DISEASE OF HAMSTER

DISEASE OF HAMSTER

Pornchai Sanyathitiseree

Dept. of medicine

Common clinical syndromes in Hamsters
Rule out chart for Hamsters based on clinical signs
Common diseases and health problems of hamsters

Cannibalism Parasitism-Hymenolepsis spp. Diarrhea Stravation or dehydration Skin wound Septicemia or toxemia Dermatitis Chilling or overheating Polyuria Litter abandonment Sudden death Amyloidosis Weight loss Congenital abnormalities Malocclusion Antibiotic toxicity Chronic disease including infectious , nephrosis , hepatic cirrhosis , neoplasis , Clostridium spp. Nutritional deficiencies Poisoning Cardiomyopathy / atherosclerosis Sendai virus infection Gastric trichobezoar , foreign bodies

Zoonotic potential

Rare zoonotic problem. Screens should be done for Salmonella , turalemia , Hymenolepis tapeworm , or lymphocytic choriomeningitis ( LCM) with colony hamster.

Rule out chart for Hamsters based on clinical signs

Clinical signs	Differential diagnosis
Alopecia	Dietary fat deficiency and hypovitaminosis Low protein diet Genetic hairlessness Demodectic mange Adrenocortical neoplasia (hyperestrinism) Scalding (urineammonia) Chronic disease Hypothyroidism Amyloidosis
Conjunctivitis	Bacterial Foreign body Trauma LCM
Dermatitis	Ectoparasitism Demodex aurati Demodex criceti Demodex is secondary to immunosuppression. Flea Bite wounds Bacterial dermatitis Scalding (urineammonia) Wet bedding
Diarrhea / rectal prolapse (wet tail)	Proliferative ileitis(Campylobacter , Desulfovibrio , Chlamydia like organism) Enteropathies Colibacillosis Tyzzer’s disease Cestodiasis Antibiotic toxicity
Incoordination/convulsion	Trauma("dropped/squeezed hamster") Encephalitis LCM Lead poisoning
Infertility	Immaturity or senescence Nutritional deficiencies Environmental stress Pyometra Incompatible pairs Seasonal phenomenon
Litter desertion or cannibalism	Environmental disturbance Maternal inexperience Mastitis Agalactia Reduced food/water intake Young on wire cagging
Malocclusion	Genetics Trauma Tooth abscess
Melena	Gastric ulcer
Nasal discharge / dyspnea	Rhinitis (dust , irritants substrate) Pneumonia Heat stress (serous discharge) Sendai virus infection (parainfluenza typr I)
Polydipsia , polyuria	Cystic renal disease Renal amyloidosis
Prenatal mortalities	Nutritional deficiency Infectious disease Environmental disease Large litter
Swelling (cutaneous , subcutaneous)	Cheek pouch:abscess ,food impaction , neoplasia Abscess Arthritis(over joint) Infection Normal pregnancy Testicles Mastitis Neoplasia Cuterebriasis Organomegaly (polycystic disease)
Torticollis	Otitis externa Encephalitis LCM Trauma
Sudden death (owner may not have noticed symptoms)	Stravation or dehydration Septicemia or toxemia Chilling or overheating Chronic disease Litter abandoned Amyloidosis Congenital abnormalities Antibiotic toxicity Poisoning Cardiomyopathy/atherosclerosis Sendai virus
Weight loss	Malocclusion Chronic disease Nephrosis Hepatic cirrhosis Neoplasia Nutrition deficiency Gastric trichobezoar,foreign bodies Parasitism

Common diseases and health problems of hamsters

1.Proliferative ileitis , regional enteritis , ileal hyperplasia ( ‘Wet tail’)

It is primarily a disease of recently weaned hamster. ( 3 - 5 week of age ) The mature single household pet is not likely to develop this disease.

Possibly an infection of Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni combined with stress , improper diet , change of diet , overcrowding and a familiar predisposition. The pathogens are spread by the faecal-oral route between weanlings or from adult to weanling. Signs are

Watery diarrhea
Matting of the fur on the tail
Hunched stance
Irritability
Dehydration
And emaciation

Common sequela to true wet tail are intussusception and rectal prolapse.

Treatment is tetracycline 450 - 540 mg/L drinking water for 10 days

Enrofloxacin 10 mg/kg PO q12h

Trimethoprim/sulfadimethoxine 30 mg/kg PO q12h

Metronidazole 0.25 ml daily ( 5 mg/ml )

Kaopectate (1 - 2 ml) PO

Give worm subcutaneous fluids

Fresh food , whole milk ,or buttermilk and improve husbandry.

Prognosis is guarded.

The most common cause of perineal staining is diarrhea from bacterial enteritis.

The other causes are debilitated animals , overgrown incisors , renal disease , endocrinopathies , damp and dirty bedding , cystitis , cystic calculi , uterine neoplasia and uterine infection.

            2. Bacterial pneumonia
            It is caused by Pasteurella pneumotropica , Streptococcus pneumoniae or other Strep. Clinical sign are depression , anorexia , oculonasal discharge and respiratory distress.
            Supportive nursing and the provision of warmth , fluids and antibiotics are required.

Enrofloxacin

Trimethoprim/sulphonamide

Given warm milk and water (1:1) with a little honey to drink.

Mentholated ointment can be applied around the cage or a very small amount dabbed on the hamster’s chest.

Human decongestant containing 6 mg/ml pseudoephedine hydrochloride can be given at a dose of 1 drop twice daily.

3. Spontaneous geriatic disease
Spontaneous geriatic disease of importance are amyloidosis (especially of the kidney , spleen , adrenal glands and liver) and cardiac thrombosis.

4. Hamstewrs like dogs , can habor demodectic mites without having clinical signs of infection.

5. Because of the hamster’s susceptibility to many infections , it should not be housed with other species of animals in the laboratory and care should be taken in the home so that it is not exposed to wild rodents , dogs , cats or birds.

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