Curly ears and old age?

Francescamice · 12-21-2010, 05:42 AM

Hi
Holly my 20 month old syrian has her ears now permamently curled (just as if she has woken up) they have been like this for about 1 month now - she is getting old, and her eyes look 'smaller' if that makes sense - obviously old age setting in - she was at vets weeks ago for the 'wet tail' and is still on Baytril until course finished, she is weeing and pooing as normal and eating and drinking as normal, she comes out to play every night with me - runs round the landing with that little 'bounce' in her run bless her - but her ears are just curled all the time - is this a normal thing in elderley girls? her sight is fine as is her monility, she is obviously a little wobbly due to her being older, and the vet weighed her at 105 grams (which is what she weighed back in February 2010)!!! so he was pleased with that. Even though she has "shrunk" with age - iam pleased her weight is good.
Please advise about the ears anybody
many thanks
Fran

fluffymunchkins · 12-21-2010, 06:59 AM

Do you mean like her ears are flat against her head?

Older hamsters don't look as alert (with there eyes bright and ears perked up)
But if her ears are down all the time this can sometimes be a sign of illness, she could still just be feeling down from the wet tail.
but i would take her back for a check up just in case

SarahJ · 12-21-2010, 07:34 AM

As Fluffy said it seems like her ears are down due to illness.

My eldest ham is nearly 2 yrs and when he got sick his ears where done all the time now hes recovered his ears are back to normal and sticking up.

It be best to keep and eye on her and like Fluffy said again maybe another check up mite be needed,

Francescamice · 12-23-2010, 04:17 AM

Hi thanks for replies - Holly is eating and drinking fine, mobile and goes on her wheel - she obviously sleeps alot more being an old girl - and her weight is as it was in Febraury 2010, will keep an eye on her - checked her poos, and they are solid, as she is now of the Baytril for the 'wet tail' saga a week or so ago. Dont want her to be constantly dosed with Baytril. Her eyes are alot smaller , she is old. She is content when she is out running around , when I say running she is sort of 'bouncing ; run if you see what i mean.
Like I said I will keep eye on her, dont know how much time she has , dont want to think about it, but I need to prepare myself for that.

Fran

princess-rhi89 · 12-23-2010, 04:27 AM

you can never prepare yourself completely for the event it always comes as a shock and hurts so bad inside. If you feel she doesnt have long left, make sure you let her know that if shes suffering it is ok for her to go to the rainbow bridge and that you love her very much and will never let her leave your heart xxx we will all be here for you when the time comes so you wont be alone sweety xxx

souffle · 12-23-2010, 04:43 AM

I agree with the others that she is likely not feeling her best and this is why her ears are flat.
I feel there is another issue with her. She is not that old to be honest and all our hams that age still have ears up normally. I would suspect thatthere may well be something inside sadly like perhaps a tumour or infection? The eyes appear smaller because she is 'gaunt' so they become more sunken. Though she is maintaining weight it may be that this weight is in fluid on the chest or abdomen or a tumour which could be pressing on another organ. This would explain the odd walking as she sounds to be hunching a bit and this is usually a sign that there is something wrong in the abdomen probably in the reproductive tract or bowel.
Hamsters can also get arthritis which can be helped by a daily dose of metacam.
As long as she is comfy, eating and drinking and behaving reasonably normally I would moniter her closely. It is unlikely that treatment would be successful for a tumour and if she has a pyometra she would need a spay which is risky in itself.
How much is she drinking?
It could of course be the cold making her stiff and uncomfortable but with havingthe diaorrhea a short while ago it seems that there is somthing amiss.
I hope she stays comfy for a while to come x

Francescamice · 12-23-2010, 04:54 AM

Holly is drinking fine, she has her sipper bottle which she can reach, and I have also put a small metal bowl of water in her cage so she can sip from that - I saw her having some water this morning. I have Baytril left - do you think i should keep her on that , will see how she goes over Christmas next few days , and if she deteriorates will take her to vets next week.
thanks

Francescamice · 12-23-2010, 05:55 AM

Souffle - should I keep her on her Baytril and see how she goes - Iam thinking of taking her vets next week to see what he suggests also - but want to monitor her over xmas period.
what do you think?
fran