Change in behaviour after escaping

[FlashQuinn]

This morning we discovered that Quinn our Syrian had escaped, she is only 11 weeks old. After checking under all the units in our utility area and having no luck, I googled hamster trap and set about setting up the bucket method to hear scrambling behind the fridge. Thankfully she was behind the fridge, it took me about 10 mins to get her out with my dog nearly eating her. (I kicked him out into the garden) She had been stock piling food in different areas (popcorn and dog biscuit). She's now safe in her cage. Before she escaped she would come up to the cage every time anyone went in the utility area and after filling her food bowl she would empty it and stash it away. She would also try to nibble anything and everything put near her (she bit my daughter). She seemed quite a greedy girl compared to our boy hamster.
Since being back in her cage she is no longer coming up to us and she's still got food in her bowl, she also isn't nibbling and let us hold her with no screeching or biting. She seems well in herself and no sign of injury or upset tummy. Is this normal??

[freyashamsters]

Since you said that your dog tried to harm her, she's probably just in shock. We had a similar situation with my Roborovski & my cat (not a good combination!). She had escaped and I found her cowering from my cat in a corner of the room. After checking her over and finding no marks, bites scratches etc., we put her back in the cage. She didn't come out for a few hours, and seemed very wary of most things - including her sister - for a couple of weeks afterwards. As long as the hamster has no injuries and seems to be eating a sufficient amount, I wouldn't worry too much about it, as it's a natural reaction with hamsters being common prey animals.

[FlashQuinn]

Thanks for replying, she did eat a bit of carrot at dinner time. I did think she may be in shock. I'm hoping though for my daughters sake that she is now a reformed hamster. She was so made up that she got to hold her (we got her out in a playpen we have).

[Drago]

I agree that she's likely scared and in "survival mode". When out in the great big wild of your house, she didn't have a bowl full of food, and thus she is relying on instincts alone to protect herself. Keep her calm and leave her alone for a day or two, and no out of cage time when she exhibits bad/escaping behavior. She'll settle bad in soon, best wishes