Hamster Heaven warning

hamster mum · 06-12-2010, 11:54 AM

My dwarf hammie Spike and her two daughters have lived in a hamster heaven for about a month, I upgraded as I thought they would prefer it and having seen dwarfs on the hamster heaven advertising I assumed they are safe. Well a couple of weeks ago we came back from holiday, our pet sitter had checked them at 7:30 and we came home about two hours later. The first thing my daughter did was to run to check the hammies and she found Spike with her leg stuck between the shelf and the bars of the hamster heaven, I dont know how she did it but I imagine shes been climbing and dropped down. She had bitten her leg and was still biting it while I frantically removed the screws that hold on the shelf. When I got her out she looked terrible but it sort of popped back into place and she started to walk more normally. The vet had a look and said to keep an eye on her. A week later she suddenly deteriorated and started limping again and her foot felt cold, I made an appointment for the following day and when it was time to take her I picked her up and the most horrible thing happened, her leg litterally came away and fell off. Apparently when she originally hurt it she must have damaged the blood vessles and it has been dying ever since. She is getting better every day and is walking properly now but what my poor baby must have suffered is unbelievable. I have contacted Savic on several occasions, not to ask for any money or anything like that just to ask them to post a warning for dwarf owners and all I get is that the hamster heaven is not meant for 'dwarfs' its just for 'hamsters' and that is what their packaging says 'suitable for hamsters', I cant get through to them that dwarfes are also hamsters and it should say suitable for syrian hamsters but they are no longer replying to my emails. I just wanted to post this to warn other people to either loosen the shelves to any stuck limbs can get out easily or to not use the shelf at all. Sorry for the mammoth post hope you managed to get through it all.

souffle · 06-12-2010, 12:19 PM

Aww Gill I am so very sorry but it sounds like Spike is quite a trouper and is coping with this well poor little mite. I had the pleasure of meeting her a while back when they litter came to be sexed and she is a real sweetheart.
I am disappointed to hear that Savic have been less that helpful

I would post this across as many places as you canto warn people. I suppose it is possible for such accidents to happen in any cage but best be aware that this is a real possibility in this cage and I imagine it could happen to a syrian as well

I hope little Spike is soon adapted and feeling better. Most hammies manage well on three legs and live normal lives but it is best they do not climb or do so much wheeling as it can cause the stump to get a scab on it.
Gentle strokes to her a well done you for looking after her so well and also putting her case to Savic
XX

hamster mum · 06-12-2010, 12:25 PM

Thanks Souffle, she is still as sweet as she was before the accident and she hasnt resented me for all the saline bathing and vet visits. She was obviously distressed when she first lost the leg as she rolled onto her back a few times and couldnt get back over again. I was really worried that her daughters would take the opportunity to have a takeover bid as she is definately the boss of the cage but they have been really sweet with her and shes back in charge now. I am thinking of popping her in one of the large zoozone rabbit cages I have as she is addicted to climbing the bars, but Im worried if I change her cage now after all the upset shes had recently that she will loose some of her fight.

fluffymunchkins · 06-12-2010, 01:11 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about spike

I hope lots of people can learn rom this thread so it can be prevented!

I definitley agree with souffle, 3 legged hamsters make up for their disability in character, i always heard it said but never realised how true it was

My dwarf Treo was born with 3 legs so he knows how to cope well, but i always have to watch him when hes climbing things, cause i know he can only go so far until he falls off

Keep a close eye on spike and remember to watch out for him when hes struggling, they occasionally need a little lift onto something ^_^

I'm assuming it was one of his back legs?
I've noticed this also affects the way they eat, as they can't hold food properly as they need to use a front leg to balance.

hamster mum · 06-12-2010, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluffymunchkins

I'm so sorry to hear about spike

I hope lots of people can learn rom this thread so it can be prevented!

I definitley agree with souffle, 3 legged hamsters make up for their disability in character, i always heard it said but never realised how true it was

My dwarf Treo was born with 3 legs so he knows how to cope well, but i always have to watch him when hes climbing things, cause i know he can only go so far until he falls off

Keep a close eye on spike and remember to watch out for him when hes struggling, they occasionally need a little lift onto something ^_^

I'm assuming it was one of his back legs?
I've noticed this also affects the way they eat, as they can't hold food properly as they need to use a front leg to balance.

Its her right rear leg so luckily she can still eat properly but she seems to lean over the edge of the food bowl propping herself up with her elbows, (Spike is a girl btw, she has the name Spike because I realised when she had the babies that she wasnt a boy but she was already called Spike so its very confusing

) Ive put a water bowl in for her as she seems to struggle to get up to the water bottle, the base of the hh is very deep and she has to climb onto a wooden block to reach the spout so I have put the bowl in just to make it easier for her. Im amazed how well shes coped, shes an amazing little fur person.

helenp · 06-12-2010, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the warning, Spike sounds amazing, brave little baby.

fluffymunchkins · 06-12-2010, 02:07 PM

ah sorry female spike

I'm glad shes coping, she sounds like a tough cookie!

Hammie · 06-12-2010, 03:19 PM

Sorry to hear about Spike

As a bit of a coincidence I was going to post about my hamster hurting herself in her HH. I found her hanging upside down squealing as she had her leg stick in the little grooves cut out of the edge of the shelf. She managed to free herself but then would not use her back leg. I thought she may have broken it but luckily she now seems to be using it s normal so hopefully she just wrenched it a little.

I know they need to have a few slits to attach the ladder to but I am not sure why there are grooves al the way around the shelf. Thinking about it it seems like a possible hazard.

ameyjaney · 06-12-2010, 04:02 PM

Ouch. Send her some hugs from me.

Could you not replace the shelves in the HH like with Ferplast ones? I don't have one so don't really know.

hamster mum · 06-12-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ameyjaney

Ouch. Send her some hugs from me.

Could you not replace the shelves in the HH like with Ferplast ones? I don't have one so don't really know.

I have a furplast shelf out of a jenny rat cage, is that the type you mean? I will have a little look at it tomorrow, its in use atm as a cage for a very naughty rat (teenage hormones

) but it should be spare again soon.