Leg paralysis

Heather · 05-21-2017, 11:15 PM

Hi, I haven't posted in a while but I really need some advice.

On Thursday morning Mary was going to get a drink of water and he rolled onto his back and couldn't get back up. I helped him back up but since then he has had no use of both back legs. He has barely moved and I've been hand feeding him and giving him water. I thought that he wouldn't make it through the day but he is still the same now and I really don't know what to do. I had hoped to keep him comfortable at home in familiar surroundings and that he would pass on peacefully, but now I feel cruel as it has been a few days and the last thing I want is for him to be suffering. I've made an appointment to take him to the vets today but I'm doubting myself again, if these are his final moments I hate to think of them being stressful ones in unfamiliar surroundings. I just want to do what's best for him but I'm really struggling to think clearly. Any advice would be really appreciated.

cypher · 05-21-2017, 11:38 PM

I'm really sorry to hear this Heather.
Do you know what happened? I can't remember how old he is now but it sounds as though he may have had a stroke, they can recover to some extent over time but there's no way of knowing for sure, I can imagine how difficult the decision whether to take him to the vet or not must be but I think it's the right thing to do, they may be able to help but if not at least your little guy won't be suffering.

Heather · 05-21-2017, 11:52 PM

He's been slowing down over the past few months but he hasn't seemed to struggle running around his cage. I just saw him kind of stumble back from his water and then was unable to get himself back up. It's heartbreaking to see. He still snatches food off me like he always has, but I just don't know if he's in pain or not. I've had him for 2.5 years and I think he was a little older when I got him as he had been in the adoption for quite a while. He could be around 3.

Pebbles82 · 05-22-2017, 12:44 AM

He is quite an old little guy and it's amazing he has only just started having mobility problems. How does he seem in himself? I know how hard these decisions are. I kept phoning the vets and then putting off another few days. If he hasn't been able to walk since Thursday then it does sound like the back leg paralysis may be permanent. Has he attempted to walk since Thursday? What time is your vet appointment? If he is that age they are very likely to suggest you have him helped on his way.

People often say it comes down to quality of life. The difficulty I had was Charlie still wanted to eat and was enjoying food, even though he could hardly walk, and I didn't feel right helping him on his way at that point. It was when he showed signs of suffering and being ready to go I took him.

Is it possible to ring the vets and discuss it with them before going in? That might help decide you whether to give it a bit more time or take him in.

All situations are different and there is no right or wrong way. You do what feels right. Hindsight told me I should have taken Charlie to the vets earlier before he suffered any more. But I probably wouldn't have if in the same situation again, because he kept coming round and wanting to keep going.

At the moment he is dependant on you for eating and drinking. You could move his food and water close to his nest as well. How does he behave when you feed him and give him water? The sign for me was when Charlie refused water.

Heather · 05-22-2017, 12:54 AM

It's at 11:30, it feels sickening to be making an appointment for this. He's taking food from me and drinking but he hasn't really moved since Thursday, he's rolled him self around and moved by maybe an inch. Between me feeding him he's just been sleeping. I'm struggling so much to figure out what's best for him. When he's sleeping I hope he's not in pain and will drift away peacefully, but when he try's to move he looks so frustrated and I really can't tell if he's in pain. I just don't know if it's kinder to leave him where he is, I don't want the stress of a vet visit if he's not in pain and can go peacefully - but this is day 5 now and I really can't bear the thought of him laying there suffering.

I spoke to the vet nurse this morning and she said that it was my decision, if he seems settled it may be best to leave him where he is but if he seems like he's suffering to bring him in.

Can I ask what they do to put hamsters to sleep? Can they use gas? I've never had to take one and I'm worried about how scared he will be if he has to have a needle, I would hate for him to be stressed and scared in his final moments.

Pebbles82 · 05-22-2017, 01:08 AM

I know - I found that hard too. I think vets vary a bit. I think it's important to request that they have gas anaesthetic to anaesthetise them and make them sleep, before the injection. Most vets do this but not all, so I think it's important to specifically ask for it.

It is such a hard one. If you leave him in peace, he is dependant on you for food and water by the sound of it. Frustrated is a kind of suffering. I hoped so much Charlie would pass in his sleep but he didn't - he must have had a strong heart.

The gas isn't enough on its own, so vets won't use that by itself - they have to give the injection, but if having the gas first they will be sleeping and anaesthetised and won't know much about the injection.

As it is a morning appointment, maybe you could put it off until tomorrow later in the day, as he will be sleeping today in his normal sleep pattern. Is there a particular vet you like? Or if you think it would be prolonging things you could ask to change the appointment until later today, when he would normally be awake.

He is a very old hamster and I can quite see that it is nicer to leave them where they are. If only we had a crystal ball to know what to do.

Pebbles82 · 05-22-2017, 01:14 AM

If it helps, I believe they always fit you in if it's an emergency.

AprilPearl · 05-22-2017, 01:17 AM

Hi Heather. This sounds very similar to a hamster I adopted called Scamp. When he came to me, he had been injured for a long time, but nevertheless was able to live a full and happy life. As a young hamster, he fell and his owners thought he would die. He did not die, but was unable to use both back legs for a number of weeks. After this, he did regain partial movement in them though they had set splayed out at odd angles. Scamp learnt to drag himself along and became quite mobile. From this description, you might think he was suffering, but I can tell you that he evidently was not. Scamp was just as happy and full of the joys of life as any healthy hamster I have ever owned. He was enthusiastic about treats, cuddles and loved floor time just as much as any other ham. He was inquisitive and surprisingly active, considering his condition. He really did learn to make the best of life and was almost 3 when he passed on from old age - completely unrelated to his injury. I guess what I am saying is, Mary may yet recover sufficiently to have a full and happy life. Perhaps he fell from his cage bars during the night and landed awkwardly. However, he is old and has already lived a very long time. It is up to you to decide what to do. You know what is best for him and whether he seems to be suffering greatly. I just thought this anecdote might be useful to you.

Heather · 05-22-2017, 01:19 AM

I think I will ring back to ask about it. I really want to be with him but I don't think I could watch him struggling and having an injection.

I think the time of day isn't making much of a difference to him now as he isn't moving at all. I know he can't be happy and I feel he doesn't have very long left whatever I do, I just need to decide what the kindest option is for him. It's so difficult to try and make a decision when your emotions are so involved. I'm trying to think purely what's best for him but I know there's the part of me that just doesn't want to let him go and it's difficult to really ignore it and think clearly.

Heather · 05-22-2017, 01:24 AM

Scamp sounds so lovely, thank you for telling me about him. I'm not sure if it's the same with Mary because he is close to 3 and he really isn't moving around at all - I'm not sure how long would be reasonable to wait? He isn't really trying to move anywhere, just rolling from side to side as if trying to get comfortable. He looks tired to me, his eyes don't look bright like they used to and he just seems to want to sleep