He's got a very swollen abdomen and a messy bottom. So he'll be off to the vets first thing tomorrow morning. He's still eating and drinking though (or at least food is disappearing, whether he's eating it is harder to tell). There's no lump as such, it's a generalised swelling. Not sure if it hurts him, he let me prod him without attempting to bite, but he's sleeping an awful today. He usually comes out for a womble when I'm around.

I can't lose another hamster. I've already had Sandy and Scoobie die in the last two weeks and Spice become injured

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Oh no hun!!! Am so sorry! I don't know what to say apart from sending lots of positive thoughts! A good sign that he is still eating and stuff so hopefully vet can sort it. WOnder if it is a gut blockage or something....though that is just a guess

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Big hugs and positive vibes coming your way. ((((((((((((( HUGS))))))))))))

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Sorry to hear this, hope he gets better soon.
Could he be burying the food (I know gerbils do but I have no idea about hamsters), he hasn't lost any weight has he? If not, then he probably is eating it.

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7 guppies Alvin, Theodore, Simon.

R.I.P Dusky, Storm, Sandy and Ebony.

Thanks all.

I've put him in a hospital cage, that way I can tell if he's actually eating (he's definitely drinking) and the vet will have a better chance of seeing any fresh droppings or pee he manages overnight. He's pouched half the food and is now playing spider ham on the bars (poor thing probably can't understand why the cage has shrunk so much). He's bright eyed and running around, though his ears aren't up. If you didn't look at his bottom or the size of his belly, you'd think he was perfectly OK.

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Just read up hun....could be worms/internal parasite....ivermectin will treat that.

Hamsters & Sickness | eHow.com

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

Thanks, haven't seen any worms, but I'll ask the vet.

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Maybe try feeding him his favourite food, sunflower seeds or whatever it is, and if he takes them, you'll know he's definately eating.

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7 guppies Alvin, Theodore, Simon.

R.I.P Dusky, Storm, Sandy and Ebony.

The hamster vet isn't in today

He's booked into a small animal vet at 10am.

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He's back from the vet.

His stomach has gone down a lot and his tail is dry this morning (though not fully clean). He's on Septrin (antibiotic) twice a day which he absolutely hates. It's a very thick liquid and doesn't come out the syringe well. I had to give it to him then give him a couple of doses of water to rinse the syringe out. He doesn't bite and attack the syringe very well (he got my knuckle instead) and so it took 10 mins to give him his dose. Sandy used to take hers in 10 seconds flat.

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