is it ok to "scruff"?

[spyro87]

I was just wondering if the practice of scruffing is ok? because when the veterinary nurse checked Gloria's teeth and mouth he didn't scruff her and I wondered why he hadn't..
I've heard about scruffing causing a hammy's eyes to pop out if done incorrectly...?

So is scruffing safe? or unsafe? only advisable to do if you're a professional/know what you're doing and are totally confident in your ability? - not that I'm planning on scruffing Gloria (or Charlie) anytime soon o.O

[Pompompoms]

Scruffing is completely safe, I scruff my baby robos from two weeks old when I sex them, and the through their lives for nails trimming and health checks. I know my vet isn't hugely confident with scruffing, so they either don't, or they ask me to do it. I find if you gently tilt back, and support the body it doesn't put any strain at all on them so there is no danger of pressure on the eyes or anywhere else.

I have a little vid of me scruffing one of my adult robos.

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/th_Dasherscruff.jpg (http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae271/Rican_2010_album/Dasherscruff.mp4)

As you can see he's completely supported, his eyes aren't bulging at all, and he stays totally relaxed throughout, as well as when I put him down.

Please ignore my dressing gown :mad:

[HorseyMandz]

I used to think the same as you, and then when Minnie needed antibiotics towards the end of her life, the quickest and kindest way was to scruff her and just squirt the contents of the syringe in. Considering I am an inexperienced 14 year old, it wasn't actually too bad, and she didn't seem to mind, providing I supported her body properly.

[Skeever]

Thanks for the video. I am slowly trying to work my way to a full scruff, cuz I don't wanna do it wrong. Although Ziggy is not too upset when I just flop him on his back , belly up, for a tickle.....it's good to know if you need to assist a vet, or safely extricate them from the mischief they get into to. ;) So far I'm just petting and finding the right spot, haven't actually picked him up by it yet....patience comes to those who have hamsters, heh.

[spyro87]

yeh, thanks for the video! :D I would love to feel confident enough to do that to a ham...

my biggest worry about scruffing (minus popping eyes o.O ) is that the ham will absolutely hate it and go totally ballistic, clawing and biting and generally being REALLY afraid... at which point I'll probably lose a finger or two and neither of us will ever want to socialise again :o - ok ok, maybe a little over the top.... but.. heh... :)
how likely is it that a hammy who is taming well - but can still be very rarely be...pingy when caught off guard - will actually allow me to do this?

[Skeever]

Try what I'm doing, lead up to it, without actually doing it when petting? So far he's dealt with more handling really....it's just my awareness that they can bite from that position, and I'm not sure they will accept it. Having never seen ham pups close up, I'm guessing one reason it does work is its how their Mama carried them if necessary. Still I'm not setting myself to fully scruff Ziggy on any time frame. You'll know when the time is right, and when the lil bugger is just too manic with the joy of exploring, or having to pee....or ..... :P

[spyro87]

she's fine with me tweaking the scruff up (I'm paranoid she doesn't drink enough) so I tweak it to check her hydration levels. I think that's just become a fact of life for her :P

however, the way that the vet nurse checked her teeth was scarier imo... he poked her bottom "lip" out the way to check her teeth... funny though she kept pushing his finger away with her front paws xD mad man sticking his finger voluntarily towards her mouth :o

Right, well, I guess I'll see how the princess feels about me dressing up as a giant hamster and telling her I'm her long lost ma and I've come to scruff her and... carry her back to my nest :P or y'know, maybe not XD

[Hekomi]

When I knew I'd have to cut Mocha's nails, I started off by scruffing him for a few seconds, and then rewarding him with a treat. Eventually I was able to scruff him for longer periods, and I always reward with the treat after.

[Skeever]

me dressing up as a giant hamster and telling her I'm her long lost ma and I've come to scruff her and... carry her back to my nest :P

Pics or it didn't happen.... LOL

:D

[Hekomi]

me dressing up as a giant hamster and telling her I'm her long lost ma and I've come to scruff her and... carry her back to my nest :P

Pics or it didn't happen.... LOL

:D

I can provide a hamster kigu.

I actually clipped nails and scruffed in it once, but got really hot and sweaty.

It's not too hard to do, just takes patience and practice.

[spyro87]

me dressing up as a giant hamster and telling her I'm her long lost ma and I've come to scruff her and... carry her back to my nest :P

Pics or it didn't happen.... LOL

:D

hahaha, well, I armed myself with sunflower seeds - yes deshelled, for the princess can't get her paws dirty doing such a paupers task for herself - and I braced myself for getting bitten - note, I was MINUS a hammy costume; I'm pretty sure I'd have scared the droppings outta her XD (however, I was, of course clothed)

She actually didn't react too badly to it! however once I had her scruffed, the temptation to poke her fluffy tummy was WAY too much so I didn't hold her for long at all. Just a quick test shot!

Prior to this, the princess and I worked on some hand scooping, she nested in my hair* - again.. what IS with that? - and I even pushed my luck with some (slight) one handed lifts and drops - lifting her with one hand placing her back down.
She didn't freak out at all, I was really impressed! she didn't even freak out when I carefully one hand lifted her out of my hair*.

So I gave her sunflower seeds occasionally and talked to her and she's definitely in a better mood than Charlie.... who I swear isn't going to talk to me like. ever. again.
as for scruffing Charlie? ha!! no thanks, I think I'd rather throw apples at a bear....

* just to point out she doesn't climb on my head, she climbs up my shoulder and heads for the nape of my neck, where she decides to get comfy in my long, wavy pony tailed hair... yes, it's really long.. all the way down my back!

[Skeever]

I don't know if Hammies do it at all, but my rats always started grooming my hair if it was long enough......don't be surprised? So long as she doesn't try to drag it back to her house, it's all good. :D

[spyro87]

I don't know if Hammies do it at all, but my rats always started grooming my hair if it was long enough......don't be surprised? So long as she doesn't try to drag it back to her house, it's all good. :D

ohhh the mental image of her attempting that lol!