4539. A Syrian hamster walks slowly and sways from left to right.

2 Jan 2023. Tele-consultation with Dr Sing Kong Yuen at 10.15am. The owner wanted to know why his 1.5-year old female Syrian hamster walks slowly and sways left to right. His appointment would be 11.30 am today as a physical examination is the best as opposed to tele-video consultation.

From his two merged video, I could see that the hamster has appetite as she eats the food offered without hestitation. But she looked haggard as she did not bother to groom herself. The furs stuck out. Urine stained her private parts which is not normal if the hamster grooms herself.

"What is the colour of her urine?" I phoned the owner. "She has yellow urine stains on her private parts."

"The usual yellow colour," he replied. "She urinates onto the sand, so I don't really know."

As regards the swaying from left to right, it is not possible to see properly. She could have had injured her head as I noted that her home was generous of space and filled with many things. The video was not clear, but gave an impression of a cluttered home in which the hamster could have had knocked her head - leading to swaying for around one month.

Or there could be an infection affecting the urinary system with toxins going to the head. The hamster owner said she drinks little water - build up of toxins in the urinary system can cause brain damage --- swaying. We will wait for the actual physical examination at 11.30 am and follow up.

CONCLUSION.
As at 2 Jan 2023, 10.30 pm, I contacted the owner. He said the hamster was given medication, but passed away in the evening today.

UPDATES AT: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2023/01/4539-syrian-hamster-walks-slowly-and.html