4094. A hamster 'loses weight',

Thursday Feb 27, 2020




Existing client. Japanese or Korean lady. The hamster came in 5 months ago as he was limping. Now he has recovered. The owner texted a WhatsApp appointment to Toa Payoh Vets at 96686468.

"Hi, I would like to bring my hamster (for a health check). He is almost 1 year old and is getting skinny. What time and day can I come with  my hamster?" 

"Our hamster is losing weight" the husband had informed the wife. "A hamster had died suddenly after showing signs of breathing difficulties."
"Is he eating and drinking normally?" I asked.
"No problem".
"Are his stools normal is size and in amounts?"
"Yes."
"She weighs 50g," I showed her the weight on the scale. "In the Sep 2019 consultation for limping, she weighed 49g as recorded in the medical files.  Your hamster is very active and is in good bodily condition. Her weight is average although 55 g will be better."

 The owner had another hamster at home. This one would be overweight at over 60g.  I checked the housing. It was a crate with grilles on the top 2/3 of the crate. 

"The hamster loves to climb the bars or grilles," I told the owner. "This is not good as many hamsters do fall down and injure themselves.
"Yes,"  the lady nodded. "He also gnaws at the grilles!"
"He was limping some 5 months ago," I referred to the records. "He could have fallen from the grille and injured his leg. Fortunately he did not fracture his leg and has had recovered!"

I asked my assistant to help me open the hamster's mouth to check the teeth. "There is no overgrown front teeth," I showed the owner. "So he has no dental problems in chewing and biting food."

A strong bad breath smile wafted up from the hamster's mouth. The cheek pouches were filled with seeds and meal worm pieces as my assistant used a pair of forceps to widen the mouth. The lady covered her nose.
Hamsters do not have bad breath normally.

"Where did you get the meal worms?" I asked the lady who feeds 2 meal worms a day. "I bought them from the Pet shop,"