Hamster first aid kit

SHC recommend that you have some of the items stored in your house as simple first aid kit for your hamsters. This doesn't mean that you can treat your hamster without a vet, but this would serve as an immediately remedies for any emergency when help is not within reach. The list of items are quite easily available from local pharmacy or provision stores.

• Antiseptic powder
  
  

  NOVA Antiseptic Powder
  
  

  • Anitseptic
    
  • Dries up cuts & wounds
    
  • Also effective as ear powder or for wet ear
    
  • Relivers rashes & itching
    
  • Hot spot and foot rot
  Where to get:-
  Serangoon North (Happy paw or PKPS) or PLC (saw before at Toa Payoh branch)
  Price around $10 - $12
  
  My personal feel:-
  - very good for drying up wound.
  
  My personal experience with this powder:-
  - used on one of my normal winter white when she loves to pee inside hideout and wet herself with the pee and cause fur loss + redness in skin, should be she keep scratching since pee can cause skin itchness. Apply only once and keep her in a nursing tank with only water bottle and food bowl, kitchen paper napkin as bedding, and she heal in like 2 - 3 days time.
  
  
• Antiseptic cream/lotion
  
  

  Oscar C THERAPEUTIC, botanical tree tar cream
  
  

  • Formulated especially for the treatment and healing of skin problems such as Eczema, Psoriasis, Seborrhea, Flea Allergy Dermatitis (F.A.D.), Cradle Cap, hair loss, Redness, Dandruff and Hot Spots.
    
  • Provides immediate relief from itching, scratching and biting.
    
  • Safe for the Environment
    
  • Hypo Allergenic
    
  • Contains Natural, Organic and Botanical Ingredients
    
  • Biodegradable
    
  • Ingredients:- Botanical Tree & Plant Extraits, Dehydag O, Dehydag E, Multi Vitamin Complex, Nestle Extract, Camomile, Avocado Oil and Pumpkin Oil.
  Where to get:-
  Serangoon North (Happy paw) or PLC
  Price around $20+/-
  
  My personal feel:-
  - good for healing up wound.
  
  My personal experience with this cream:-
  - used on a few of my hamsters after their wound dried up and help the healing process faster and heal up nicely.
  - some members mention before this cream helps on their hamsters' fur loss problem but i would say it may also have to depend on what's the cause of the fur loss too.
  
  Alternative choice -
  
  Natural & Herbal, THERAPEUTIC TREE ESSENCES CREAM
  
  
  • A soothing and moisturizing therapeutic cream enriched with certified organic ingredients for animals with skin problems..
    
  • Effectively controls Redness, Itching, Hot Spots and Flea Allergy Dermaittis (F.A.D.)
    
  • Ingredients: - Purified Botanical Water: (Infused with certified Organic Alfalfa, Chamomile, Echinacea Herb, Nestle Herb and Red Clover), Organic Moisturizer and Emolliemt (derived from Palm Kernel Extract, Coconut Oil and Beeswax), Ammonyx Cetaqc- 30 (Emuisifier), Botanical Tree Essences, Certified Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Certified Organic Oils (Olive, Flax Seed, Pumpkin Seed and Sunflower).
  Where to get:-
  Serangoon North (PKPS)
  Price around $25+/-
  
  
• Glucolin
  
  

  Glucolin
  
  
  this is very good if your hamster is not eating well, and it is going into hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar, occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. This can be very serious considering the size of the hamsters, they can get into coma or even death if left untreated.

  
  
• Cotton buds
  
  

  Cotton buds
  

  • They are ideal for cleaning wounds and applying all kinds of ointments and cream/lotions.
  Where to get:-
  basically everywhere.
  
  
• Feeding syringes
  
  

  Feeding syringes
  
  

  • Are useful to feed hamsters that won't eat or sick hamsters that can not eat by themselves.
    
