Shall I wake up hamster to give her medicine?

[agnesf]

To cut long story short - shes got eye infection. Has been in pet hospital but didn't go well - think fellow patients (dogs/ cats) were too scary and she started behaving weirdly e.g. sleeping in middle of cage, walking around with little hamster tail down.

She's home now and getting some kip in her favourite corner. But I've got to do eye drops. (Now 3 hours overdue)

If you read the bitey hamster thread you'll know we don't like disturbing her bed as its her safe place away from humans.What's better - leave her a bit longer to sleep safely or get her out of bed and get her up for horrid but necessary eye cleaning and drops.

[Birdy28]

I did it once. I think the shock of me waking her up and then handling her to give her the medicine (oral drops) wasn't a great idea.

She got stressed and I got bitten (and she wasn't biter).

It didn't end well .

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Can you drip it on her eyes without cleaning them. Then at least she'll get some of her treatment?

I've got guinea-pigs and sometimes we have to clean GP1s eyes if they get a bit irritated by hay.

The way I look at it, their eyes are vital, so it needs done.
Luckily, he's not a bitey hog and easily bribed.

[agnesf]

She woke up, tottered to water bottle & went back to bed. She looks quite unwell - not just a bad eye but also all tottery and ears flopped down.

I think the trauma of a week at the vets with all those other animals has finished her off. I don't think waking her up to put drops in eye is going to help much.

Now I can't sleep.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Oh, Do you think a gummy eye is the least of her worries.
How is she this morning?

[agnesf]

Not good i'm afraid. She has turned from a super active hammy to a geriatric in a week. She looks very unhappy.

DD and I have had a talk about it and I think if no improvement by Monday we may take her to be put to sleep.

[OnceUponAThyme]

sometimes it can take them a week or so to recover from stress, watch for signs of wet tail.
I wouldn't wake her, I would leave her as waking them up can be stressful in itself if it's happening regularly.
if you do decide to wake her up, a little bit of warm scrambled/boiled egg wafted in her direction could do it gently.
hope she improves.