Hamster dragging back leg - Page 3

Pebbles82 · 11-12-2017, 04:00 PM

That does look like a funny position, as if it might be dislocated. When our hammy was old he just sort of waddled on his back legs when he couldn't use them, but that is definitely a "drag" by the look of it. Difficult though - especially if he seems happy enough?

It can be hard finding good vets. I just google and read all the blurb. Google for an exotic vet in your region and then read the specialisms of the vets in the practice and see if there is one that specialises in small furries.

I'm not sure a vet could do much about it though at his age. So as the others say, if he doesn't seem in pain and it's intermittent then maybe just see how he goes.

Nube · 11-12-2017, 04:15 PM

Well you can tell he is active could not get him to stay still to get a good photo

Will see if can find a good vet...

cypher · 11-12-2017, 10:25 PM

If you can find a good vet it would certainly be worth having it checked, it does look strange but one of mine has been having a problem & dragging his back legs & they do tend to stick out at a bit of a strange angle when they can't use them. I'm not sure how much a vet would be able to do at this stage unless he needs any pain meds & he does seem to be managing well, I would just try to let him guide you as far as how much out of cage time he has.

Pebbles82 · 11-13-2017, 02:20 AM

Yes I think that is it - that there isn't much a vet would do probably at his age, except for pain meds. But if you think he needs pain meds at any point it would probably need a vet visit to get them.

This makes me think that actually,while he is active like this, a vet visit might not be a bad idea, if only to get pain meds prescribed. Then you can have a new prescription without going to the vet each time, when needed - just thinking that if he is ever weak it would be more stressful going to the vets for pain meds.

My experience was - they wouldn't give them without seeing the hamster. But once they had seen him and they'd been prescribed I could just ring up for more when they ran out.

Hammies don't like taking meds, but as it's only a tiny drop you can put it in a tiny bit of baby food on a spoon or something.

cypher · 11-13-2017, 02:39 AM

Hamster vary a lot with meds, I've never found it much of a problem & mine actually seemed to like the metacam! A little bit of baby food or porridge does help it go down though if you do need to give them & your ham isn't so keen.

Nube · 11-15-2017, 12:48 AM

Yesterday our poor immobile hamster managed to squeeze through a gap into the kitchen (my husband has accidentally left the door slightly open), rampaged there and when I eventually realised he was missing I found him very pleased with himself with cheeks size of apples. Fortunately he cannot climb, there are lots of places he could have got lost in if he could lift himself... Anyway, after a sneaky trick of placing him next to his house, waiting for him to empty his pouches and luring him out I found two rather large bits of breadstick along with other things one can find on the floor under cupboards in a home with a tweenager... So he is not too old and frail yet to not get into mischief! Decided to take him to vets anyway, this weekend maybe - to get pain meds for the future and maybe anti inflammatory or whatever he might need...

Gibbs · 11-15-2017, 12:58 AM

my daughters hamster “teddy” has that very problem. If it’s supposed to be debilitating someone forgot to tell him. He still climbs his cage and moves quicker than the others with 4 functional legs

Nube · 11-15-2017, 04:12 AM

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Ours does attempt to climb too... Usually ends in a barrel roll looking a bit dazzled (surely I have scaled this summit... why am I on the floor?).
Did you see a vet about it?

Thin Lizzy · 11-16-2017, 06:42 AM

He's quite the traveller despite his bad leg.
Getting pain meds will help.

Nube · 11-16-2017, 10:33 AM

Booked an appointment with a local vet for Saturday. Hope to get someone who has seen a hamster before. For pain meds they should be Ok, let's see what they say.

How do you wake up your hamster when you need to visit a vet? We are quite brutal - lift the roof of his house and transfer him into the carrier. We have a little travel house for him there, so he usually settles down to sleep straight away. Just wondering if there are any gentler ways... Or maybe not.