Will Enrofloxacin rid my Hamster of Pnemunoia pneumonia and/or Wet tail

Question

I have been prescribed this anti-biotic from the vet. Has anyone ever used this medicine with success? My hamster seems to have a really bad case of Upper respiratory infection and with the force feeding of water and powder food, she has shown to have very little stool that is moist and very soft. She also has some left over stool stuck to her bottom. Is this signs of wet tail because she is going through so much stress? Or is this a side effect of the anti-biotic? Also if you can share personal experiences with this drug I would appreciate it.

Answer 1

First of all, BRAVO to you for taking your little one to a vet!  Congratulations for being such a committed and responsible pet owner.  Way to go!

You should see improvement within 3 days.  If has gotten worse, she needs to go back to the vet.  Read below for reasons.

I don't have experience with enroflaxen and hamsters, but it's a pretty strong antibiotic, and I'm sure your vet new what he or she was doing in prescribing it.  MANY antibiotics will cause diarrhea.  This diarrhea doesn't usually last more than a few days AFTER the antibiotic is discontinued.  I wouldn't worry about it unless it becomes watery enough to cause dehydration, or if it lasts more than a 3 days after you finish the medication.  If it does last, call the vet of course, and you might try a probiotic compound (enzymes and "good" bacteria for intestinal health) with her food to restart the natural intestinal micro-flora and micro-fauna. Probiotics are can be purchased for dogs, cats, horses, birds and humans.  I prefer Standard Process Lact-Enz or Equerry's.

I have several concerns with her labored breathing:

Of course the pneumonia could be causing it, but force feeding can also cause pneumonia because a sick animal can't prevent the food and water mix from going into the lungs instead of the stomach.  Unless your vet specifically told you to force feed her, or you know what you're doing and you're tube-feeding her, I wouldn't force feed.  You might be causing more harm than good.

Secondly, if you are having to force-feed her the medicine, you could be having the same problem -- forcing it into her lungs instead of her stomach.  She is weak, so her gag response isn't as good as it should be.

I think it might be wise to voice these concerns to your vet.  Perhaps he or she can dispense the antibiotic by injection, which would be much safer until she's well enough to take it without being forced.

Good luck.