I apologize about grammar mistakes, its 1 am right now and I cant sleep because im so worried about my hamster.
Here is information about my hamster -
Name: Button
Age: 1 year 10 months
Gender: male
Species: dwarf
These are the details of my hamster's ailment -
When did it start: cheek pouch impaction since june, mites since July, poor appetite and breathing heavy: and 1-2 days
Description of Ailment:
My hamster has been to the vet 3 times this past summer. Once for a potential mite issue, and twice because of an impacted cheek. I've had to clear out his cage completely b/c of mites and I have had to move him back and forth between his quarantine cage and his normal one as well as multiple trips to the vet. I feel bad for putting him through so much but I just want the best for him. He has had multiple impacted cheeks (same side) and I have had to take him in to get the seeds removed. It was very stressful for him and he was breathing heavily when he got home. His breathing returned back to normal the next day. The most recent vet appt. was approx. 1 week ago. He is on medication from his impacted cheeks as well as his mites.
After having an impacted cheek pouch twice this summer I decided to change his diet from the Higgins sunburst seed mix to fresh and larger foods where he would not be able to store in his cheeks (hard boiled eggs, fresh carrots, cheese, plain yogurt, cucumber and protein blocks among other things). He enjoyed the different foods for the next 5 days but I think this new diet might have been too much of a change for him. In the past day his appetite had gone down a lot, and was only able to eat part of a cashew and some licks of plain yogurt today.
In addition, the past 1-2 days I noticed his breathing became a lot heavier than usual whenever I saw him. It is similar to when he had come home from the vet.
This past summer his energy levels have gone down a lot (probably because its very hot and he's an older guy), and he hardly runs on his wheel anymore. but the past 2 days he has done nothing but sleep in his hut and make 1-2 appearances.
I don't know if he is sick, stressed, or is just getting older. I will take him to the vet again if he does not eat more by tomorrow morning.
He does not appear to be dehydrated and I was able to get him to drink a bit earlier today. Poops look normal and solid, im not sure if he has been pooping more or less though.
What could be happening to my hamster? What should I do?
videos of him breathing heavy:
1st link: post-vet appt. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o6vLKYUKC-A
2nd link: from earlier tonight https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HDYmeN9m4jw
his breathing was a little bit faster than normal in the 2nd video b/c i had picked him up to do a tent test.
Any specific physical changes:
In the past 1-2 months he has lost 10 grams. (58g-48g).
Fur loss near rear from mites.
. Hes still got pretty low energy but his breathing has gotten slightly better. I dont know what is causing his heavy breaths but im sure this had something to do with it. His appetite is pretty much back to where it was and i will continue giving him large nuts, seeds, and dried veggies. His cheek isn't impacted (yet) but im just so grateful my baby isnt as stressed anymore.
