Injured Robo

[Dalis_mum]

I'm glad that you've found a helpful vet and you've been able to start treating her injury.

I was wondering on the initiation of the wound. Is there any chance your little buddy could have caught herself on some exposed mesh or something else in their bin cage? There is a phenomenon in some species where an animal struggles to differentiate between different types of nerve stimulation in an injured area. This leads to over grooming to the extent of creating or exacerbating an open wound and disrupting the healing process. Its most documented in domestic cats. It may be worth either moving into a different habitat or having a thorough check on the existing bin cage.

[10Minutes]

Originally Posted by Ria P

In that case i'd follow the vet's advice. Is it an antibiotic because the wound is infected or as a preventive measure or is it a pain killer?

It's probably more stressful for you than your Robo to administer the medication trying to get hold of such a tiny and speedy animal.

Let us know how you get on.

I think it's antibiotics, more of a preventive measure. The vet said that her wound was healing up pretty well actually. But I'd like to add (and I did tell the vet) that she smells very whiffy these days and I presume it is because of the wound.

Originally Posted by Dalis_mum

I'm glad that you've found a helpful vet and you've been able to start treating her injury.

I was wondering on the initiation of the wound. Is there any chance your little buddy could have caught herself on some exposed mesh or something else in their bin cage? There is a phenomenon in some species where an animal struggles to differentiate between different types of nerve stimulation in an injured area. This leads to over grooming to the extent of creating or exacerbating an open wound and disrupting the healing process. Its most documented in domestic cats. It may be worth either moving into a different habitat or having a thorough check on the existing bin cage.

I actually used cooling racks instead of mesh. They are metal grids, very sturdy and the racks are smooth all over with no sharp edges sticking out at all (because they were meant to be safely used by humans for everyday culinary purposes). Doesn't seem likely she cut herself on those metal grids.

To be safe, I moved her into a new bin cage (without any kind of mesh or racks at the sides) for observation and checked all her toys. I still can't pinpoint what toys could have injured her, but I will continue examining this.

I can't say for sure if she has been overgrooming. From my limited observations, she doesn't seem to be doing that and I really really hope not because I won't know how I can stop her from overgrooming and that would be bad. The vet gave some cream to be applied to the wounds too, so I really hope she doesn't secretly lick everything off (The vet said it was safe to ingest but I still hate the idea of her eating it).

[10Minutes]

Help!

Update: My husband and I tried to scruff her and failed miserably. The vet made it look so easy! And my husband could scruff her at the vet's, but he can't do it now. He's been stressing her out for half an hour without any success.

I have fed her the meds as she is willing to drink from the syringe, and also used the tip of a cotton bud swab tip to apply small dabs of cream, which we concluded was better than nothing and left it at that.

My concern is the part where I have to cleanse her wounds throughoutly with another type of medication and that is totally impossible to do without scruffing. Her wounds have to be cleaned properly or it will definitely get worse. Random dabs with a cotton bud swab tip is not good enough when it comes to cleaning her wounds. Help, any tips for how to scruff a skittish Robo that squirms away at the speed of lightning?

We have scooped her up in a small palm size box and tried to scruff from there but it's still not working. She has bitten us a few times too. Scruffing tips greatly appreciated!

[Ria P]

You could wear gardening or other non wooly/slip gloves so you won't be nervous of getting bitten and try the method mentioned earlier like the shop girl showed me.

Or hold her between your thumb and index finger but i'm sure you've tried everything possible.

At least she's taking the oral meds which is a positive start to her treatment.

It will be hard to find the origin of her injury since you were in hospital yourself and with the crazy speed Robos move they probably can't break in time to avoid a hazard.

Freak accidents happen.

[Dalis_mum]

Instead of trying to scruff her could you find something to keep her sat still in her cage or something. I know robos are a huge challenge to keep still just trying to come up with alternatives. Maybe a favourite treat held in one hand with dabbing/cleaning with the other. Eddie likes dried mango for this purpose!

[Chicleteer]

10M, I wish I had suggestions to offer but unfortunately don’t. I just wanted to wish you well as you and your husband try to deal with this tricky situation. It sounds like you folks are doing everything you can for your little robo. Hope it works out. Good luck!

[10Minutes]

I think the main issue is that we can't "grab" her in the first place, because she zips around like lightning and she bites us now out of fear (she never bit before this). Once scruffed, she doesn't move and is completely immobilised. At least, my husband could do it very well at the vet's and she was as good as gold - we could do anything we wanted and she just didn't move/ squirm. We just don't know how to initiate the scruffing, as the vet was the one to initiate it and she just scruffed so easily on the first try, as if my Robo was a tame puppy.

We have come out with alternatives to the scruffing (cotton bud swab tip) but it only works for applying small dabs of cream. She jumps away everytime we dab her (and I don't blame her, it's probably super sore). It's not done well at all, but better than nothing. It's the cleaning part that I am worried about, as it is impossible to clean. The vet gave us some cleaning solution that we are supposed to wipe her with throughoutly each day, and it cannot be done unless she is scruffed. The cleaning is very crucial and I can't skip it.

Videos don't help because the ones on YouTube are usually Syrians, and tame ones at that. We know the middle part (how to maintain a scruff) but it's how to initiate a scruff on a skittish Robo that is really beyond us.

I kinda regret not taming her properly now because I didn't think/ know it was essential for a hamster's well-being to allow us to hold her. I used to just stroke her and we (my Robo and I) were happy with that arrangement.

On the bright side, she loves her oral medication as if it were a treat. She smells less whiffy today. I hope that means her wound's condition has improved.

[Ria P]

Have you tried taking her out in a mug and put her in a small box first so she can't run around so much? Would that make it easier to catch and scruff her?

Or even trap her in a tiny cardboard box so she can't move while you clean her wound. I'd try that within a playpen or other enclosure because Robos jump.

As for taming. Tbh, i don't know how anyone can tame a Robo unless started from the time they're babies so get used to it as part of their lives.

[10Minutes]

I have tried trapping her in a palm sized box and it still doesn't work (she will scramble frantically, so that she is sort of standing upright all the time and I can't really grab her from that angle because I'm also worried about the biting habit she has learnt (from all the stress with the medicines).

I'm paranoid about the cleaning thing because I'd experienced this personally myself before. Doctor told me not to let water go near my injury, I took that at face value and applied prescribed creams without cleaning it - voila, it went from a bad burn to a truly infected black mass that resulted in me being carted off to a specialist in emergency. I really feel it is crucial her wound is cleaned, especially since the vet did tell me to do it. I feel horrible now because I still haven't managed to scruff her and clean her properly. Will try again tonight.

I've read that some scientists say Robos are practically untameable, but I've also seen some people on the internet that did manage to tame their Robos. It may possibly be doable, as mine does allow stroking actually, and would put her paws on my palm for treats. I just didn't take it further by offering my entire palm to her because she would nibble out of curiosity, so I left it at that. Hopefully you are able to keep trying with Gordon (though I suppose it can't be done sometimes, as it really does depend on the hamster) because you never know when it will be necessary to scruff him.

[LunaTheHamster1]

oh, I just wondered if you used a bit of kitchen roll if it would help you to scruff - i.e. get a better grip. Apparently my vet used that on Star when she was still squirmy and jumpy (although she is a Syrian). I just thought I would mention it.