Running in one direction

Pickseihd · 07-10-2014, 11:56 AM

Since I got my Russian dwarf hamster a few months ago my friends and family have pointed out some of the strange things that she does such as sometimes running in tight circles and just doing fast repetitive laps, always with ears up high and eyes wide open - but it only happens in minute or 3 hour intervals, so she does have some downtime. She has enough cage space, toys and even two play bins and has been doing this since I brought her home from the vet. I don't think this has impacted her health as she still eats, drinks, breathes and hears just fine and there are no abnormalities with her body.

The main thing that catches everyone's attention though aside her circle running is that 95% of the time she is going right (they like saying she has "Zoolander" syndrome). On the off-chance that she will go left it is because she had no other choice or is only going a few steps before re-routing to go right again. Is there something wrong with my happy but right direction circular-running hamster?

I'm fairly new to owning a hamster and so far Google says she may or may not suffer from Stargazing. Am I just looking too much into something that isn't actually an issue?

Wexland · 07-11-2014, 01:09 AM

I hope someone on here can give you some advice.

My two seem to usually go the same way on their wheels/saucers but they run every which way round their cages so thats not much help.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-11-2014, 04:34 AM

Unfortunately it does sound like a problem. Has your ham always done this or is it a new behaviour? If its a new thing there's a chance its an ear infection or something (always worth considering) but to me it sounds suspiciously like a neurological problem to be honest. Some hams do develop them and it can mean their care isn't quite as straightforward as that of another ham but there's no reason a hamster with neurological problems can't live a full and happy life. The first thing to do is to minimise stress and go from there I think, I've never cared for a ham with neurological problems myself but from everything I've heard stress often increases how often the ham displays their behaviours.

Pickseihd · 07-11-2014, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Unfortunately it does sound like a problem. Has your ham always done this or is it a new behaviour? If its a new thing there's a chance its an ear infection or something (always worth considering) but to me it sounds suspiciously like a neurological problem to be honest. Some hams do develop them and it can mean their care isn't quite as straightforward as that of another ham but there's no reason a hamster with neurological problems can't live a full and happy life. The first thing to do is to minimise stress and go from there I think, I've never cared for a ham with neurological problems myself but from everything I've heard stress often increases how often the ham displays their behaviours.

She's been like this since the day I got her from the store. I keep things for her stress-free and she doesn't have any other weird habits aside throwing her poop occasionally. And she has no problem running or completing ordinary hamster tasks, just they always happen in a clockwise fashion.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 07-11-2014, 06:24 AM

Then I'd guess its neurological to be honest. Its good you keep her as stress free as possible

Hekomi · 07-11-2014, 07:49 AM

It sounds like a neurological issue to me as well. I know Pom dealt with spinning in one of her robos, perhaps she will chime in and give you some advice. I'd keep an eye on it, and keep her cage always the same with no changes in where things are to confuse her. Hopefully all will be well and she'll live a normal life, with a few circles.

Also, off topic, but go Ontario!

There are a few of us around, but glad to see we're growing in number! If you need help finding supplies, or want to buy something we have to order from the States, if we all do it together it's much less expensive. I'm in the GTA area, and I'm happy to help where able, and we'll hopefully be breeding Syrians in the fall.

Skeever · 07-11-2014, 08:11 AM

Throwing her poop occasionally? I'd think that would be quite an evolved step coming from a hammie. Unless its just directionless flinging. Aiming and launching with malice aforethought would be ....weird?

racinghamster · 07-11-2014, 08:38 AM

Hi. I have a spinning roborovski (he wasn`t always like this) but he was introduced to a flying saucer wheel and within a week or so, he was leaning to one side and tending to circle. This wheel was removed. He was fine again for a time and then this mad spinning behaviour just kicked in and he`s done it ever since. He may have gotten an imbalance from using the flying saucer, or he may just have something gone wrong with his wiring or even his inner ear, but spinning isn`t an inner ear infection as inner ear infections tend to make the hamster fall to one side and lose balance. Spinning doesn`t. Most of the time, the hamster will just be able to control it, as your Russian hamster seems to be doing. But you mentioned being at the vet?

Was this visit about the behaviour or something else? And what did the vet suggest?

LoveMyHams · 07-11-2014, 09:26 AM

I have a spinning hybrid. She developed it a few months after coming home as well as lots of biting and aggression. I also have one of her littermates and she does not spin nor is she aggressive. It's a neurological problem so there is nothing I can do for her other than keep her cage safe. She has all one story, no tall houses or toys to climb on and fall off and a no sharp corners to jab into. She does fine, even runs in her ball with supervision.

Pickseihd · 07-11-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hekomi

It sounds like a neurological issue to me as well. I know Pom dealt with spinning in one of her robos, perhaps she will chime in and give you some advice. I'd keep an eye on it, and keep her cage always the same with no changes in where things are to confuse her. Hopefully all will be well and she'll live a normal life, with a few circles.

Also, off topic, but go Ontario!

There are a few of us around, but glad to see we're growing in number! If you need help finding supplies, or want to buy something we have to order from the States, if we all do it together it's much less expensive. I'm in the GTA area, and I'm happy to help where able, and we'll hopefully be breeding Syrians in the fall.

Changes in her cage doesn't seem to affect her at all, but she is constantly surprised on a weekly basis when I change her bedding and there is no poop. I grew up in the GTA

I visit every few weeks or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeever

Throwing her poop occasionally? I'd think that would be quite an evolved step coming from a hammie. Unless its just directionless flinging. Aiming and launching with malice aforethought would be ....weird?

She just kind of curls up, rolls onto her lower back and throws her poop in some direction. Then she runs up to it thinking there is a new treat in her cage, bites it and then drops it realizing what it is. Sometimes I think she genuinely doesn't know how to hamster.