Broken back leg, can I please have good wishes?

[Angie B]

My daughter's hamster broke her back leg on Thursday night, the poor little thing and I still feel kind of responsible, though that feeling is passing as it's only me who's beating me up, as it were.

Twinkie, who's about 4 months old, kept trying to escape out of her Zoozone 2 - and actually succeeded. Twice. So we managed to saw some square pieces of wood and fasten them to her cage (there's 4 - 2 in 2 corners, 1 on the outside and 1 on the inside, screwed together). Sorted. But the joins left tiny gaps - too tiny I thought for paws. I was wrong. And you know what's coming so I won't elaborate.

Daughter heard the squeaks on Thursday evening about 7.30pm, shot down the stairs got me and her dad. I luckily managed to free her but the damage was done. Straight to the emergency vet who suggested either euthanasia there and then (which I was horrified about and immediately declined) or amputation but the latter to be done at our own vet the following day. We opted for the latter so vet filled Twinkie with pain relief up to her eyeballs and we went home. Twinkie went to sleep and seemed okay, stirred later, ate, and drank, walked around a bit before going to bed.

Friday morning 8.30 to our vet. Euthanasia wasn't even an option for our vet , never even mentioned. But amputation was a last resort. They gave her some more pain relief, kept her in for xray to confirm break.

Long story short, break is clean and just above her ankle but the bones are quite far apart so not going to heal by the look of it. However, taking her back tomorrow (Sunday) for a check up. If - IF - she weight bears, tries to walk, they may put off the amputation, keep her off her face on drugs and see how she gets on as they really don't want to amputate as although she could manage on 3 legs (it's her back left which is broken) domestic hammies tend to "get fat" and they're wary that she could end up dragging her belly on the floor which of course could cause sores to her belly.

She is trying to use her leg . They've said they can't put a splint on it because it's so minute, which is such a shame really as I think she'd cope with one. I'll beg them tomorrow, though, you never know! haha.

If they decide to amputate they have 2 options - take it off at the knee which will leave her with a stump, or take it off at the hip. The stump's the best option as it keeps her belly off the floor BUT if that then gets sore she might erm, "self medicate" which wouldn't be good and we could still lose her anyway. Likewise with removal at the hip, her belly may get sore. But either option would be giving her a chance at life. She is only a baby at 4 months old - she's a long haired Syrian and still has baby fluff, aww.

But the best option would be to keep her on pain relief "for as long as it takes" for the pain of the break to go so she still has her foot. She'd then remain very wonky, but still kind of have a foot.

But I feel guilty as I sort of foresaw what could/might happen with the wood but as she'd climbed over it several times successfully, didn't do anything about it . Now of course I wish I'd opened my mouth . Of course, the wood has now been sawn so there's nice big gaps ... but it's too late .

And she's not insured Who'd have thought of insuring a hamster? Oh well - one way of kicking myself for not speaking up I guess. My fault = my bill.

So, good luck wishes please that a) this time next week Twinkie is still here and b) she still has her foot

When they sedated her for the xray she didn't fare too well and they had to give her extra oxygen for 20 mins to bring her round, which they didn't expect and so was a shock to them. But if they have to amputate they've said they can use a different anaesthetic done by vein which should be better, but at least my daughter (who is 14) is prepared.

I feel awful . I can't help it.

Has anyone else been through similar with a broken leg and what was the outcome?

[CMB]

That’s an unfortunate accident. Hope she can recover. With or without the injured leg. Hope the vet visit goes well.

[dreamtree1234]

Oh, no!!! I cried as I read this very sad, heartbreaking news about your daughter's darling Twinkie. It was an unfortunate accident and definitely no one's fault. You were just trying to help and ensure that Twinkie was safe and sound, well taken care of, and didn't escape anymore. I'm sure no one blames you and I pray that you realize it isn't your fault, too. Everything that you are doing is done with love and that is all that anyone can ever hope for. I'm glad that you decided to seek a second opinion to try to see what all your options are for making things best for Twinkie. It sounds like the second vet is more compassionate and willing to see what alternatives can be done improve the situation. I will most definitely keep my fingers crossed and hope and pray that things improve for Twinkie. I hope that pain meds help her through this during the healing process and she is able to not have to go through an amputation. However, if she does have to have her foot or leg amputated, I hope she goes through the anaesthetic better this time, survives and recovers from the surgery, and lives a full, happy, and pain-free life. Please know that you we are here for you, your daughter, and Twinkie. Hugs to you all. Please keep us updated to how things are going if you have the chance. Take care and wishing you all the very best always. Hugs!!!

[Angie B]

Thank you both for your very kind wishes x

And thank you dreamtree1234 as well for your kind words. The second vet is actually our own vet, who we take our rabbits to, but usually the emergency vet (who suggested euthanasia so quickly) is normally very good so it was a surprise to have that suggested so promptly. I'm very glad we declined though and are giving the little ham a chance.

The little devil took her oral medicine like a dream from my husband last night however (my daughter and I were out), but come tonight it has taken almost half an hour for us to give it to her! She's had most of it, a tiny bit was wasted as it got onto my clothes, but what she has had will be enough. There's a drop on a yogurt drop too so she can't have any more treats until that yogurt drop is gone! And she does like her yogurt drops so that shouldn't take too long to disappear. She's had a good wash including her bad leg and has been walking around her cage though not on her leg but that could be because the pain relief had worn off. Maybe when this lot she's just had has kicked in, she'll be back on all 4s.

Vet tomorrow at lunch time for a check up and next steps.

[alpacassei]

I hope her leg heals well x

[Thin Lizzy]

We always feel responsible when something happens to our little ones even when we know we shouldn't.
I hope Twinkie gets better soon.
How did the vet appointment go?

[cypher]

So sorry to hear this has happened to your little one Angie, I hope all goes well for her.
Anaesthetic is always a worry with tiny hams but they can do really well with three legs so if that is what the vet chooses to do she does stand a good chance of continuing to have a happy & comfortable life ahead of her.
Good luck little Twinkie.

[Pygmypuff]

I'm so sorry to hear about this, it's so so horrible to see our pets in pain. Please remember that this isn't your fault - bad things happen all the time, and you were just trying to keep Twinkie safe.

Sending mountains of luck and good wishes in yours and Twinkie's direction.

[Angie B]

Thank you, everyone x

The vet today, Filip, was lovely but very straight-talking and didn't sugarcoat anything.

Sadly, they can't splint the leg as it's way too small and the way the break is, the bone has also twisted so it's not as simple as a straightforward break - they'd have to straighten the bone first before splinting it and he said it's impossible. So the long and short of it is, it will have to be amputated.

We're going back on Thursday after school for another checkup/chat, but we're fully expecting Filip to then suggest amputation the following day.

As Twinkie didn't fare well under the very light anaesthetic for the xray (she was still almost wriggling around) he has been honest and given her a less than 50% chance of survival however.

But as there is still a chance, we're going to take it.

The plan is he's going to take the foot off at the break as it's the fastest option, but once he's started if he finds that he has to go higher then obviously he'll have to. But of course the longer she's under, the less her chances of survival are and they're not the best already.

So we have 4 days with her at the moment, spoiling her rotten - Niamh's made her some hamster pancakes today which she seemed to enjoy, and we're going to take lots of photos, just in case.

It's all very sad, but there is still hope even if it's quite low.

[Pygmypuff]

I'm so sorry to hear all this Angie. This must be an exceptionally difficult time, I really feel for you.

I'm glad you are still holding onto hope - at times, when everything seems to be going wrong, this is all we have.

Good luck for Thursday x