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Antibiotic Related Enteritis in Hamsters

Some antibiotics are harmful if used in hamsters. They cause enteritis in the hamster which gets diarrhoea, goes off its food and then may die.

Several antibiotics are known to be harmful to hamsters. These include penicillin, cephalosporins, lincomycin, and erythromycin. It is believed that these antibiotics change the balance of micro-flora and allow the proliferation of a harmful bacteria in the gut (known as a bacterial overgrowth). The bacterium involved is believed to be Clostridium Difficile. But other Clostridia may be involved. These bacteria are harmful to the hamster because they produce toxins which cause enterocolitis (an inflammation of the guts).

Other antibiotics may be directly toxic in hamsters, especially the Syrian hamster, these include streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin.

Antibiotics recommended for hamsters include trimethoprim/sulphadiazine, tylosin, dimetronidazole, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin.

© Samantha Coe. All rights reserved. Further information, news and pet-related healthcare articles are available at vetbase.co.uk

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