  • These syringes come in various sizes but 1.0mL is the smallest so far that can get.
  Where to get:-
  most pharmacy.
  Guardian pharmacy selling at $2.85 for 10 syringes
  
  
• Antiseptic wash
  
  

  - Thyme tea remedy
  
  Thyme leaf
  
  
  from here
  

  missPixy, on 23 September 2010 - 07:05 AM, said:

  i use thyme tea to treat wounds on my dwarfs... it works very
  well! you just use the fresh herb, thyme, to make the tea.
  
  put a generous handful into a mug or teapot. pour boiling water
  just to cover over the thyme, and lid the mug or teapot to prevent
  the beneficial oils from escaping. let steep for 30 minutes, stirring
  occasionally.
  
  after 30 minutes, set up a towel where your hamster can stand,
  and saturate the corner of a paper towel with the thyme tea.
  hold the saturated area gently against your hamster's cut... the
  longer the better. she most likely will move around, but try to
  have 5 minutes overall that the tea is in contact with her cut.
  
  afterwards, don't dry the area.... let it air dry.
  
  repeat this 2 or 3x a day. you can refrigerate the thyme tea and
  reuse it once by simmering on the stovetop (but don't bring to
  a boil). after using it a second time, though, you need to make
  up a fresh batch.
  
  make sure all the bedding in her house is pristine... spot clean
  daily. the area where she has this cut very easily becomes infected.
  
  Where to get:-
  Cold Storage or NTUC cold section.
  
  
• Disinfectant
  
  

  - Salt (as antiseptic wash)
  
  Epsom salt
  
  

  • You can use it to make a home remedy for your hamster: prepare a solution made with 2 table spoon of table salt and one pint water. It will be very useful to wash wounds and prevent infection.

  2 tablespoon = 56g
  1 US pint = 0.473176473 liter
  
  So 56g epsom salt to 0.5liter of warm water

  Where to get:-
  pharmacy or Serangoon North (PetMart).
  
  *info from Admin
  
  Note: if wanted to use water to wash their wounds, do remember to use boiled ROOM TEMP water (meaning boiled, then leave cold) and not direct from tap cos tap water consist of bacterial and may worsen their wound.
  
  
  - White Vinegar/Rice Vinegar (as anti bacterial wash)
  

  use as disinfectant/anti bacterial wash for cages/tanks and accessories. edible and hence safer to use when compared to those disinfectant that selling in the market.

  
  
• Digital kitchen scale
  

  Hamsters need to have constant weight in order to be healthy and happy. Check your hamster's weight as often as you can to make sure he is eating properly! This method is very useful especially when your hamster is sicked or not feeling well.

  
  
• Magnifying glass
  

  Hamsters are all so tiny and special care require special "devices". the magnifying glass is one of them. You check your hamster fur with it to see if there are any parasites or any other small wounds, check his ears and many other funny and small tasks that need to be completed to ensure your hamster's health.

  
  
• Vet's name, address and phone
  

  Even if hamsters are among the most familiar pets, there are few vets that treat them. It's very important to find one before your hamster really needs it -sometimes it's bets to find a vet even before you actually buy the hamster.
  
  - List of animal clinics in Singapore
  

For a more detail list you can refer to - Hamster Bungalow



Some other items recommended from different sites/forums:-


Thyme

good for respiratory problems. comes in the form of fresh or dried leaves. fresh thyme can be found at most cold storage supermarkets for $1+. dried version can be found as herbs or tea leaves, can check out the meat/herb shops or major supermarkets.

Thyme Tea Remedy (from HH post here)

• Take about 10-12 sprigs of the fresh thyme and put them in a mug.
  
• Boil some water.
  
• While keeping a close watch on the water, make a little emergency nest for your hamster. Get some more thyme leaves by stripping them from the sprigs and mix them into the bedding.
  
• Hold your hamster and massage him or her to keep them warm. Hamsters are usually cold to the touch when they get respiratory problems.
  
• Crush some thyme leaves under your hamster's nose to help start the decongestion process.
  
• Once the water boils, pour it in the mug to cover only over the thyme. Stir it occasionally, and let it sit for about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, put some paper towel over another clean mug, and pour the tea into this new mug. The paper towel will filter out the leaves.
  
• With your eyedropper or syringe, take up a couple of hamster mouthfuls' worth. Let this sit for about 30 seconds or so until it is not hot (you don't want to burn your hamster's mouth). Test by a few drops on your hand first.
  
