How to keep a happy hammy
Q
Our 18-month-old male hamster seems well at present. What signs of illness should I look out for as he gets older? I have heard that ‘wet tail’ can be a problem.
A
The most useful thing for now is to observe your hamster so you develop a good understanding of the signs of good health.
A healthy hamster will spend time exercising, have a good appetite with some food in the cheek pouches, have a smooth coat, and produce normal faecal pellets.
Once you know your hamster’s normal behaviour it will be that much easier to recognise abnormalities.
There are some general signs of ill health regardless of the problem. A sick hamster will usually lose its appetite, exercise less than normal or not at all, have a rough unkempt coat, and may huddle in a corner showing no interest in interacting with the family.
Respiratory problems are possible as the hamster gets older, particularly if its accommodation is in a draught or subject to temperature changes. An early warning sign of this is sneezing and discharge from the eyes or nose.
With pneumonia there will be laboured breathing.
Wet tail is a severe form of enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) with a high mortality rate. It is usually seen in young hamsters soon after weaning, at three to four weeks. Therefore, it is unlikely to be a problem with your pet.
Other causes of diarrhoea are possible but these can be minimised by a steady unchanging diet and good hygiene.
Sick hamsters deteriorate rapidly so anything abnormal should prompt an early trip to the vet.
Q
My seven-month-old rescue crossbreed dog has started chewing cushions, furniture and shoes in the house. Every time we go out we worry about what he will have got up to when we get back. What can we do?
A
It’s quite normal for young dogs to chew and it’s one way of exploring their environment.
But, there are several other reasons why a pup should start chewing. So my recommendation, particularly if the problem is becoming costly, is to ask your vet to refer you to a suitably trained behaviourist once other causes of the behaviour have been ruled out, or if suitable simple measures that I suggest here have not been successful.
Teething, and the irritation caused, might have initiated the chewing, or perhaps has left a problem behind such as inflammation of the gums.
Other reasons for inappropriate chewing could be boredom due to inadequate exercise or, in some cases, due to separation anxiety. This is often accompanied with whining, barking, howling and house soiling.
Separation anxiety is best dealt with by training. Simple measures could include restraining your dog in a crate when not actively supervised. This can be made pleasurable for the dog with toys and a warm bed.
Chew toys are a useful distraction. If you catch him chewing inappropriately simply say ‘no’, and provide him with the alternative chew toy.
Punishment should play no part in training, as he won’t connect chewing as being undesirable even as little as a few minutes afterwards.
David Grant MBE has been a vet for more than 50 years. Email questions to him at pamperedpets@people.co.uk