Injured Hamster UPDATE and photo- page 4 (amputation)

[funkychunkymonkey]

I wouldnt be too worried about the cut. Mine cut his leg on a tube once and is just fine now. Hes my 3 year old baby. Hamsters are very relisant, this ones gotten out a millon times, gotten pinned by a cat and keeps on ticking.

 

[mjkacmom]

Aww, poor thing!

I once paid $100 for surgery for a hamster!

One of the hamster's eyes popped out of the socket!

I had never heard of such a thing happening. I was told, by the vet, he may not even make it thru the surgery but I had a very sad and worried 7 year old so I had to let the vet try!

He made it thru the surgery and after that we nicknamed Ludwig "Popeye"!

(For those that think that was a bit ridiculous for a hamster...I agree..but sometimes you have to make decisions from the heart!)

TC

Our rat has had $700 worth of surgeries (2). Unfortunately, now we need to pay to put she and her sister down - tons of tumors, they can barely walk.

 

[DizBelle]

One time, one of our cats stepped out off of the second story catwalk and onto a wall hanging - which didn't support her.

She fell to the wood floor on the first floor. We examined her and she had her leg all drawn up and wouldn't put weight on it at all.

We bundled her up and rushed her to the emergency vet. They took her out and examined her. Put her on the floor to see how she would walk. She was walking absolutely normally. We were quite stunned that the fall didn't really injure her at all. I think it just jarred her leg and it recovered quickly.

I think if the hamster is walking and putting a bit of weight on the leg, and he isn't just cowering in a corner afraid to move at all, I think you are okay waiting another day to see if he improves.

I would try to clean the cut if you can.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I would be careful handling. She might react if touched in a sensative spot.
I had a hamster who got injurred and learned this a hard painful way.
The can really bite when i pain. I think the adreline shoots right to their jaws.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I hope they can help your little hamster

We had a hamster and two cats growing up. We left them at home while we went to WDW for a week. We came back and there was no hamster to be found in it's cage/plastic thing . We searched everywhere and couldn't find it. I was devastated that one of the cats killed it.

About a week later I was getting my coat out of the closet (a closet no one goes into) and there was the hamster! Happy as a clam with about 3 bowl fulls of cat food! It had come all the way downstairs and apparently had gone into the cat's food bowls, filled up it's cheeks and made several trips from the closet! I think he was a little upset when I put him back on lockdown.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

wildernesslodgelover - I'll have you know that your post this morning caused me to reminisce about the hamsters I've had over the years. The last two we had were when we got married and bought our first house, so it's been a while. Our kids have been wanting one for some time.

So tonight we wandered into a pet store which is next to another store we had to go to. There's a room with lots of rats, mice, snakes, etc. One snake had a rat, clueless in the cage with it (which was about to become dinner ) and just as we noticed that, we saw one small black teddy bear hamster all alone next to the snake/rat cage, and he seemed to be looking up at us going, "HELLLP, get me ooooout of herrrrre!!! ). So we did.

... Thanks a lot. He's a cutie. He and our German Shepherd are getting aquainted as we speak. I think they like eachother, lol.

Glad your little guy is feeling better. Sounds like his leg will probably be fine. He may have strained something rather than broken it, and if so, it'll probably just take a few days to get better. Let us know.

(Now I'll be asking you guys hamster advice - oh, except for goofyernmost! Anything anyone wants to share, your thoughts are welcome. As I said, it's been a while.)

 

[bumbershoot]

Glad your hamster seems to be doing better! I think at some point my mom just gave up on the idea that I would be the only one to clean my hamster's cage, and she would help. But my hamsters were very short-lived...I had 2 in the time that my brother had one, and his outlived my second one by a disturbingly long time. Mine were also big escape artists...the one would somehow climb up her plastic wheel (no "hand"holds on the outside, NO idea how she did it, only know she did it b/c I caught her one time!!!!), squeeze up between the wheel and the cage "door", and would slowly turn the knobs with her teeth. She was scarily good at that. I think my mom finally had my put a brick on the top of her habitrail!

About a week later I was getting my coat out of the closet (a closet no one goes into) and there was the hamster! Happy as a clam with about 3 bowl fulls of cat food! It had come all the way downstairs and apparently had gone into the cat's food bowls, filled up it's cheeks and made several trips from the closet! I think he was a little upset when I put him back on lockdown.

Oh that's a good story.

My hamster once hung out inside our couch for a few days... Another time the hamster (not sure if it was the same one or not) was gone for several days. It was winter break from school, and we were hanging out at the house. My mom went to work through the back door, so no one had been out the front door for about a week. For some reason someone opened taht door, and there she was. She'd been between the screen and door for all those days! Thankfully we lived in CA and it didn't freeze.

 

[Ohiodislover]

..try waking up at 3am in the pitch black to a hamster on your pillow She's lucky I didn't squash her in a sleep hazed freak out panic!!!

We had a hamster that would get out and come wake us up by climbing into bed, and on our chest. I often thought/wondered if she got out, and then freaked a bit, and wanted to get back into her cage.

 

[Flight]

Please take the poor creature to the vet.

I spent a $190 on our hamster at the vet.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

I would take it to the 'farm' lol
May sound harsh, but a hamster? If you got nothing better to spend money on then go right ahead but I could think of about a million things to do with money other than save a hamster.
local charity, local humane society, salvation army, Haitian relief effot...I could go on

 

[JESW]

Why do people post replies when they don't help but only criticize the original poster? Geez....

 

[quentina]

We had this happen....the hampster....ate his leg. We renamed him Stumpy since he was now 3 legged. He lived a long and happy life.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I have a bin cage to prevent excape. Its been flipped by the cat who landed on it once and hammy was fine. It also dosnet need to be cleaned as much (every other week). Just wanted to share to help anyone whos got an excapee.
http://www.bitterepiphany.com/bin_cage.html ( how to make one)

 

[handinpocket]

I would bet the leg will be fine, one way or the other. Spending 700.00 on a mouse, is crazy.