• Give your hamster a few drops of the tea. Continue massaging and crushing the thyme leaves under his/her nose for about an hour to ensure adequate recovery. This is an important step since the hamster needs to warm up before recovery can set in. Do not skip it.
  
• Massaging is beneficial to the hamster rather than just letting him/her rest during this period. Since the hamster's metabolism is very fast, as quickly as they get sick, they can recover just as quickly if encouraged to metabolize it out of their systems. Remember to do this only in conjunction with the above steps.

If you can't find fresh thyme, HH has another recommendation:

Quote

Link - help for respiratory emergencies

Vitamin C

• an important antioxidant that helps to protect against cancer (tumours), heart disease and stress. an important water-soluble vitamin in making collagen, a protein involved in the building and health of joints, cartilage, skin, muscle and blood vessels. it also helps to maintain capillaries, bones, and teeth and aids in the absorption of iron in the gut. helps to maintain healthy and boost immune system and healing wounds within the body. aids in neutralizing pollutants, is needed for antibody production.
  
  
  
• advisable to use natural vitamin c as majority of commercial vitamin supplements are made up of synthetic vitamins. synthetic vitamins do not perform the same functions in your body as vitamins found naturally in whole food. many synthetic vitamins deplete the body of other nutrients and tax the kidneys before being excreted through the urine. vitamins do not exist as single components that act on their own. vitamins are made up of several different components � enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors� that must work together to produce their intended biologic effects. thus, vitamins that are found naturally in whole foods come with all of their necessary components.
  
  
  
• ascorbic acid is NOT vitamin C, it only represents the outer ring that serves as a protective shell for the entire vitamin C complex, much like an orange peel that serves as a protective shell for an orange. for more info, read on Synthetic Vs. Natural Vitamins

Probiotics

• comes in different strains and work differently. some may not be as powerful or effective. good ones are often not cheap and barely seen in local stores. can get from iherb, the 12 strains of lactic acid bacteria protected in a hard gel capsule to make sure it gets delivered to the intestines before it gets killed by strong stomach acids and most important, NO REFRIGERATION is needed like some brands to ensure tip top condition.
  
  
  
• can just cut one end of the capsule then squeeze out and feed to your hamsters. extremely good for those whose hamsters are prescribed with antibiotics from vets and needed good strains of probiotics since antibiotics would have destroyed the good bacteria in their systems and to rid off bad bacteria. to be taken 3 consecutive days for the best effect.

Wild Fish Oil

good source of omega 3, important for maintaining a good balance between omega 3 and omega 6. lower inflammation, aid in cardiovascular health, nicer coats and less dried skin. the source from hdryad is molecularly distilled to rid off any possible toxins, from small fishes and short life lived fishes for little possibility of PCBs and other heavy metals. fresh and has little fishy smell compared to other brands of fish oil. each capsule can be shared by 2 hamsters, to squeeze on wet/dry food to prevent wastage. can be taken daily or at least 1-2 times a week.

Neem Oil

good for killing most parasites like ticks, fleas and mites. can use as insect repellent. note: depending on brands, some can be rather strong in smell so 1-2 drops will do. Look for the brand, Organix South Pure Neem Oil. Not all neem oil are of good grades and the same.

#1 All Systems Vital Energy

a powder supplement which is of organic and vegetarian formula. suitable for all pets. to mix in little water and roll into balls/lumps, can be sprinkled onto wet food or mix in water to syringe feed. can be taken daily or at least 2-3 times a week. can find in petshops.

Aloe Vera Gel

most aloe vera gel in stores often contain additional ingredients other than aloe vera, may not be suitable for pets especially when they love to lick it off their skin. buy fresh aloe vera leaf (huge gigantic ones) from supermarkets or wet markets. slice off the skin, cut out a small piece and blend it into gel like form. Store it in a clean container in the fridge to keep cool up to 2 days. apply on irritated areas on skin. to be applied daily or as least 3-4 consecutive days for the best effect. note: the yellowish discharge from skin is toxic so slice it away if you see stain on the flesh. blend a new mixture after 2 days as this is fresh aloe vera without any preservatives added to it.