Pneumonia in the Hamster.Pneumonia is the second most significant disease seen in hamsters, second only to diarrhoea. There are many possible causes. Pneumonia in hamsters may be due to bacteria, viruses or mycoplasma or a combination of all three.
Pneumonia in hamsters causes them to have difficulty breathing and this extra respiratory effort will be noticed by the owner. There will probably be a nasal discharge and the hamster will stop eating. The disease usually has an acute onset.
Sendai virus has been implicated in pneumonia of hamsters. This is more of a problem in mice but the virus can infect hamsters. It generally causes no problem in adult hamsters but may cause death in young hamsters under three weeks of age. Infection with this virus may make the hamster more susceptible to secondary bacterial infection.
Bacteria involved in hamster pneumonia include Pastuerella pneumotropica and Streptococcus pneumoniae these bacteria are found in healthy hamsters and humans so it may be that environmental stress allows them to cause disease. Stress may be due to factors such as fluctuations in temperature or underlying viral disease such as infection with sendai virus. Treatment for bacterial pneumonia will require antibiotics. Your vet may want to try to culture the bacteria causing the disease in your hamster so that he or she can find out which antibiotic is most suitable.
Mycoplasma pneumonias are rarely diagnosed in hamsters. © Samantha Coe. All rights reserved. Further information, news and pet-related healthcare articles are available at vetbase.co.uk
Questions Answered
Getting another hamster! (na) (12-Sep-07 10:27PM)
Lindsey asks:
I have a full grown adult, female, Blueberry Dwarf Hamster that is not neutered. I was wondering if I could buy another hamster, but a new baby one (of the same ... view
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Wobbly and fast breathing (hamster) (03-Apr-07 06:26PM)
Katherine asks:
Today, I noticed my 2-year-old hamster, Ally, wobbly, rocking back and forth, and breathing fast. Even when she's sleeping, she's breathing fast. She is eating and drinking well, nothing ... view
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ill and nippy (hamster) (06-Mar-07 06:27PM)
Debbie asks:
I have just got my hamster 5 days ago but since the third it doesn't move. All it does is sleep, before it nipped you if your hand went near it ... view
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Hair loss (hamster) (19-Jan-07 11:12PM)
Philip asks:
My hamster's fur seems to be falling out Do I need to see a vet with her? ... view
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Constipated Hamster (hamster) (01-Feb-07 08:10PM)
Irene asks:
We got a hamster last week, he has hardly eaten or drunk water and seems to be constipated with poo stuck to his backside. We have tried to clean this but ... view
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Horse health (na) (06-Feb-07 12:44PM)
Heather asks:
I have a 3 week old foal born 11 January a complete surprise; the problem is she has the runs bad, but she is running around and eating and drinking fine. ... view
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Dragging back legs (hamster) (24-Mar-07 12:34PM)
Christine asks:
My hamster is 15 months old and was hardly able to walk for last day or two, dragging back legs, didn't appear injured. Was breathing rapidly, didn't eat, slept anywhere slumped ... view
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Sick hamster (hamster) (17-Apr-07 12:45AM)
Gail asks:
Martin is 20 mos. old. Overnight he seems to begin a rapid breathing, not eating much, back legs seem weak, not drinking much only when made. Temp in room got very ... view
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Sickness or diarrhoea (hamster) (07-Feb-07 06:02PM)
Caitlin asks:
Hi there. Our young hamster is either being sick or has diarrhoea. When he is in his ball we notice a creamy coloured fluid and are unsure what this is. We ... view
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Going Bald (hamster) (16-Apr-07 07:16PM)
Cherry asks:
Rolo, my 2 yr old hamster has a bald patch under his chin which seems to be getting worse... hard to tell!
