My Hamster has diabetes help!!!!!

[lukenick1]

Any Veterinarians out there in the DIS???? My cute, sweet hamster Luigi has diabetes. I researched online about it and tested him at home with Keto Diastix urine test strips. Thats how I found out. Anyway, Ive been testing him daily since the first diagnosis and his glucose and ketones are changing. At first he had negative keytones, high glucose and the treatment recommended was a complete sugar free diet. Now that he is on that diet he has sky rocket ketones.......I dont know how to manage this for the poor little guy. Bringing him to a Vet seems unreasonable if I can treat it at home with diet. Anyone have a clue???? Oh and the recommended treatment for the high ketones was 50/50 pedialite-water. But the pedialyte has glucose in it???

 

[waughzee]

I have a diabetic dog and I give her insulin injections, twice daily. I have no idea how you would treat a diabetic hamster!

 

[pyrxtc]

Do I even want to know how you test a hamsters urine ?

 

[Green Tea]

I think you need to be asking a vet these questions. Human test results are likely not the same values as tests for exotic animals.

 

[lukenick1]

Do I even want to know how you test a hamsters urine ?

LOL it was no big deal. Put him into a plastic bucket and when he peed i dipped the stick in it. Not hard at all.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I think you need to be asking a vet these questions. Human test results are likely not the same values as tests for exotic animals.

I agree. Even with humans, test result values differ in age groups.

What made you think to test him for diabetes?

 

[surfergirl602]

Umm... I wouldn't think you could use human test strips on a tiny hamster. Biologically they are way different. A special test would have to be done for that.

 

[alliecats]

If your hamster is showing ketones you need to get him into the vet. IF those strips are accurate he could be in diabetic ketoacidosis, which is life-threatening. You cannot treat this at home. If my cat gave me even a low or moderate ketone reading I would be at the vet ASAP.

You cannot fix this on your own if indeed it is correct--but you cannot make this diagnosis on your own. Please take him to the vet. This is very serious.

 

[Liberty Belle]

LOL it was no big deal. Put him into a plastic bucket and when he peed i dipped the stick in it. Not hard at all.

No advice. And I'm not trying to make light of it (I used to have some cutie hamsters), but...what made you suspicious in the first place?

 

[LMC]

Just FYI, if your pet has to go on chronic medication, check into the walgreens prescription drug program. My local store has a notice posted that they have a program available for pet on chronic meds.

 

[lukenick1]

No advice. And I'm not trying to make light of it (I used to have some cutie hamsters), but...what made you suspicious in the first place?

He was drinking so much water and peeing a ton. He is only a dwarf hamster and i was filling his water bottle twice a week. I looked up some info online and found out that diabetes is very common in his breed. I just cannot justify bringing him to the vet. Im sure it will cost a small fortune. All the info from the internet leans toward diet change. There is nothing a vet can give him anyway, a insulin shot would prob kill him. I was kind of hoping for advice from previous diabetic hamster owners.

 

[npmommie]

He was drinking so much water and peeing a ton. He is only a dwarf hamster and i was filling his water bottle twice a week. I looked up some info online and found out that diabetes is very common in his breed. I just cannot justify bringing him to the vet. Im sure it will cost a small fortune. All the info from the internet leans toward diet change. There is nothing a vet can give him anyway, a insulin shot would prob kill him. I was kind of hoping for advice from previous diabetic hamster owners.

May I ask why not?
You took the responsibility for a pet,I think you should take him to the vet, and at least find out the correct way to treat him at home. jmo

how will you feel if something happens to him that was preventable?

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

It could be a UTI, or something that is treatable. You should take him to the vet, who will know whether or not a treatment would kill him. If he is suffering the vet will know and you can have him put down instead of lingering on. It's not right to let him suffer.

 

[mking624]

May I ask why not?
You took the responsibility for a pet,I think you should take him to the vet, and at least find out the correct way to treat him at home. jmo

how will you feel if something happens to him that was preventable?

I fully agree.
OP - if you want the responsibility of a pet, then that also includes taking on the responsibility of proper medical attention. You cannot take it upon yourself to diagnose an animal when you don't know for sure what the issue is...and you certainly cannot depend on random internet people to offer accurate medical information or treatment. That can be just as deadly as any disease. If you're really concerned, take your animal to a vet...or at the very least CALL one for information.

 

[lukenick1]

May I ask why not?
You took the responsibility for a pet,I think you should take him to the vet, and at least find out the correct way to treat him at home. jmo

how will you feel if something happens to him that was preventable?

I feel good knowing that I care enough to even have been suspicious of diabetes. Some other owners may have not even have thought there was an issue. He seems very healthy and happy regardless. I am very confident that we are doing everything we can to keep him comfortable. I really doubt there is anything a vetrinarian can do but I will call and see what they say.

 

[christiane]

I feel good knowing that I care enough to even have been suspicious of diabetes. Some other owners may have not even have thought there was an issue. He seems very healthy and happy regardless. I am very confident that we are doing everything we can to keep him comfortable. I really doubt there is anything a vetrinarian can do but I will call and see what they say.

Yes, you do sound like a caring pet owner but you need to take the next step & get proper treatment for the little guy.

He may seem happy & healthy now, but if he has ketones he is heading to serious trouble. Remember, small pets like hamsters hide their illnesses until they become very sick. Because it is almost impossible to place iv's and treat life-threatening emergencies in dwarf hamsters, it is better to have him treated while he is relatively stable.

A diagnosis of diabetes requires confirmation of both high blood sugar & high urine sugar. But the presence of high urine sugar & ketones in a species that is highly prone to diabetes, makes the diagnosis very likely.

Diet can play a role in treatment (pellet only is recommended) but your little guy needs insulin. Now! Some vets may not know how to treat diabetes in dwarf hamsters but if you find a vet with interest in exotics or a least a vet who knows who to a call, a proper treatment plan can be made.

The diagnosis & treatment should not be that expensive in a stable patient. However, by waiting until the weekend, you will likely need to go to an emergency clinic which costs more. But you need to go, today!!

Good luck to him!

PS I find it curious that people don't trust their vets but are willing to trust the nonsense they find on the internet!

 

[lukenick1]

Well....made some phone calls and no one in my area that is open on weekends treats exotic pets. I would have to drive to Boston to have him seen as an emergency which is too far away. I will wait til Monday to see a local exotic vet. Thanks

 

[lukenick1]

Just tested his urine again and his ketone was negative and his glucose was 1000 mg/dl.

 

[princessmom29]

I really don't think the outcome is going to be very good if you cannot manage it with diet. My BIL is a vet, and I asked him aobut it as he is here. he says that although he is not an expert (he is an internist in a practice that treats dogs/cats), what he saw in vet school was that those who didn't respond well to diet changes typically didn't do well. The smaller the hamster the harder to balance sugars.

 

[lukenick1]

I really don't think the outcome is going to be very good if you cannot manage it with diet. My BIL is a vet, and I asked him aobut it as he is here. he says that although he is not an expert (he is an internist in a practice that treats dogs/cats), what he saw in vet school was that those who didn't respond well to diet changes typically didn't do well. The smaller the hamster the harder to balance sugars.

Thank you so much. I will make sure to keep him on a high protein, sugar free diet and hope for the best. Does he think there is insulin available for a hamster that small???