REALLY worried!

[pinkneon]

Have just booked him an appointment for 10:45! Will have to wake him up then which he won't be happy about, but it's for his own good. Poor thing. A quick question though - today is pretty warm. Usually Sweep has lots of substrate in his carrier if it is cold, but it also stops him chewing the carrier. Will he be ok with that much substrate in there - it's about half full I'd say. Any less and he chews it I usually put his bedding in too, but am wondering if it is too warm for that? Or will it keep him a bit calmer?

[EnerHam]

If the vet is only a couple of minutes away then it should be fine - maybe go easy on the bedding just to be on the safe side. Put a little cucumber in there to make sure he's got liquids and perhaps shade the carrier a little with a towel or jacket or something if the sun is directly on it. Just make sure there's enough ventilation.

I hope everything goes well for you two.

[pinkneon]

We're back from the vet!
Typically once we got there Sweep was happily digging away in his carrier making me wonder whether he needed to be seen. I decided to get him seen anyway. He was ok to begin with. He was hiding inside his cardboard house so he got out of his carrier whilst inside the box. The vet did a general health check too - he weighs 185g! But, when she went to stroke him on his back, he flinched away from her. He has seen this vet before. She said it seemed like he may have been in a bit of pain - but he walking fine and so it could have just been a bit of bruising. However, she said she could give him some pain medication anyway. At first she wanted to give him one that you put in the water, but I was worried he might not get the correct dose, especially as is it so hot I am changing the water twice a day. So, she gave him an injection! He HATED that, and bit her. He then ran across the table into my hands, and when I scooped him up to put him back in his carrier, he bit me too! He drew blood with the vet, but not with me - so maybe he forgave me a little? The vet advised to remove the wheel for 24 hours, however I am concerned this will lead to bar chewing. Anything I give him instead?? Sweep had calmed down by the time we got home, and was hiding in his substrate in the carrier. I managed to use a cardboard tube to get him back into his cage, where he stood at the door just looking at me! He is now making his bed as noisily as he possibly can LOL
Vet said to monitor for the next 24 hours and ring immediately if I have any more concerns

[Pebbles82]

I think if she has said to remove the wheel for 24 hours that would be a good thing to do. Do it when he can't see you do it as he's more likely to react badly if he sees you take it out. ie do it when he's asleep. Assume you can lift it out through the top door without having to take the top off the cage. Maybe open the top door first, leave it resting on the clips and wait a bit to make sure the noise didn't wake him, then take the wheel out, then close the top door a few minutes later, as quietly as you can.

I hope he is ok. It sounds like shock to me. They often will flinch if they're feeling nervous after something has shaken them up. But just keep an eye on him. He'll need a few days quiet anyway to get over the vet visit. Charlie has only just got back to normal after his vet visit a couple of weeks ago. (ie happily doing normally hamstery things and not hiding if he sees anyone).

[pinkneon]

Thanks. I took the wheel out as soon as we got back (when Sweep was still in his carrier!) ... I think he is annoyed with me now!

[Thin Lizzy]

Poor Sweep, you did the right thing taking him to the vet. I know that when Twinkle hurt herself, she got this massive bruise and I removed her saucer for over a week.
It does sound like he got a fright when landing on his back. This injection the vet gave him, does that mean you'll have to inject him too?

[pinkneon]

No, thankfully! Apparently it lasts 48 hours though, so if he seems in pain after that I will have to take him back or phone and see if they can give me something. He should be ok though. She thought it might just be bruising

[Thin Lizzy]

If it's bruising then it'll go through it's stages of colour. I remember Twinkle's being purple but, it didn't faze her. She loved all the attention and special treats.
Fingers crossed Sweep will only need that one injection and that he's back to his cheeky self soon.

[AlfredHam]

Glad to hear you got an appointment I hope he makes a speedy recovery from his visit