HAMSTERS
Hamsters are susceptible to bacteria, internal and external parasites, vitamin E deficiency, and antibiotic toxicity. GUINEA PIGS and HAMSTERS Husbandry and illness

• Handling and restraint
• Factors predisposing to disease
• Housing
• Feeding and nutrition
• Reproduction
• Sexing
• Pregnancy and parturition

Diseases related to poor husbandry Scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency): Guinea pigs are not able to make and store vitamin C.
Symptoms: unsteady gait (walk), painful movement, bleeding from gum, painful joints, and emaciation.
Diagnosis: hemorrhages under the skin, skeletal muscle, and serosal surfaces.
Treatment:fresh, commercial guinea pig diet or supplement of vitamin C in drinking water.

• Salmonellosis
• Bumble foot
• Trauma
• Preputial infection and vaginitis
• Water deprivation
• Socialization
• Allergenicity

Antibiotic-induced toxicity
Most of commonly used antibiotics are toxic to guinea pigs and hamsters. Symptoms:Diarrhea, Dehydration and Death.
Diagnosis:Seeing the causative agent on direct smear of fecal swab.
Treatment:Injection of antibiotic in muscle or under skin.
Prevention: Do not orally administer broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Conjunctivitis -Caused by bacterial infection.
Symptoms:Conjunctiva redness and inflammation, and mucous discharge from the eye.
Diagnosis:History, clinical symptoms, culture of conjunctiva smear.
Treatment: Antibiotics.

Lymphadenitis - caused by bacteria.
Symptoms: enlargement and inflammation (an abscess) of neck lymph nodes.
Diagnosis: isolation of the causative agent from abscesses.
Treatment: depends on the severity, however, treatment is difficult.
Prevention: remove abrasive material from food and litter.

Metastatic Calcification - affects male guinea pigs over one year of age.
Symptoms: joint stiffness and death.
Diagnosis: autopsy.
Prevention: balanced magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin D diet.

Muscular Dystrophy - cause by vitamin E deficiency.
Symptoms: stiffness, lameness, and refusal to move.
Diagnosis: microscopic lesion on muscle fibers.
Treatment: adding vitamin E in diet.

Parasitic Diseases - round worms, coccidia, and lice infest guinea pigs and hamsters.
Symptoms: losing weight, anemia, and death.
Diagnosis: fecal exam under microscope.
Treatment: worming /spray for lice

Pneumonia - caused by bacteria.
Symptom: respiratory distress.
Diagnosis: history, pneumonia lesion, and identification of causative agent.
Treatment: Antibiotic

Ringworm - contagious to people and animals.
Symptoms: crusty flaking patchy alopecia lesion on the skin.
Diagnosis: based on appearance of lesion, isolation, and identification of causative agent.
Treatment: Anti-fungal agent.

Slobber/drooling: caused by jaw deformity, dental abnormalities, and vitamin C deficiency.
Symptoms: matted hair around the mouth, chain, and neck.
Diagnosis: direct inspection of the mouth.
Treatment: correct teeth problem