. My Syrian hamster Birkenholz just passed away tonight suddenly - she was a year and a half old - and I can't bear to have an empty cage. I was thinking of getting a dwarf hamster, but I want to make sure that I do right by them; should I think about getting two, or will one do fine? Birk in better days: 
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Jan 24, 2018 00:54
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Sehkmet posted:Stupid question. Siberian dwarfs are solitary by nature. You can be lucky that they might tolerate each other if they are siblings, but don't count on it. Also, condolences.
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Jan 24, 2018 12:08
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So much sad news lately  Hopefully Boobie and Mariette carry on for a while despite the growths. Sorry for your loss Sehkmet. A year and a half feels too young even though it really isn't.
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Jan 24, 2018 19:09
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Yeah, took boobie in to have the growth checked. Did a full analysis and syringe and stuff, unfortunately it's a tumor and not an abcess. Having it sent to the lab to be tested for cancer would be very expensive so I opted not to, I can't afford it. He was such a good boy while they checked him out, didn't bite them at all. Poor little guy.
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Jan 24, 2018 19:54
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So my wife and I decided to adopt some rescue hams. Not sure how old they are or the exact breed, Campbells maybe? but they are very sweet and we wanted to give them a good home. We already had plenty of supplies on hand so it was just a matter of making a new bin cage. This is Waffle  and this is Biscuit They are very well bonded to each other, I'm guessing that they have been together for a while. Edit: It turns out that Waffle was actually a boy. They were adopted out together as a pair of girls. Waffle started to chase and mount Biscuit last night, this was the first time we saw this behavior in them so it could probably be an indication that they are in the 5-6 week age range. Anyway, they have been separated and hopefully we don't end up with another accidental litter. The SPCA, whom we adopted them from, got a nice email about this though. -CHA fucked around with this message at 16:40 on Jan 30, 2018 |
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Jan 25, 2018 05:45
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So this is Boobie's face tumor(kinda blurry since he absolutely will not sit still) He's been trucking along largely unimpeded by it until now, but I think it's starting to push his cheek into his mouth proper, since he was making some smacking sounds when I gave him a couple grains of rice earlier. Is there anyone here familiar with the costs, risks, etc of tumor removal in hamsters? It's a difficult thing to weigh the costs of a procedure versus your pet's livelihood, and I'm not sure how old Boobie is, I've had him for about a year and he was full grown when I bought him. He's a wonderful ham and if a procedure were something like 250-500 dollars I might be able to scrounge the money up to get it done, but I have a feeling it'd probably be at least 800-1000. Some folks might think "spending 500 dollars for a hamster?" but Boobie's a special ham. edit: here's a lit picture from a couple days ago right after I took him out so he was still sleepy. 
Captain Invictus fucked around with this message at 17:25 on Feb 2, 2018 |
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Feb 2, 2018 17:22
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Captain Invictus posted:So this is Boobie's face tumor(kinda blurry since he absolutely will not sit still) I have no experience in the cost of tumor removal, but the chances of the Hams survival isn't great from what I hear. Edit: Also, that tumor looks pretty big..
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Feb 2, 2018 17:53
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Yeah, hamster tumors grow really fast. If it's in a bad place such as, say, the side of their face, it can eventually directly impede breathing, eating, etc. I had a ham live another 6 months with one on the side of their head, back further from where it is on Boobie. I know rodents don't do surgery very well, I'm just asking. It's a bummer that the tumor can't just be, like, injected with something to kill it off, but I suppose if that were possible then tumors in people wouldn't be an issue ever.
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Feb 2, 2018 18:17
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Expect closer to 250-300 if you just want removal only. Call around and get quotes or look for a specialist, for minor surgery I have seen ranges from $50 to $600 for the same procedure.
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Feb 3, 2018 02:05
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ColHannibal posted:Expect closer to 250-300 if you just want removal only. Call around and get quotes or look for a specialist, for minor surgery I have seen ranges from $50 to $600 for the same procedure.
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Feb 3, 2018 15:59
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Dont feel bad about shopping around, the bullshit some places try to pass off on you price wise is insane. What to ask for; - Anesthesia cost for a small animal (have the weight in grams handy) - Operating room Fees or any fixed fees for surgery - Surgical rate (most vet places have a per minute rate)
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Feb 3, 2018 16:39
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Alright, well I took him to the recommended place from my regular vet, and they said it'd likely be around 600-1000 for the surgery(so probably not going there for that at least), but right now it appears to be inoperable due to what appears to, hopefully, be swelling across his face. They prescribed some anti-inflammatory/painkiller liquid that tastes like honey apparently, though he was none too pleased to take it. I hope after a few days it will have a noticeable effect on the size of the agitation.
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Feb 3, 2018 20:34
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This is my 3 year old pig, Coulson. We lost his cagemate, Greg, a couple of weeks ago. He seems to be doing fine apart from a UTI that just cleared up. I got the all clear on it from the vet on Friday so I can get him neutered and then get him some friends.   I really miss Greg 
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Feb 4, 2018 21:53
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Upgraded the pig cage from the converted glass-topped coffee table to a proper 2x4 C&C cage. They are much happier and have roughly 2x the floor space to run around in. Popcorning abounds. Trying to find something better than Aspen or recycled paper litter, we ran across piggy bedspreads and decided I can make the same thing from discount fabric from Joanns. Picked up 4 yards of white quilted fabric and 2 yards each of fleece that the kids picked out (1 each). Cut it to the cage dimensions plus 2x the tray wall height, cut out the corners, and busted out the wife's sewing machine and made two quilt-lined fitted liners that fold over the top of the tray sides. Sweeping out poops daily (kid chores!) and changing every 4-6 days once we figure out how absorbent it is. Marta approves https://imgur.com/a/1HPb0
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Feb 4, 2018 22:05
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That pig appears to be fat and happy. A good pigge. CommanderApaul posted:Marta approves Looking good! I would suggest some zipties in place of the tape though, much more durable and pig-proof.
