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Post by Dezzi on Mar 10, 2009 18:22:39 GMT -4
My dearest darling Balrog has not been able to open his eye for 2 days. I took a picture of it, but he was squirming so it's kind of hard to see. I called the vets in town and it's anywhere from $26-$70 for an exam. He's getting old, so I would prefer to not take him in if I don't have to. Anyone have any ideas? He's unable to open it, but there hasn't been any ooze or pus on it. Yesterday he could get it half-open and it looked like it was just dehydrated so I put a bit of water on it (via damp cloth) and it didn't seem to be any better. Today he couldn't open it at all. (the picture was taken like 2 minutes before I posted this)
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 10, 2009 19:24:43 GMT -4
How old is he?? Now let me search for that old photo of Prince I have somewhere on Picturetrail. . . Well, here it is. . . No wait, that's Balrog! In Prince's case, it eventually opened with some assistance from dabs of water on a soft cloth. If you see no other symptoms, inflammation, or other issues, I don't see what a vet could do, nor does it seem a pressing concern. But dab at it a little more with some water.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 10, 2009 19:32:26 GMT -4
Oh, HERE is that photo of Prince's eye. . .
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 10, 2009 23:19:42 GMT -4
Hey Dez, my hamsters had that same problem and I hate to say it but a vet visit is needed. Both of mine received ointment that did help, but it takes a week to do.
I don't see what a vet could do ^A vet will give medication that could help. That's what they can do.
I hope Balrog will be feeling better; he's certainly a cute hamster.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 11, 2009 1:13:29 GMT -4
So, what was it??
WHY was a visit needed?
What was the condition?
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Post by Dezzi on Mar 11, 2009 1:41:12 GMT -4
Balrog is about 2... I think. I'm not sure; he's the one I rescued off Craigslist. He's a total sweetie and I think is getting on in years because he's less active than my others. He's also losing a bit of his colouring and going lighter. There's nothing else wrong with him that I can see. I named him Balrog because when I first got him he was evil, and he also has red eyes that made him look kind of devil-ish. (all my hams are named after movie characters) I have been putting a damp cloth on his eye every few hours and am trying to get it better. He's such a trooper, he just sits in my hand and clicks his teeth when I do it. Doesn't even squiggle.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 11, 2009 1:44:58 GMT -4
>> I named him Balrog because when I first got him he was evil, << Funny. Of course only humans are evil. You know hamster teeth can move like scissors, right? Hopefully Katie will deign to tell us the condition in question, by name. If an infection, why can't normal antibiotic creme do? (triple antibiotic creme, three types).
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 11, 2009 12:08:45 GMT -4
How do you expect me to remember what it's called or the medicine that it was when it happened to my hamsters long ago? I just know that my two syrians had the same thing Dez, and I went to the vet and she prescribed medicine that I had to use for a week and eventually it did help.
But your vet seems pricey, ours wasn't as high. $30 tops I say. Good luck to Balrog.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 11, 2009 14:05:24 GMT -4
I remember what Princess got in March of 2003 when I took her to an emergency vet - Baytil. I still have the bottle in a drawer that I can see right now. *shrugs* Cost me well over a hundred dollars for the exam (by a vet who was not sure if this adult ham was a female! ), a subcutaneous rehydration injection (she was dehydrated seriously), and for the Baytril. I was there at 1 AM. I did all this for many reasons, including I was too slow helping my first Syrian, Blackie, four months earlier. It is likely an infection? Triple antibiotic creme I would use for Balrog. Can't hurt; might help.
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Post by Dezzi on Mar 11, 2009 17:52:16 GMT -4
>>Of course only humans are evil.<< His old humans had him in a bird cage and were going to give him up for snake food. I know he didn't know me when I first got him, but was it really necessary of him to bite my FINGER and not the carrot sitting on it?
>>You know hamster teeth can move like scissors, right?<< Yes, that's what Balrog does. My little brother thinks it's "so cool" and made me show all his friends.
What kind of antibiotic creme and where can I get it?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 11, 2009 18:58:01 GMT -4
Don't get me started on humans. I would rather my soul cease to exist then spend an eternity in Heaven with only humans. - - - - - - - - - - - - - I have never seen such a problem in hamsters, and I have had scores of them. Any large convenience store has a wide variety of antibiotic creams, including the cheaper store generic brand. Any goop or ooze in the eye?? Any discharge? Any inflammation and redness? Swelling? If it is just shut, maybe a mild stroke? Oh crap! I just remembered, one ham of mine for a brief period had a "milky" eye, maybe a bit swollen. Open, not shut. One day, a few days later, the eye was gone! I am not even sure if this was a Syrian or a dwarf. Can't recall, and can't find it with a search here. But the ham got along fine with one eye. Their vision is bad, anyway. Any reputable vet will call you back if you phone his clinic and leave a message. Not only is it reputable, they do not want to anger potential customers. You should call, explain your situation, and ask for advice over the phone. I have gotten plenty. Try this. . . the cause of 'sticky eye' in a hamster can range anywhere from old age to a piece of dust in the eye. I learned that Liquid Tears or any other human eye lubricant works well on hamsters (Liquid Tears or an eye lubricant is better than Visine). These eye drops can be purchased at any drug store. Wet a paper towel with warm water, put it on the sore eye, pull the eye open, and then apply the eye drops. No Q-Tips or eye droppers! I hope this helps! Try this before any creams. I personally would be hesitant to use creams in the eye without an OK from a vet. There are however specific opthalmic antibiotic ointments, such as THISAsk the pharmacist for antibiotic ointments for the eye that are over-the-counter. But try stuff such as the Liquid Tears mentioned above. You use Carefresh bedding? Try that. It's less likely to get something stuck in the eye. Another reason to avoid hay. I would not giver a hamster hay also as it can get stuck in the pouch and maybe pierce it causing an infection.
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Post by Dezzi on Mar 11, 2009 22:37:03 GMT -4
The boys are on a recycled paper type bedding. They didn't carry Carefresh in the area where I was living, so I had to get them this other stuff. I can't remember the name of it now... they'll be back on their Carefresh when I use up what they have. Aspen and Carefresh about the same price in my town, so I had been getting the Carefresh because they seem to enjoy it.
There have been no other visible signs of irritation. No goop, no swelling, no redness. It's just closed. I know he is getting old, and he has no other signs of anything. Aside from his eye, he's his happy, snuggly self.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 11, 2009 23:35:11 GMT -4
You can always try those eye drops. Such as Liquid Tears, as mentioned.
Keep us posted.
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Post by Dezzi on Mar 19, 2009 3:52:41 GMT -4
Good news, everyone! I have been flushing Balrog's eye out with water and today it opened!!! It looks okay, so I'm guessing there was just something in there irritating it. I got a huge bag of Carefresh and he seems to be doing okay. He's getting noticeably older, though. Poor baby.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 19, 2009 13:33:56 GMT -4
Excellent news.
I assume you used warm water.
I assume something was indeed irritating the eye,
Oddly, my eyes have been acting like have an allergy since yesterday - tearing and some ooze. Not bad. Will watch. I have been exposed to no different allergens lately.
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