The Curious Case of Applesauce
My Campbell's hybrid dwarf "Admiral Applesauce" (Apples, for short) has been to three different vets over the course of three weeks, for respiratory problems. His symptoms are a bit odd, and I was looking for some ideas as to what the problem could be. He is currently on his second full course of antibiotics.
Background: Apples was adopted from the humane society with his littermate "Professor Chaos" in August of 2010, when he was approximately 9 weeks old. He lived happily with his brother, in a cage (27"Lx15"W), on EcoBedding, eating Hazel Hamster food mixed with Mazuri Lab Blocks. He LOVED to take dust baths, unlike his brother. Chaos has no symptoms. They are now separated, and Apples' wheel has been removed.
Problem: We noticed about three months ago that he would have these weird squeaking episodes, similar to this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRaSs6WmpnE
However, in that video he was just talking and chattering a bit. The breathing/squeaking episode that concerned me also involved nervousness, labored breathing, and pawing at the nose and face. The sound he made was similar, but seemed much more frantic.We rushed him to the emergency vet where he was given an injection of Baytril, and two days of oral Baytril, with directions that if he improved, to take him to a regular vet for more meds. The vet suspected a possible obstruction in the nasal passage, that had caused a secondary pneumonia infection. She noticed that his lungs sounded wet and crackly. The Baytril helped, and so we took him to his regular vet and got another 14 days worth of oral Baytril.
He finished the Baytril yesterday morning, and this morning, we noticed that he was squeaking again. Not as badly as before, but we were concerned. We gave him another dose of Baytril, and took him to yet another emergency vet. By the time we got him to the emergency vet, the Baytril had kicked in, and he was no longer squeaking. The vet did a full exam, listened to his lungs, checked his cheek pouches, peeked down his throat with a scope, the whole nine yards. We got 21 more days of oral Baytril, plus 21 days of oral Doxycycline, and a probiotic supplement.
Why it's strange: He clearly has symptoms of respiratory distress, however when on the Baytril, his lungs sound perfectly clean. He has never had nasal, oral, or ocular discharge, which makes an upper respiratory infection seem unlikely. He is not sneezing. His pouches are clean and there is no lower respiratory obstruction that the vet could see.
We are baffled, and worried. His attitude has not changed at all, he is still goofy, friendly, and sweet as anything. He is eating, urinating, and defecating normally. He is drinking more than usual, which the vet attributed to the antibiotics. He has not been checked for diabetes. He means the world to me, and I would do anything necessary to make him healthier, but it is just so difficult to diagnose and treat the little guys.
So, anybody have any ideas as to what could be going on? Experiences with something similar? I am just stumped at this point.
And just so this isn't all text, here's a pic of the little guy:
And there's more adorable videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/bananastalktome
Background: Apples was adopted from the humane society with his littermate "Professor Chaos" in August of 2010, when he was approximately 9 weeks old. He lived happily with his brother, in a cage (27"Lx15"W), on EcoBedding, eating Hazel Hamster food mixed with Mazuri Lab Blocks. He LOVED to take dust baths, unlike his brother. Chaos has no symptoms. They are now separated, and Apples' wheel has been removed.
Problem: We noticed about three months ago that he would have these weird squeaking episodes, similar to this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRaSs6WmpnE
However, in that video he was just talking and chattering a bit. The breathing/squeaking episode that concerned me also involved nervousness, labored breathing, and pawing at the nose and face. The sound he made was similar, but seemed much more frantic.We rushed him to the emergency vet where he was given an injection of Baytril, and two days of oral Baytril, with directions that if he improved, to take him to a regular vet for more meds. The vet suspected a possible obstruction in the nasal passage, that had caused a secondary pneumonia infection. She noticed that his lungs sounded wet and crackly. The Baytril helped, and so we took him to his regular vet and got another 14 days worth of oral Baytril.
He finished the Baytril yesterday morning, and this morning, we noticed that he was squeaking again. Not as badly as before, but we were concerned. We gave him another dose of Baytril, and took him to yet another emergency vet. By the time we got him to the emergency vet, the Baytril had kicked in, and he was no longer squeaking. The vet did a full exam, listened to his lungs, checked his cheek pouches, peeked down his throat with a scope, the whole nine yards. We got 21 more days of oral Baytril, plus 21 days of oral Doxycycline, and a probiotic supplement.
Why it's strange: He clearly has symptoms of respiratory distress, however when on the Baytril, his lungs sound perfectly clean. He has never had nasal, oral, or ocular discharge, which makes an upper respiratory infection seem unlikely. He is not sneezing. His pouches are clean and there is no lower respiratory obstruction that the vet could see.
We are baffled, and worried. His attitude has not changed at all, he is still goofy, friendly, and sweet as anything. He is eating, urinating, and defecating normally. He is drinking more than usual, which the vet attributed to the antibiotics. He has not been checked for diabetes. He means the world to me, and I would do anything necessary to make him healthier, but it is just so difficult to diagnose and treat the little guys.
So, anybody have any ideas as to what could be going on? Experiences with something similar? I am just stumped at this point.
And just so this isn't all text, here's a pic of the little guy:
And there's more adorable videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/bananastalktome