Diabetes can occur in a number of hamster species, but it is most common among dwarf hamsters.Don't worry, Diabetes is a serious health issue.A combination of diet and medication can be used to manage it.You should test your hamster's urine for diabetes if you suspect it.A diet with lower sugars and higher fiber will be suggested by your vet.They may suggest medical treatment.
Step 1: It is a good idea to switch to low sugar foods.
It will be difficult for your hamster to break down and convert sugar to energy if they have diabetes.You should read the ingredients on your current hamster feed and check for added sugars, such as molasses, sugar cane, corn syrup, or fructose.You should change the food to a low sugar feed if it contains these sugars.There isn't a special food mix for hamsters with diabetes, but you can ask your vet to recommend one.
Step 2: Sugary treats are not a good idea.
Sugary treats such as fresh fruits, processed treats, and even carrots are hard for a hamster to break down.Give it washed and cut up as a treat.If your hamster doesn't eat the treat within a day, you should remove it from the cage.Vegetables may rot.
Step 3: Feed your hamster a high-fiber diet.
Hamsters with diabetes should eat a diet made up of 50% fiber.Plain tofu, cooked chicken and turkey, and scrambled egg are some of the sources of regular hamster feed.They should be given in small amounts.There are fiber sources.Timothy hay.Cucumber, cauliflower, and broccoli are some of the vegetables.
Step 4: Give your hamster a lot of food.
Carbohydrates should not be completely removed from their diet.When giving hamsters a snack, always choose oats, pasta, and brown rice.Ask your vet if you should supplement the food with complex carbs, most hamster food mixes will contain an adequate amount of carbohydrates.
Step 5: Your hamster should be exercising regularly.
Diabetes can be prevented with regular exercise in hamsters.Make sure your hamster has enough room to move around.You should give them access to a wheel.Diabetes can be delayed in some hamsters.It's a good idea to buy a running wheel that is plastic or mesh to reduce the chance of injury.A larger wheel is needed if your hamster's back bends while running on the wheel.If used correctly, hamster balls can be a great form of exercise.The area should be carpeted and the ball clear.You should always keep an eye on the hamster.
Step 6: Discuss treatment options with your vet.
There are some drugs that work for treating diabetes in hamsters.The wrong dose of treatment for diabetes can lead to serious health problems and even death.Ask your vet if there are any medical treatments that are appropriate for your hamster.The cost of different types of treatment should be considered when making your decision.
Step 7: It is possible to try oral medications.
Drugs like glipizide and Fenugreek can be used to treat diabetes in hamsters.Both of these options need to be prescribed by a vet.Follow your vet's instructions to administer.Ground up glipizide tablets are mixed with water and fed to a hamster.Fenugreek comes in tablets or powder that are crushed and made into a tea and fed to a hamster.It can be hard to control the dose.There are possible side effects associated with these oral medications.Before your hamster starts treatment, talk to your vet about the risks.
Step 8: Use the injections.
You should speak with a vet about how to administer the injections if you want to buy it over the counter.The injections are likely to be given twice a day.Depending on how your hamster responds, your vet may need to adjust the dose.If you want your hamster to respond to the medication, it will need to have its blood tested weekly.Because hamsters are so small, it can be difficult to find the right dosage for them.It's a good idea to talk to your vet about precautions you can take.
Step 9: Don't look for excessive drinking.
excessive urination is one of the first signs of diabetes in hamsters.The area of their cage used for urination is frequently wet.You will likely be filling their water more frequently as a result of excessive drinking and excessive urination.There is a chance that your hamster has diabetes.Even healthy hamsters will eat more when they have diabetes.It's important to keep in mind that excessive drinking and urination could be a sign of a different health problem.
Step 10: If your hamster is losing weight quickly, notice.
Hamsters with diabetes will lose weight very quickly.If you suspect that your hamsters have diabetes, weigh them once a day.It may have diabetes if it has lost 10% or more of its body weight in a short period of time.If you want to weigh your hamster, place it on a scale at the same time each day.It's possible that weight loss in your hamster is a sign of a different health issue.
Step 11: Look for yellow nails.
It's easy to see that your hamster has diabetes by the appearance of thick yellow nails.hamsters can have yellow nails.This symptom alone is not enough to diagnose a hamster with diabetes.If yellow nails develop, you should test your hamster for diabetes.
Step 12: It's time to test its urine for sugar.
You can use test strips to diagnose diabetes in your hamster.You can buy these at your pharmacy.Place your hamster in a small enclosure.The test strip should be dipped in the urine when the hamster pees.The strip will change colors.To find out if your hamster has diabetes, compare the strip to the information on the package.It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes for a hamster to urinate.Return your hamster to its cage if it doesn't urinate within 20 minutes.
Step 13: Take your pet to the vet.
You should take your hamster to the vet if it tests positive for diabetes.Depending on the age and health of your hamster, your vet may suggest other medical options.If your hamster has a urine test that comes back negative, you should still seek medical attention.They might have a health issue that requires treatment.