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Old 01-02-2013, 06:38 PM   #1
Minnie
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Default One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

Hi

I recently lost a Syrian hamster after months of nursing care and almost weekly trips to the vet.

When Smudge and I finally had to admit defeat and I had to have her put to sleep I decided there then - never again. Too emotional and heart wrenching.

Anyway, I got to know my vet quite well and she has a particular interest in small furries which is why she's so good at treating them. However, just before New Year's Eve I received a phone call from her telling me that a Russian hamster had just been found in a cage down an alley with one eye hanging out. Her intention was to operate on the eye regardless but would I consider taking her on full time post op.

I couldn't say no and now have a young 45g Russian hamster recovering from an eye operation on Baytril and painkillers.

I'm used to Syrians and have never cared for Russians before. Please can you give me some tips on care? Also, does anyone have any tips on how best to get a syringe into their mouth?

Many thanks

Minnie
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Old 01-02-2013, 10:05 PM   #2
HammieandMerlin
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

When one of our dwarfs was ill, we wrapped her up (she didn't care for being handled when she initially fell ill) in a small cloth and gave them to her that way, and she was quite good about it. She got to the point where she didn't need the cloth any more.

I hope that helps a bit, though I'm sure you'll find other people who have used different methods :3

best of luck to you
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Old 01-02-2013, 11:07 PM   #3
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

I'm so sorry for your initial loss.

But you totally rock for taking this little one into your care. I second HammieandMerlin on the cloth idea. Whenever I had to administer meds to Roxy (RIP) I used a small towel to basically swaddle her before giving her the syringe. She was usually pretty good about it that way.

Good luck! I look forward to getting to know your new baby. Warm wishes for a speedy recovery. xx
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Old 01-03-2013, 01:20 AM   #4
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

I am so sorry to hear about Smudge. I cant help with your questions, but will say what an honour that the vet thought you would be able to look after her. What is she called?
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Old 01-03-2013, 06:27 AM   #5
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

Poor little thing. Well done for taking her in Minnie and sorry to hear of your recent loss aswell. They do say as one door closes another one opens, so maybe this was meant to be?

If she was mine, I would keep her in a single floored cage like a Duna or a Zoozone 1. The Zoozone 1 would be a lovely permenant home for her longer term. Hamsters don`t rely too much on sight because their eyesignt is quite poor anyway, so they use smell and touch more than they do sight. She should adapt well having just the one eye, although she will have a blind side and a side that can focus, so always approach her by talking to her and slowly and move your hands to the side she can see and then sniff you. That way she will become used to your scent. Always scoop a hamster up low down (below their sight) from each side with cupped hands. That way she won`t get startled.

Diet-wise, I would treat her as a hybrid and stick with a hybrid no sugar diet. If you can`t use Silver`s mixes for diabetic prone dwarf hamsters, you could go with Burgess Supahamster Harvest (the syrian one not the dwarf one as it`s rather bland) and remove the peas, pea flakes and yellow corn. The rest of the mix is fine and has plenty of flaked grains in it and smaller extruded biscuits aswell as chicken kibble for protein.

Feed her extras like:

Dry porridge oats (a sprinkle on her food each day)
Hemp seeds
Millet - loose and sprays cut into bits she can carry around
Dry meaworms - just a couple as treats daily
Kallo organic wholegrain puffed rice (Tesco and healthfood shops sell this) Tesco it`s only £2.00 a bag though.

Make sure her accessories are always kept in the same place so she knows where everything is. A low water bottle and a sleeping house made from cardboard (a square shaped teabox is a good sleeping house!) and keep the floor open. Cut a couple of doors into the box for entry/exit doors and plenty of paper based bedding.

Hope this helps and do update and let us know how she is doing?
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Old 01-03-2013, 02:51 PM   #6
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

Hi

Thanks for all your comments help and advice. She is still alive this evening (I'm taking every day as it comes) and took your advice about using a towel.
I must have looked ridiculous sat in the bath with her to make sure she didn't escape. Anyway, she found the little facecloth fun to play with so when she was crawling on it I was able to scoop her up and into my hand. Still quite stressful (for both of us!) and just the one squeak but we're getting there.

I've moved her into a one level larger cage now and put down plenty of soft bedding for her which is supposed to be dust free. She's sleeping now or at least that's what I'm hoping as she's very still!

I've gone and bought the supahamster meal for dwarf hamsters as I hadn't read the posts. Will she still get all the required nutrients from this even though it may seem boring to us?

Also, do Russian hamsters make their own beds because this one doesn't. She's in a very simple cage at the moment because with very little to play on/with as I don't want her to knock herself on anything. I want to make sure she is warm enough and have given her plenty of bedding but she doesn't do anything with it.
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Old 01-03-2013, 03:44 PM   #7
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

Here's a list of my preferred vets. My favourite is the first one - who has just given me this little Russian to look after.

Elena
Goddard's Veterinary group
159 Ley Street
Ilford
Essex IG1 4BL
Tel: 020 8478 2122

Elena frequently operates on small furries and has a genuine love of all animals. She successfully carried out a hysterectomy on Smudge when she had suspected pyometra.

Other veterinary practice I would recommend is the Midland Veterinary Centre in Leyton
655 High Road
Leyton
London E10 6RA
Tel: 020 8539 3538

This team of vets (all with an interest in exotics) helped Smudge to cope with suspected liver disease even though this ultimately resulted in her death ultimately. She was always a sickly little mite - that's why her previous owners got rid of her
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Old 01-06-2013, 09:52 AM   #8
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

I've finally decided on a name for the latest addition to my hamster family. I couldn't name her Admiral Nelson given she's a girl so I decided to name her after Nelson's lover - Lady Hamilton! A bit of a mouthful so she's also known as 'Lady H' or 'H' to her friends.

I'll post a pic as soon as I've worked out how to do it!
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Old 01-07-2013, 02:13 AM   #9
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

That`s great. Lady H was called Emma Hamilton. Glad to hear she is doing well. x
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Old 01-07-2013, 07:31 AM   #10
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Default Re: One eyed Russian rescue hamster - please help!

Not only that but my first name is Emma too!
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