Hamster pawprint tattoo help?

Miakat · 10-19-2017, 02:27 PM

Hi guys!

I’m getting my beloved Rosie’s pawprints tattooed on me next week since we lost her today, and the vet was kind enough to take a print of them for me, but I had to redraw them a little since they were smudged and I was unsure of which was the right foot and which was the left.

Would someone just be able to confirm for me whether the image on the left or the image on the right is correct? I’m mainly confused about whether the “thumbs” of the front feet point inwards or outwards?

Thank you guys <3
Mia

Jeir · 10-20-2017, 03:00 PM

After watching Fluff for a while, I'm pretty sure pic#2 is correct. Every time he put his front paws down, the front three toes/'fingers' pointed forwards, while the 'pinky'/outside toe pointed out. I also mentally draw the little nub-thumb* in and it fits with the 2nd pic better.

Might be better to wait for confirmation from other members though.

*Yes, they have them, and they're cute little things. One of my previous hamsters even had nails growing out of his when he reached old age.

Fluffagrams · 10-20-2017, 03:34 PM

I’m so sorry to hear of Rosie’s passing. What a tribute to her to have her footprints as a tattoo.

The photo on the right looks closer to how my Chineseys feet look.

I know she’s in a different position to the one your ham would have been in but this photo shows that Juno’s ‘thumbs’ point outwards:

Juno by Metallica Hamstery, on Flickr

Miakat · 10-20-2017, 05:00 PM

Jeir and Fluffagrams thank you both so much for replying!! I agree with you both now that Pic #2 is the most accurate! I checked on my other hamster, Mouse, and it seems that the little toe on her front feet points out rather than in. I’m very excited to get this done, I had Rosie for almost two years and we lost her due to recurring teeth problems (we’d tried lots of different options including surgery and it continued to get worse, other than that she was in perfect health so it was not a decision that was taken lightly at all. We figured it wasn’t fair to keep putting her through anaesthetic every month or so which is what the other option was, and figured that the kindest thing for her was to let her go to sleep. It was heartbreaking and I’ll always feel a little bit of guilt, but in the end I did it to make sure she wasn’t suffering). She helped me through a lot of rough times, and I’m so glad I’ll have her with me permanently once I get this done ❤️

Thin Lizzy · 10-20-2017, 08:50 PM

So sorry to hear about Rosie, I love the paw prints and also love that you're having them done into a tattoo, a beautiful tribute.

dreamtree1234 · 10-21-2017, 03:40 AM

I'm so sorry about your loss of Rosie. Please don't feel guilty about your decision because you make it with love and thinking of what is the best for her. You gave her a wonderful long life filled with so much loving care, and you selflessly did what was hardest for you in order to spare you sweetheart from suffering anymore. Rest in peace, darling Rosie. Hugs to you, Miakat. After checking on Eros, I also agree that the right picture shows the anatomically correct placement of the 'thumbs'. I think it is a truly sweet and beautiful tribute to your special Rosie who you loved so dearly. Take care, Miakat, and know that we are here for you.

Miakat · 10-21-2017, 01:32 PM

Thank you guys for all the lovely comments ❤️ The one thing that’s really eating me up, and that I feel terrible about, is that the vet scruffed her to try and see her teeth (her recurring problem that we’d had treated before) and I don’t know whether it was because of the pain or because she was scared, but she squealed really loudly. He tried to cup her in his hands because she was trying to jump, and then when she went back in her travel cage she went into a defensive/shocked position as though she was being attacked. I gently stroked her head a few times to try and calm her down, and then shut her cage so no one could get to her at which point she buried away in her bedding. I just feel terrible and I can’t stop thinking about it. She’s never squealed before and I’ve never scared her, so having seen her like that is breaking my heart because it feels like in the last few minutes, after giving her two years worth of love, I wasn’t able to protect her and she got so terrified

I love her with all my heart and I can’t stand to think of her being like that, wondering why I’d put her in this situation. I feel so extremely guilty. Any advice guys?

My beautiful girl whom I miss so incredibly much ❤️

SimonandSyril · 11-09-2017, 12:52 PM

To me the left looks right. Hope this helps

Thin Lizzy · 11-11-2017, 06:02 AM

I really hate it when vets do that, they can be so rough, I think they forget it's a hamster not a cat or dog. I remember the vet doing that with Archie a few years back, she was so rough and I told her so, Archie was scared and he bit her, he'd never bitten anyone until the vet did that and I told her she deserved that. I felt awful and was so glad to get home. We all feel guilty when we see our little ones scared but, sometimes it's out of our control. Please stop feeling guilty about your little girl, remember the happy times and that you gave her unconditional love and care.