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Feb 4, 2018 22:12
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Sirotan posted:Looking good! I would suggest some zipties in place of the tape though, much more durable and pig-proof. Yep. Literally emergency repairs. I'm 3 connectors short from my old cube cage and it fell apart on Friday when a cat jumped on the roof. Duct tape on the joints that only have a bottom connector.
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Feb 4, 2018 22:17
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Sorry you lost Greg. Coulson looks like a capibara in that first pic. Nice that he’s getting some friends. Guinea pigs really shouldn’t be alone.
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Feb 4, 2018 22:39
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In happier news was feeding everyone last night and found this little guy.
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Feb 5, 2018 02:47
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My guinea pig has been losing weight over a period of months. She's 4 years old and has arthritis. I'm not sure how to get her to eat more, I feed her some green bell pepper and romaine lettuce everyday as well as tim hay and pellets... 
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Feb 5, 2018 02:57
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Khisanth Magus posted:In happier news was feeding everyone last night and found this little guy. Little guy seems pretty nonplussed about existing .
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Feb 5, 2018 09:10
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Neddy Seagoon posted:Little guy seems pretty nonplussed about existing I had unintentionally interrupted feeding time, so he wasn't thrilled to be separated from Mom having his picture taken.
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Feb 5, 2018 10:28
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HamsterPolice posted:My guinea pig has been losing weight over a period of months. She's 4 years old and has arthritis. I'm not sure how to get her to eat more, I feed her some green bell pepper and romaine lettuce everyday as well as tim hay and pellets... How's her overall behavior otherwise? Active and interested in food or lethargic and not eating as much? Have you taken her to the vet recently for an exam? Maybe think about an xray to rule out bladder stones or other masses. Is she on pain meds at all? They can definitely suppress appetite, or if she's not getting enough, pain could be causing her to not eat as much.
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Feb 6, 2018 03:41
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My hamster has alopecia. Anyone got a list of likely causes?
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Feb 6, 2018 10:33
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I have alopecia too! It's hereditary, probably the same for hamsters. Take some pics!
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Feb 6, 2018 11:13
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Captain Invictus posted:I have alopecia too! It's hereditary, probably the same for hamsters. Take some pics! Are you a hamster? Anyway, Hillary (named for the mountaineer, unlike some) is generally happy and active for a middle aged critter apart from the hair loss, but we did find mites on her the first time it occurred. They're now gone, but she's losing hair in different places while the old patches grow back.
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Feb 6, 2018 12:25
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Millions of people in the US alone have some degree of alopecia, I have universalis, the most severe/rarest form. Animals can have it too I guess.
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Feb 6, 2018 12:59
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Jedit posted:Are you a hamster? She could still have mites, even if you can't see them with the naked eye. I know treating guinea pigs with Ivermectin is safe at correct dosages even if mites aren't present (confirm it's safe for hams too, first), you might want to hit her with another round or two to rule them out.
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Feb 6, 2018 13:17
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Runty passed away in her sleep last night . I found her this morning curled up peacefully in her nest, she was a good ham and I'm glad I was able to give her a good life. She will be missed. In happier news, Biscuit is definitely not pregnant! Having baby hams was fun, but once is enough.
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Feb 23, 2018 12:56
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-CHA posted:Runty passed away in her sleep last night Sorry to hear that. Mariette is hanging in there, and doesn't seem to be in pain, despite the fact that her tumor on her tummy is very big. She's very thirsty, we like to bring her water bottle to her house and she comes to the door to drink every time. Luckily she also still goes to her toilet and she cleans herself. I really hope she's not in pain, because I don't know how hamsters would express that?
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Feb 23, 2018 14:38
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Hopefully Mariette is doing fine despite the tumor. Rodents are good at hiding signs of illness and pain, usually signs only show when it is far to late to do anything.
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Feb 23, 2018 15:58
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Boobie died last night, the tumor had gotten large enough that it sealed his left eye shut. With the medication the vet had given me though, he seemed to be able to easily ignore it until recently, the vet had said the tumor had spread to his neck which likely meant lymph glands and so he was basically screwed, so I'm glad I got the time I did with him. I tried to stay awake to be with him until he passed, but I couldn't, so I put him in his ball with some paper towel bedding and took him to bed with me so he wouldn't be alone when he passed. It's a loving shame he got taken by that, he probably had another year+ in him if not for the tumor. It hurt to see an empty cage on my dresser, so I went out to the pet store and they had two hamsters. One white one, but not albino(don't think I've ever seen a non-albino all-white one before) who is young and timid but very cute(pics later), and one who I may name "Screamer". Because she loving won't shut up, jesus christ. Also, she sniffs SUPER loud, like you can hear it in this video. They put both of them in those Kaytee paper-thin cardboard take-home boxes and the white one went to sleep pretty fast, while tiny brown Godzilla literally almost knocked hers off the store counter while they rung me up. The cashier went in the back and got a second, actual cardboard box to put her in, which was good because she destroyed the Kaytee one halfway home. She's a big fat thing, about 6 months old according to the clerk, and super jumpy. She might be pregnant, which would be...something, I guess. In this video, she starts and just never stops about halfway through. Apologies for the vertical video, my phone camera seems to be pretty arbitrary which way it orients itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XBxptmHjl8&hd=1
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Feb 23, 2018 20:13
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