Health Checks
We recommend a health check shortly after bringing your new pet home.
Please bring in details of all foods and any supplements or medicines you may be using.
Try to collect samples of urine and faeces from that morning if you can.
Also if you have a question about any behaviour you think is abnormal then please bring in a video so we can more accurately answer your questions.
Please isolate your new pet from the rest of your animal family at home (that means do not introduce or let them play together) until after the first check up and the vet has assessed the pet as being healthy.
If you do wish to introduce your new hamster to the rest of your animal family then please ask us during the consultation how and when this should be done.
At this ‘Health Check’ we will perform a full physical examination, and we will be assessing your new pet’s overall condition, the muscle and fat levels, and hydration and checking for anaemia. We will check the incisor teeth and cheek pouches.
We will be paying particular attention to the skin, looking for parasites, and for signs of any infectious diseases. We will be focusing on gut function and on the diet, whether is it appropriate and if the amounts are suitable.
Once we have examined your hamster hopefully we will have found nothing seriously wrong, and we will then make whatever recommendations we think are necessary for the diet and care of your pet. If there is time we will talk to you about handling and training as this is the right age to be teaching your pet hamster!
Regular Health Checks.
Once your new hamster is settled in and any health problems have been solved, then we recommend a health check at 1 year old, and then 6 months after that.
Older Hamster Health Checks
Most hamsters could be counted as geriatric from 1 yr 6 months, for some it is 2 years old. You will be very lucky if your hamster lives to be 3 year old!
Once your pet reaches 18 months your veterinarian will recommend a regular Health Check every 3 to 6 months.
Again please make sure you know the brands of foods your pet is on, any supplements added to the diet and any long term medications that may have been prescribed by another veterinarian.
Please bring urine and faeces from that morning if you can.
Ideally we would also like to see a photo of the cage set up.
At this regular ‘health check’ we will assess body condition, muscle and fat levels, hydration and check for anaemia. We will check the eyes, ears, and the incisor teeth and cheek pouches. We will feel the lymph nodes, check the scent glands, palpate the abdomen for any abnormalities and listen to the heart and lungs.
We will search for parasites, examine the skin, look for any pressure sores on the feet and also assess the nail length.
Once we have examined your pet hopefully we will have found nothing seriously wrong, and the veterinarian will then make whatever recommendations they think are necessary for the diet and care of your pet hamster.