Robo with injured leg

Karamelloh · 03-28-2015, 01:42 AM

Hello! I have a roborovski female whose about a year and 3 months old. She was born with a birth deformity in her legs. They kind of curl under and get caught on things. I have since then adjusted her cage to where there is nothing that she can get caught on but somehow she managed to get injured. Not sure what happened or what she could have gotten injured on but shes limping and trying not to walk on her leg that has more curling than the other. Shes trying to walk with the leg lifted up. When you look at her leg normally you can't tell but when she tries to climb on things she get caught on them, and she has a hard time using certain wheels. I am not sure if she injured herself or if because shes older now that the defect is effecting her walking. I touched her leg and she squeaked. I have now removed her wheel from her cage and she does not like that at all, its stressing her out. Any thoughts on whats wrong and what I can do for her besides the vet?

racinghamster · 03-28-2015, 02:08 AM

Hi Karamalloh. If she`s had this deformity since birth, the bones or muscles/nerves may have deteriorated or changed to cause this or as you say, she may have injured her leg somehow or twisted it. I would suggest having a vet look at her legs anyway to determine what`s going on. Squeaking can mean pain upon moving the limb, or she may just have some inflammation.

I she was mine, I would have her in a single level cage with no shelving or ramps. Have a flying saucer wheel that she can easily access and get off without too much hassle. Scatter her food and if she uses a food dish, use one that`s low sided around half an inch in height. Ceramic flower pot drip trays are very good and can be sunk down into the shavings.

How is her mobility? Can she scoot about okay without falling over or being too unbalanced? make sure her water bottle is very low for her to reach without needing to reach up to drink. x

Karamelloh · 03-28-2015, 03:29 AM

Hello! She has definitely had curled legs since birth. I was thinking the same thing about the deterioration in her leg too because theres nothing I can think of what could have injured her in the cage but I could be wrong.

She used to have a silent spinner but her legs would get caught on the groves that come out to help them run and she would end up flying out of the wheel. I switched to a flying saucer for her but she couldn't use it. I don't think she had the strength in her legs to push it and when she did she would also fly off it as well. She now has a Wodent Wheel which keeps her from flying out of it and theres no grooves for her to get caught on. However, I took it out for the night so that she can rest her leg. I lowered her water and took her bowl out too and she is in a single level cage.

Her mobility is relatively fine shes moving a lot and she will walk on it but very oddly like shes trying to not put her weight on it. When she does step on it she goes very slow and carefully sets it down. She also keeps holding it up when she walks too.

racinghamster · 03-28-2015, 04:38 AM

It sounds as though she`s feeling something that she wasn`t before, like a sprain or perhaps even a break? But only a vet would be able to determine that.

Poor love. She`s coped well with her disability and making sure she can reach her water and food easily are paramount and keeping her cage minimal, but enough for her to be happy in. The wheel sounds fine if she`s using it. Wodent Wheels have a solid floor/running surface so the wheel sounds safe enough.

Animals with birth defects can sometimes cope absolutely fine and adapt to their situation. But larger animals like cats and dogs can usually have corrective surgery to get their legs straight again, but with something as small as a robo, there is no chance of that, so it`s a case of on going monitoring and asking a vet to check them over of any new problems occur.

You seem to be doing everything you can to assist her husbandry though. Another aspect I would look at is her sleeping house. Because hamsters like space inside their sleeping house, it would also be a good idea to check this and make sure she can get in and out okay and has plenty of burrowing room inside and her nesting materials are paper based, like ripped up confetti toilet paper that won`t be a danger.

I can`t really recommend more except to say see a vet if she`s displaying any signs of discomfort. x

Thin Lizzy · 03-29-2015, 01:23 AM

So sorry to hear about your little hammies disability, she seems to have coped well.
I agree with what RH has said about ensuring she can get in and out of her sleeping area and make it as big and comfortable as yo can.
I know you're not wanting to take her to the vet but, sometimes you have to put the health and welfare of your ham first, a vet will be able to examine her and know what to feel and look for. Also the vet may be able to provide a prescribed medication to help her. So please think about making an appointment with the vet.