My hamster is sick and won't eat. What food can I syringe feed?

Thanks for reaching out about Dexter. No, on the inhaler as she probably doesn't have asthma and overdosing can be serious. Animals usually suffer from dehydration prior to starvation. Offer water via a syringe, then can moisten pellets and offer also. Taking out the wheel is a good idea. If not improved after 48 hours for medication, a re-visit to the veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

Look for Oxbow Critical Care for Herbivores. Your veterinarian may stock it or you may be able to find it online. If Fluffy is not eating at all, this should be considered a veterinary emergency. Have her physically examined by your veterinarian, a vet experienced in treating rabbits or at the nearest veterinary ER. It is critical to get her eating normally to keep her gut moving. Gut stasis can be life threatening in rabbits.

You can feed your gerbil 1/2-1 ml of food at a time. You can do this every 2-3 hours. Don't syringe the food in too quickly because the he may not be able to swallow it quickly. Just place little amounts on the tongue for him to swallow on his own. I hope this helps. Good luck.

It is very concerning that Camilla is too weak to eat or drink - I would recommend consulting with your local veterinarian who prescribed her medications, as she needs to be evaluated again. She should have improved, or had her signs resolve, by now and she may need to have her medications switched. Hamsters can lose weight very fast, and can also dehydrated quickly, without food and water. You can use a small syringe to try to provide her with water, however please go slowly as it is very easy for hamsters to aspirate water or other materials into their airways and lungs. The discharge around the eyes can be cleaned with a warm, wet cloth. This may be occurring because she doesn't feel well, or it may be that she has an infection going on as well. For food, your veterinarian can provide you with a powdered food that can be mixed with water and given to Camilla. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope that she feels better soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Jessie and including a photo. It sounds as if she is very sick and hiding. Offer food and water through a syringe, but a veterinary visit is highly recommended, ASAP. This probably means an emergency visit today. Good luck.

This depends on if the medicine is liquid or tablets. If liquid, you can either pour it over his food or squirt it directly into his mouth. If it is a tablet, crushing it into a fine powder and then sprinkling it over the food might work or you can mix it in with a snack such a peanut butter. Another option is to slip the pill into the side of his mouth and then gently hold his mouth closed until he swallows. If you feel uncertain about this, the staff at your vet's office can show you how to do this. Good luck! I hope Potato is feeling better soon.

Unfortunately it sounds as if your hamster is very sick. The life span of a hamster is 1.5-2 years so Milla is considered an older hamster. If you are unable to take her to be examined by a veterinarian the best thing you can do for her at home is keep her warm and dry and encourage her to eat as much as possible, even if you are able to hand feed her. Also make sure she is still urinating and defecating as well. Best of luck. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!