wheel and underweight hamster

POLAR WHITES · 12-15-2014, 07:02 AM

I rescued a hamster that had been starved and very mistreat by an abusive child and a battered family so we were told, the hamster came to myself in a tiny cage I changed her over to a ikea 80cm bin straight away, poor little might had no name and was very scared of even her own shadow,
Its been a little while now and she now has her first name I have called her Hope, she is now about 9 months old, She is still timid but a lot better, she is still underweight and you can still feel her bones, she is eating well and has her rusks with no sugar and milk as well as quality hamster food and treats of mealworms, dog biscuits, sunflower seeds, I am just wonder she is in her cage with a large flying saucer which she doesn't use, not sure if she finds it hard to spin and that I should buy her another but with being so underweight at only 82grams for a Syrian I am unsure weather to take it away all tighter until she puts on a little weight as I don't really want her burning off calories,

XRubyRoseX · 12-15-2014, 07:31 AM

Oh that's horrible but good on you for adopting Hope. Personally I would take out the wheel until she's gained a bit of weight and strength, it might be hard for her to use if she's underweight and weak. As long as she has other things to keep her entertained I don't think it could hurt for a bit until she's a bit healthier. It's horrible how some people can treat animals, I'm just pleased she's in safe hands now and has you to take care of her.

cypher · 12-15-2014, 08:04 AM

Well done for taking the poor little one on & giving her a good home.
If she's been in a tiny cage her muscles are probably really underdeveloped as well as her being generally underweight so I'd be inclined to give her a smaller wheel which she might be able to use as the exercise will probably do her good just so long as she's eating well, if she fails to gain weight maybe take it away.

BrainGirl · 12-15-2014, 08:54 AM

Oh poor baby

So happy you've got her now!

If it were me I would leave it in but oil it well so it spins freely. I would also take out any toys that would allow her to climb at all. With rescue chinchillas I've had who hadn't the chance to build muscle and coordination I confine them to cages with only one higher level until they're in better shape. It may be that she's just uncoordinated and hasn't got the idea yet but the exercise will do her good, build muscle and probably encourage her appetite, plus being a saucer it's low enough to the ground that she probably can't do herself any harm. You know her best though. Good luck!

POLAR WHITES · 12-15-2014, 11:15 AM

I have rubbed it with Vaseline I will keep and eye to see if she starts to use it if she doesn't I might take it out for a while until she improves a bit more

greysome · 12-15-2014, 12:06 PM

Oh that poor hammy! Good on you Polar Whites. Like everyone else has pretty much said, I'd make sure she has a wheel (maybe a 'regular' wheel if she doesn't take to the saucer) and just check on her weight, only removing it if it negatively affects her weight.

Is it possible she doesn't know how to use the saucer? I agree with cypher that it's important for her to build up her muscles again although I wonder if she might not be using her wheel because the energy she would have spent on the wheel is being directed inwards healing her body and trying to bring it back up to where it should be.

I'm not sure if it would apply to hamsters per se, but when I was badly injured, I was put on a high calorie, high protein diet for a while until I had recovered sufficiently to return to a regular diet. I'm not sure how to increase her calories exactly, but it might be worth at least looking into.

Thin Lizzy · 12-15-2014, 08:35 PM

The poor darling! Hope is a perfect name for her.
If anyone can get her to gain weight and give her more confidence, it's you!
Thank God you rescued her and sounds like you did just in time.
I would keep the saucer in, and when she does decide to use it, then monitor her.
I remember you going to get her and how awful her life had been, like I said before, you were meant to have her, to save her and she might still be a bit timid but, in time that'll change.

POLAR WHITES · 12-16-2014, 02:11 AM

last night after I put Vaseline on her saucer she was playing on it more must of been easier for her to turn it, my husband said that she was running then when she ran into the middle stopping and swinging back lol its was nice for him to see and for me to hear she had been playing of course the saucer will be monitored, I ma going to0 day to buy a new pair of scales for her as the ones I have arnt that good,

cypher · 12-16-2014, 04:05 AM

That sounds promising, hopefully she's going to be fine with a bit of time & tlc, keep us posted!

BrainGirl · 12-16-2014, 08:31 AM

That sounds good, the worst thing that can happen in cases like these is for the patient to lose interest in things. Looking forward to more progress reports and pictures soon!