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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 3, 2004 23:43:23 GMT -4
Three new dwarfs! Rescued from a pet store where they had been ill (OK now) and headed for a snake bin.  I will name them later, and give further details in this or the Dwarfs forum.   |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 4, 2004 14:48:26 GMT -4
Aww...they are so cute! That's good that you rescued them! I hate it when any rodent is fed to a snake although they have to eat too. Just wondering, but how many rodents do you have now?  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 4, 2004 22:42:12 GMT -4
Dozens I know of. Maybe others I don't.  The black-eyed white one is a little messed-up on his underside owing to their illness: he has little fur but it seems alright. The pet store and rescue person I know gave them tetracycline when they came in and they perked up. So far, they seem to be getting along. And Jerry, who was moved into their tall cage with ramps and levels (after a thorough cleaning) has been able to negotiate the ramps quite nicely.  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 5, 2004 5:44:45 GMT -4
BTW, regarding the above mentioned tetracycline. It is apparently in the pencillin family, and its use on hamsters is in some question. I would definitely recommended speaking to a hamster vet before ever using it. Its use (successfully) on this trio may have been out of desperation.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 5, 2004 10:38:38 GMT -4
That's good that they are feeling better! Aww...I bet in time the little guy's fur will grow back. All three are so cute, they remind me of Harriet's seven. She had three albinos & one brown one.
I've never heard of that medicine, so I really wouldn't know what to tell you.
Thats good that Jerry got used to his new home; what kind of cage is he in? I had my dwarves in a CT Classic, so they didn't have any ramps.
What do you think you'll name your three now?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 5, 2004 21:00:03 GMT -4
The only label on Jerry's cage, the one the three came in was, "My First Home". It is quite tall, with less floor space than a ten gallon tank, and the bottom is somewhat of a square. There are two levels with ramps, which I lowered from their original placement - and that means there would now be room for a third, way high (too high, perhaps). Each level has small hole in it for a water and food cup, which did not come with the cage but perhaps I can find at a store, the food one; there is a Habitrail waterbottle clipped to the bars.
I have read warnings about tetracycline and other antibiotics in the peniciliin family. But they did not bother these three, and likely saved them. If I get a response about that from the rescue person who used it I will post it later.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 5, 2004 21:43:50 GMT -4
Here is what the rescue person said in response to the tetracycline question. She is experienced and very caring. So I don't know, but the issue deserves further online research by those interested. Of course in an ideal world where we are all wealthy and seek the optimum treatment we would be able to run off to a good hamster vet every time we see something wrong.
> Re: Use of tetracyclene... Every antibiotic will have
> it's downside, but I know that many sick & near-death
> rodents I have treated owe their lives to
> tetracyclene. I have used it to treat rodents for
> years with much success, on the recommendation from an
> exotics vet back in San Diego. It is perhaps not the
> first choice in an antibiotic, but is cost-effective
> and I think the success speaks for itself, at least in
> my experience. An instance in which I would NOT use it
> would be in a female who is either pregnant or
> nursing, as it can cause problems in the young. Also,
> in the case of intestinal/digestive disorders,
> "Marvel-Aid" - a general antibiotic for birds - can be
> used. Just for your medicine chest info. (:
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 6, 2004 12:28:13 GMT -4
That's interesting to know about that type of medicine. So what is the medicine exactly used for...like what kind of illness?
*Off topic here...I came home yesterday & found Sophie on the stairs. She was acting like nothing happened as my heart raced, she got out by her attic (aka petting zone) door. Everything on her cage that I can find would be possible escapes are taped!! I'm so glad she headed for downstairs & thank God she didn't go underneath anything!*
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Post by jeannie on Oct 6, 2004 21:25:58 GMT -4
Tetracycline is used for respiratory infections. It's what ornacycline is, which you can get from the bird section in pet stores. I asked my vet about that drug once, and he advised against it and said it was better to get a stronger drug from a vet. I think it works well for gerbil pups though.
I'm glad the guys are doing better.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 6, 2004 21:37:24 GMT -4
There was a warning about tetracycline on petwebsite suggesting it was part of the penicillin family. Why?? Maybe they got it wrong.
Same as ornacycline. . . I think I knew that but forgot it.
Well, it helped these three, whom I have to name soon! I am waiting until I determine their personalities.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 6, 2004 21:42:15 GMT -4
*Off topic here...I came home yesterday & found Sophie on the stairs. She was acting like nothing happened as my heart raced, she got out by her attic (aka petting zone) door. Everything on her cage that I can find would be possible escapes are taped!! I'm so glad she headed for downstairs & thank God she didn't go underneath anything!* A few times i have been quit startled to see a critter walking around loose when I did not even know there was an escape. One time I felt something moving under my blanket in bed! It turned out to be a hamster, who ended up sitting on mny stomach looking at me. ;D |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 7, 2004 12:03:20 GMT -4
Lol-it was in your bed! I guess some hamsters like to explore the house when we're not there or if we are there. Oh, okay...thanks for answering my question. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 7, 2004 21:12:08 GMT -4
BTW, I gave the dwarfs (and others) and vitamin and digestive aid drops. The curious thing about them is they seem to establish - and re-establish several times a day - a hierarchy by bullying another, holding it down for awhile on its back; meanwhile the other squawks away, loudly. I have seen this happen a number of times and there were no bites or real violence. I hope this is normal behavior among dwarfs.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Oct 8, 2004 13:46:12 GMT -4
Yeah, dwarves, I've heard, go through dominance issues. Mine did. If there is no blood, then I would recommend just separating them, I did with my hand. You could separate them by hand if you know your dwarves won't bite it. If you do see blood, I know you know what to do.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 8, 2004 20:47:48 GMT -4
There is no blood, and no fighting. Just the occasional squawking. They are in a big Habitrail Space Station with three add ons, so that is where they stay for now.
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