Arm amputated

[Teddy001]

hi All

I've not posted in a while, but have been lurking quietly..
I've rescued an Syrian hamster. He was living in a very small cage, smaller than my hamster carry cages, for over a year!

I drove 88 miles to get him. His life has not been nice, and he also had a massive wound, that became infected. The mass was so large and infected, that my vet suspects cancerous tumor, or tumor of some sort. I took him to the vet, as soon as I got him, and vet did suggest arm amputation. medication treatment, or PTS. I decided to try medication treatment first- which my hamster started treatment last Friday, today's Tuesday. Due to bleeding and the infection seemed to be getting worse, I took him back to the vet today.

After vet examined him, she said his arm needs to be amputated, or he should be PTS.. I decided to have the amputation surgery. He had the surgery today, and did well, and my vet did find multiple lumps throughout his arm.

My question is, does anyone have hamsters with 3 limbs? Wondering how to set up his cage.. Vet said he will not be able to run on an hamster wheel. Also, how do I help him, durning post-op, and since it's his arm that got amputated, what to do if he pouches food, and can't push the food out, on that side of his cheek?

Thanks for your help!

[cypher]

I don't really have any advice to offer Teddy but I just wanted to say how great it is that you've taken this little guy on & are giving him the chance he deserves.
It's amazing just how adaptable animals can be so I guess you could start with a very basic simple layout in his cage then you just have to watch him & see what his capabilities are then adjust his environment to suit.
Good luck with him I really hope he settles in & does well.

[Teddy001]

Thank you., Cypher. I've set up a cage with no levells, and taken out the wheel. I added tunnels and lots of toys, but I'm sure he will rest for a few days. My main concern is food pouched and with an arm missing he wouldn't be able to push it out. I'm wondering if hamsters can push food from their pouches without using their arms and paws?

This boy deserves a 2nd chance in life!! He's suffered in pain much too long, and he'd continue to suffer if the tumor was not removed. I was hoping to save his arm, however the mass is much too large. X

(The 2nd photo was the cage he was kept in for over a year! The wheel is too small, and they used cedar shavings, which initially I was told he had an reaction to the cedar wood, and being he was found laying on wet cedar wood due to the water bottle leaked, they thought the wound was caused by an abrasion, that got infected)

[Piebald]

Bless you Teddy! There is good post-op advice around the forum, suggestions about diet and soft bedding. I think while he is recuperating a simple lay out is best, some tunnels are good but not too many challenging toys. As he recovers you can add things slowly and see how he manages and make decisions about what he should have.
But I'm with cypher-- he will adapt. I don't see why he can't use a wheel either. I have a 3-legged Greyhound, missing an "arm", and she can run like the wind! She has adapted her gait and your guy can too. So wait and see about that.
Regarding de-pouching, he will maybe use his back leg? Or even a tool-- rubbing on something-- but he will come up with something I would guess. He may try a few things before finding what works.
I really hope he has some happy hamster-years after such a terrible beginning. You are an angel for giving him the chance. xx

[Piebald]

Sorry double post I wanted to mention that when my dog chews a chew-stick she can't hold it between her two front paws since she only has one, so she has developed a method of propping it up against the ground. Just an example of adapting.

[cypher]

It's not something I've given a lot of thought to but I'm pretty sure I've seen mine depouch a certain amount without using their arms/paws, I wouldn't be surprised if he does learn to rub against something as Piebald says but he may just favour the one pouch & not pouch so much at once, could be he'll need a little help possibly, a gentle massage, if he doesn't get the hang of it straight away.

[peasypea]

Poor little thing, I can't believe that cage! Thank you so much for taking him on, you hamster angel!

That's a good point about depouching, I have no experience of amputated limbs in hamsters so I have no advice to give, I just got interested by the thread title. As others have said, dogs adapt remarkably well so hopefully hammys can too!

[cypher]

Just been having a bit of a read around & found a thread on another forum where someone had a dwarf born without a foreleg managed just fine, needed a little help with depouching sometimes but was otherwise still active, running in the wheel & climbing bars at 18m so it just shows what they can do! An amputation is a bit different but I think he stands a good chance of adapting & learning to live a good life once he's healed up & settled in, fingers crossed for him.

[Lozz]

Oh wow, he's so lucky you found him! What an awful cage he had been stuck in, and how wonderful that you went to such great lengths to rescue him and pay for all of his surgery. You're so lovely, best of luck to you both x

[Josie]

So pleased you have given this little boy the chance he deserves after all that he has been through

The kindness one does for an animal may not change the world. But it will change the world for that one animal.