 

[hellokitty86]

OP, I just saw you live in the same area as me. Years ago when I was moving to Virginia (I've since moved back to South Florida) I needed to get a health certificate for my hamster because I was flying with her. It took me a long time but I finally found a vet that treats small animals. It has since changed names, but I know its located across from Super Target on the corner of University & Commercial in Lauderhill next to the Pet Supermarket. This was about 5 years ago and I think they've since changed owners but you can try there!! Sorry I can't give you a name or number- I tried googling but can't find it!

I hope your hamster feels better soon...

 

[dicar123]

Years ago when I was moving to Virginia (I've since moved back to South Florida) I needed to get a health certificate for my hamster because I was flying with her.

I hope your hamster feels better soon...

I'm sorry, but I am at the idea of how this conversation went.

You: I am flying with a hamster. Can you tell me if I need to do anything special, or just bring him aboard?

Random Airline Person: A hamster? You want to fly with a hamster? Let me check.

Random Airline Person: Ma'am? You'll need a health certificate filled out by your veteranarian.

I'll bet random airline person told everyone he/she came in contact with that day, "Hey, did you know that if you want to fly with a hamster it needs a health certificate?"

 

[dicar123]

Ok, here is my hamster story.

Dh bought me a hamster for our first Valentines Day because I never had one growing up. Several months later, we were preparing to move across the country, driving our own car (with the hamster, of course), leaving the morning after I graduated.

The moving company had taken the rest of our stuff earlier in the week so we'd been sleeping on the floor for several days. The night before we were to start driving, Dh decided he needed to sleep in a real bed. College graduation weekend, hotel rooms are hard to find. Our only affordable option was of the hot tub, mirrors on the ceiling type.

I thought nothing of carrying my hamster in his little habitrail across the parking lot and into the room. We got inside and dh comments, "What do you suppose people are thinking we're going to do with this hamster?"

Later on that evening, my mother was so curious about our room, she begged us to let her and my dad come to see it. "We've already taken a hamster in there! We cannot, now, bring another couple! I will die of embarrassment." So, we included my brothers as well.

Poor dh never did get any sleep that night. Between the soundtrack in the next room and the hamster on his wheel, it was a very long night indeed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I would take it to the 'farm' lol
May sound harsh, but a hamster? If you got nothing better to spend money on then go right ahead but I could think of about a million things to do with money other than save a hamster.

Spending 700.00 on a mouse, is crazy.

Price does not define love for another living creature. Our dog was very expensive, but I wouldn't treat any other dog any different, even if it was free.

I am sorry neither of you have the same view towards animals, but to many, including myself, they are part of the family. I would never question spending money to take care of my dog or any other pet I have owned.

Granted I also think most with pets are more humane then people are to their own kind. Most people won't let their animals suffer in pain with terminal cancer, choosing to put them to sleep, but don't bat an eye at keeping a human of life support.

 

[hellokitty86]

I'm sorry, but I am at the idea of how this conversation went.

You: I am flying with a hamster. Can you tell me if I need to do anything special, or just bring him aboard?

Random Airline Person: A hamster? You want to fly with a hamster? Let me check.

Random Airline Person: Ma'am? You'll need a health certificate filled out by your veteranarian.

I'll bet random airline person told everyone he/she came in contact with that day, "Hey, did you know that if you want to fly with a hamster it needs a health certificate?"

yes, it was very funny. Even funnier was when my hamster (Stella) started chewing out of her carrier when we were about to board the plane. The TSA people were cracking up when I was going through security. We had to have someone come & bring us a sewing kit. She was worth every penny I spent though!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

UPDATE!

First, I want to say, I knew this thread would just HAVE to take an ugly turn. It is a little alarming at how judgemental people on the DIS can be. I figured I would be scolded for NOT taking the hamster to the vet, then scolded for spending money on the hamster!

Still does not eclipse all the nice things people posted, tho. I appreciate all the caring posts, and the nicely worded opinions, even if I did not agree with them. I also enjoyed all the hamster stories!

Ok, as I looked at the leg last night, I could see a bone kind of popping out. It distressed my daughter to see it, so we decided to look for a vet online. I found one, and I went this morning. Fergie was put under anesthesia, her bone was popped back into place, and now she is wearing a splint for 3 weeks! I also have to give her a pain reliever/anti inflammatory with a little dropper once a day. I am going to TRY to post a picture of her with her cute little bandage!

jlewis-I agree with you, and it is one of the reasons we don't have a zillion pets. I commit to whatever I have. Now, look, if this hamster was going to cost me 1k...well, no, I don't think i could do it. Then again, i have friends who easily drop 1k on a purse, so if I want to drop that on a pet rather than donate to a charity, why should I feel bad about that? So I do agree with you. I also wanted to say that I really wanted a rat, they are SOOO smart...almost dog like! I actually DID NOT get rats because I knew they were a little more maintenance than I wanted. My hamster likes to be left alone, so if no one plays with her for a few days, she is fine. Plus, she likes living alone, and I did not want two of anything right now. But honestly, I probably will get rats one day! I am sorry yours are not doing well, but you gave them a great life, way better than most rats have!

hellokitty-thanks for the heads up! I found my vet by googling...she is in Coral Springs, and I really liked her!

funky-I will look at that link now, thank you!

THANK YOU JESW!

Ohio-yeah, my poor hamster...i wondered if this might cure her of wanting to escape from her cage...I just don't think they are that smart!

YAY Pea N Me! How cute! Poor little thing was probably FREAKING OUT!

Ok, going to TRY to post a pic!