I had been renovating my house and there's been lots ... view
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nippy (hamster) (06-Mar-07 07:30PM)
Debbie asks:
He was drinking and eating yesterday but he has not been sleeping in the bedding for the last two nights and right now he is not moving could you tell me ... view
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Sleepy little hamster (na) (01-Oct-07 08:00PM)
Jess asks:
My new hamster is 6-7 weeks old. I got her from a shop on Friday and she is sleeping more than I think is normal. I know they are nocturnal, but ... view
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Hamster ill (hamster) (10-Feb-07 07:48PM)
kb asks:
My hamster has not been eating and has what looks like blood on her tail. All she does is sleep. Can we help her? ... view
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Kidneys (cat) (25-Jan-07 11:27AM)
Julie asks:
I have been told that Moses kidneys are getting smaller, why would this be and he keeps being sick? ... view
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Hamster pouches seem swollen (na) (10-Feb-07 12:43PM)
Paul asks:
My hamster has been very quiet and inactive the last few days, her pouches seem to be swollen and there has been a slight discharge from her eyes. All my family ... view
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My hamster keeps vomiting (hamster) (20-Jan-07 10:42PM)
Jo asks:
My hamster keeps vomiting? Please help ... view
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Polyneuroradiculopathy (dog) (10-Feb-07 09:43PM)
Emlyn asks:
I am trying to find out anything on the cause and or treatment of Polyneuroradiculopathy as I have an Irish Wolfhound with the disease. Any help would be very much appreciated ... view
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Katie only has 3 legs. (hamster) (28-Feb-07 09:34PM)
Nicola asks:
Katie only has 3 legs it didn't seem to bother her, so that didn't bother us. She has been home with us for 4 days and is doing well but today ... view
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Why was he bleeding? (hamster) (01-Feb-07 01:27PM)
Ali asks:
Can you please tell me why, when I had Bee put to sleep, it took 15 minutes to work, and the white wrap they presented him to me in afterwards had ... view
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Red eyed hamster (hamster) (12-Feb-07 11:30PM)
Nicola asks:
Hi, my hamster has one red eye I only noticed it today, but it don't look crusty or sore. Have I anything to worry about? ... view
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Your Questions Answered
Injured Wild Owl 30-Nov-07
Kelly asks:
I found an owl this morning, very small but adult. It flew into a power line. It's still alive. ... view
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swollen hind leg 20-Nov-07
Zshai asks:
I have a 6-day-old bunny who has a swollen hind leg. I saw her mama step on her but ... view
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Sick syrian hamster 08-Nov-07
Sara asks:
Hi. My syrian hamster is 2 and half yrs. old. The last 24 hrs I have noticed a big ... view
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lack of sleep 07-Nov-07
Bill asks:
We have a 14 month old Yorkshire terrier, which goes to bed at around 6.30pm, because I have MS ... view
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wet tail 06-Nov-07
Evelyn asks:
Can a young hamster be successfully treated for wet tail and what would it roughly cost? ... view
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Alfie 06-Nov-07
Elaine asks:
Hi Sam
Thank you. Alfie has no feeding time he just has food in his bowl when he wants it ... view
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Guarding problem 05-Nov-07
Elaine asks:
Alfie is a terrible guarder and will take your hand off if you try and retrieve an object he ... view
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White Gums and Dark Stool 02-Nov-07
Leslie asks:
My 8 week old American Bulldog has really white gums, around the eyes is also white. She has dark ... view
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Dog's Health 01-Nov-07
William asks:
My dog is around 11 years old, possibly older (we received her as she was taken from a bad ... view
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behaviour 31-Oct-07
Debby asks:
Hi Max is very lively of course but he seems to get very excited and bites the children, not ... view
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Blood in dog's stools 31-Oct-07
Lee asks:
Hi. We recently got a 3 year old Labrador from a friend. From what we can see she has ... view
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upset stomach 30-Oct-07
kat asks:
About three days ago my dog started acting like she was sick; diarrhoea and vomiting along with excessive sneezing ... view
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Blood in Poo 28-Oct-07
Mandy asks:
Treacle is now 9 wks old and had her first vaccination two days ago. I have noticed that at ... view
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neutering 27-Oct-07
ashen1956 asks:
3 days ago Molly-Mae gave birth to 5 kittens. How long should I wait before having her neutered and ... view
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Ordering Insulin Online 26-Oct-07
Purdie asks:
Purdie is diabetic and I'm keen to find a way of reducing the cost of the treatment. Currently ... view
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Fleas and skin problem 26-Oct-07
Joanne asks:
I have two cats, a neutered tom and his sister. They are 6 and a half yrs. old. They ... view
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My cat has a hole in its stomach! 23-Oct-07
Sarah asks:
My cat has a hole the size of a dime in its stomach. He doesn't seem to be ... view
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labrador vomiting bile and nearly passing out 22-Oct-07
Paul asks:
Hi there - our five year old male labrador is generally in very good health - excellent appetite, plenty ... view
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Guinea pig fits 22-Oct-07
Renate asks:
My guinea pig is acting strange. I've only had him around a week and he's running as if spooked ... view
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feeding 22-Oct-07
Terry asks:
Is it safe to feed my GSD raw chicken wings, he is 16 months old and is 37 kg? ... view
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