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Old 01-12-2015, 11:44 PM   #1
mkt13
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Default Care after stroke?

About 4 days ago, I believe my little girl, Stella, had a stroke. I was not familiar with hamster strokes before this, so I thought she had gotten really sick suddenly as she didn't wake up all day and when I went to check on her I could barely get a response. When I finally got her out, she was incredibly weak and shaky and didn't seem to be able to fully wake up. I did a ton of research and I believe it was a stroke, although she seems fairly young for a stroke as she only turned 1 in November. Since then, I have been keeping a very close eye on her to make sure she is eating and drinking, giving her cod-liver oil and adding vita-drops to her water to help keep her immune system up. She has slowly been getting better and is actually starting to come out at night again after pretty much sleeping constantly the first few days. However, I want to make sure I take care of her now to give her the best chance of recovery. I've found conflicting stuff online about whether or not to give her her wheel back in her cage, but she is already trying to climb all over the walls of her cage again so she seems like she needs some exercise. She is still weaker and a bit uncoordinated when she tries, but I'm glad to see any exercise level back in her as she has always been a little ball of energy. How long should I limit her access to her wheel? Is there anything I need to be careful of for the future? Anything else I can do to help her heal?
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Old 01-13-2015, 06:00 AM   #2
souffle
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Default Re: Care after stroke?

Generally hamsters who survive 24hrs after a stroke will tend to do well and make a reasonable recovery. They do tend to be more prone to it happening again though.
That is assuming it is indeed a stroke and the symptoms you describe are not altogether typical and could be other illnesses.
Is it possible to see a vet with her? It would be wise to have her checked for things like infections or injuries such as internal bruising caused by a fall or such like. An anti-inflammatory like metacam can speed up healing in a stoke as it helps the inflammation in the brain.
Take care she cannot climb or fall from anything especially if she is weaker and may have some balance problems. Is she peeing and pooping OK? Certain areas of brain damage can affect bowel and bladder control so you need to ensure everything is till moving through well.
I hope she continues to improve x
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Old 01-15-2015, 09:30 AM   #3
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Care after stroke?

Hi and welcome to HC.
Sorry to hear about Stella being unwell. Hope she gets better soon!
What a lovely pic of her!
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Old 01-15-2015, 10:13 AM   #4
racinghamster
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Default Re: Care after stroke?

Hi mkt13. Stella sounds to have been unwell with something and hamsters can have `off` days and then seem well again. Strokes as far as I know, usually cause some kind of paralysis or definite change, but I`ve never had a Syrian who was diagnosed as definitely having suffered a stroke by a vet, so Stella may or may not have had one. It`s not easy for any of us to say. Only a vet could give you some answers to that.

As already said, the best thing to do is to make her life as easy as you can. If she`s frantic and looking a bit lost without her wheel, then I would put it back. Only she knows whether she wants/needs it or not. She shouldn`t b climbing really as falls can themselves badly injure a hamster as they don`t know how high up they are and drop heavily onto the cage floor. So if you want to keep an eye on her, make sure she can`t climb too high or topple of the end of anything.

Food and drink should be low down and within easy reach, not on a shelf or difficult to reach area of the cage. Rest is the best medicine, so allow her to rest and make sure she has a roomy bed area. x
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Old 01-17-2015, 03:54 AM   #5
Gatsby
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Default Re: Care after stroke?

What cage have you got? Is it possible for you to place lots of care fresh or tea bag paper in the cage if you can't stop it from climbing ATM, just to soften the fall.
It may also help to make a large pen on your living room floor with toys and some nuts and seeds to find, put some bedding and water in it too, hopefully the playing is enough to calm some of the climbing
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