Broken Leg???

[ditzyfairy]

my dwarf hamster Peep was out walking a few mins ago and shes limping on her back leg and looks like she cant put any weight on it at all she had her first litter over a week ago and shes had no problems since she has been running on her wheel and everything but today she looks like shes in pain :( is it possible for hammys to get "dead legs" or leg cramps??? or could it be broken?

[Noodle]

I hope she gets better. I'm sorry I have no advice on this, but thought I'd *bump* it for you :) x

[SnickersTheFirst]

It could either be sprained or broken, she needs to see a vet really as if it's broken x-rays and possible amputation will need to be done asap.

I'm not sure how you go about seeing a vet when the mum has babies though. :-k

[ditzyfairy]

shes just been out again and running on the wheel but still not putting any weight on it,so im hoping she just has a sprain

yeah regarding the babies they're about 11-12 days now and starting to walk about but shes still very protective over them, im waiting for the nearest small animal vet to call me back to see what he says, but the recp said he probably wont be able to do anything until babies are weaned :(

[Lil Miss]

if she has babies you should have removed the wheel before birth! the babies can easily be injured or killed if she decided to take a run with them

i would ring your vets, explain the situation, and ask them for some pain relife for her and see how she goes on that

[fluffymunchkins]

I was thinking that Lil miss, she shouldn't have her wheel.

I agree that getting some pain meds would be best also, if shes not in serious pain then you could wait a couple days till the babies eyes open and take her to the vets x

[ditzyfairy]

well the vet called back and told me to bring the cage with babies in and he'd have a look and give some pain relief if necessary but he didnt want to do anything else until babies were weaned so drove over took cage inside and out comes Peep and not a bother on her, walking about as normal leg was fine... i think she was just looking for some extra attention and some extra treats :) which she was given of course but vet said if it happens again just to take her back in

[Lil Miss]

you really shouldnt have taken the cage and the babies! at 11-12 days old they are still at risk of mum culling them if she is stressed

[ditzyfairy]

well what was i supposed to do then??? take the mother on her own which im sure would be more stressful for her

i done what the vet advised me to do and im sure he knows best

[Lil Miss]

you would actually be surprised how many vets know very little about hamsters!

[capricorn30]

I don't really think that tone is necessary, Lil Miss, ditzyfairy was asking for advice not belittling. I'm glad to hear Peep is on the mend, and while it probably wasn't completely fine to take the litter traveling, well done for getting her checked out just incase. Here's hoping it doesn't happen again, and that the babies grow up alright!

[Lil Miss]

i wasnt taking any tone, it is a well known fact that unfortunately not all vets are hamster savy, and one that advises taking in 11 day old babies is very far from hamster savy