Hamster injury Urgent help

[racinghamster]

I can`t add to what the other members have suggested already regarding diet and the best way forward. All I will say is this isn`t a good scenario for your hamster as he will find it difficult to cope if he has broken or missing teeth and will possibly get by for a time and then could lose condition or suffer, so given the vet suggested putting to sleep, I know that`s not always worth doing, but the injuries sound quite bad without further vet intervention like making sure the teeth are okay, trimmed or that he isn`t unnecessarily suffering in silence.

Was he chewing on cage bars before this happened? You said that his nose was `split`? Poor soul, that must be sore. Did he fall or get his face trapped?

Really hope he starts to pick up again but these injuries, especially to the teeth can be an ongoing concern. x

[squeakylittlepaws]

Has he been given any pain medication? I.e metacam? Xx

[Pebbles82]

SKB's thread is an excellent way to help you with feeding him, along with Souffle's advice. SKB's thread is very good and has a lot of suggestions for feeding in your hammy's condition.

It does sound like he has had a very nasty injury. And I can completely understand your feeling of not wanting to have him put down when you see him wanting to eat and live his little life.

I would second Science Selective as it's one of the easiest ways for them to get all the nutrients they need in one ground down feed, plus hammies seem to like the taste/smell of it.

If you have a nut or coffee grinder you could put a cupfull of them in and grind them and then store the cupfull in an airtight plastic container and just use it from that daily (still needs soaking so it's soft enough to lick if he can't chew).

I would also put out baby food as well - so he gets some fresh food/veg that way and they also seem to like that. I put it in a little egg cup pushed down into the substrate so it's not too high and doesn't fall over.

4 months baby foods tend to be best - they don't have the ingredients that hammies can't have in (some do some don't) - eg no tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices, lemon juice.

That basically rules out the sweet ones really. Out of the savoury ones, these are my staples:

Cow and gate 4 months : Pumpkin and chicken, chicken sunday lunch, and a lamb one.
Boots: Fruity chicken
Ella's kitchen - the peas one, the parsnip one and the carrot one.

But the hamster mix is the most important one, the baby food is nice for them and a bit nutritious but no calories really.

But do check out SKB's thread because there are all kinds of nuts and seeds you can grind as well.

It's going to be a lot of commitment and a bit of time spent preparing his food each evening. I am doing some of this for our hammy at the moment as he is so old now. He does eat hard food as well but I'm having to soften the science selective and I put baby food out as well. I allow about 20 minutes each evening to do his feeding and give him some cooked, cooled porridge on a teaspoon in the morning (between 7am and 9am usually). The porridge is quite easy - a teaspoonful of oats to 3 teaspoons of water in a mug and about a minute in the microwave (or until it's not too thick and not too runny!) Then put some on a teaspoon and let it cool. I do hope he does ok - it sounds like he has fight in him.

I also think Metacam for pain could be a good idea - did the vet not mention it? Or maybe he doesn't seem in pain now.

As an aside he maybe needs to be in a tank style so he can't injure himself on bars again.

A meshed Zoozone 2 might be a good option. (just the top bars on the lid need meshing).

Glad his nose has healed up.

[kelalexisham]

thank you guys , yeah we found out that he smacked his nose and his eyes off the water bottle metal bit and then smacked his face off the bars because he couldnt see but right now he is opening his eyes on his own which im really proud of him doing , when u pick him up u can feel one of his teeth dragging off ur hand and he is trying to eat / he has had little bits of food . and he is acting normal but he is really skinny . but everything seems to be fine now apart from him eating i have given him hamster food mashed up , potato , bannas and hamster small treats and he seems to be eating them but only small parts and then he gives up.

[Pebbles82]

Oh that is a bit sad. He needs things he can lick really - puree'd food. Did he have a fall? I can't imagine a hammy injuring themselves like that by walking into something! Souffle suggested something to help boost calories on the previous page I think.

[souffle]

If his tooth is dragging on your hand eating must be very tricky. I think I might risk having him back at the vets and having that clipped off. This can be done with a very short whiff of gas and the vet may get a better idea of what is going on with the mouth while he is still.

[kelalexisham]

Just to let you guys know I took him to the vet and put him down as I didn't want to see him in pain anymore and I tried feeding him everything and i couldn't see him suffer anymore.
So I won't need any help regarding my situation thank you guys for the help anyway . ❤

[souffle]

I'm sorry to hear that but you tried your best for him and gave him the last gift of rest.
Run free at the bridge little one x

[flowerfairy]

It sounds like you made the kindest decision for him. Bless him.

[Hamsterita]

Sorry for your lost. You tried your best. Sleep well little one.