health checks and scruffing?

amyXlovesXhamstersX · 02-19-2011, 10:32 AM

I was just wondering if i should be doing a health check on Ruby every day/week? What would i do, because just now when when she is out i make sure she looks healthy, her eyes are clean and she has no cuts. And is i read somewhere you are meant to scruff your hamster to check its teeth? If you need to do this how do you? I really dont know, and i would really like to know i'm doing the best for Ruby

SnickersTheFirst · 02-19-2011, 10:34 AM

I check Snickers' teeth once a week as she loves to bar chew! I hold her securely (but not too tight) with one hand and gently open her mouth with my other hand. She is never bothered by this, I've heard that scruffing just puts them under stress?

Normally, I keep an eye on her teeth, nose, eyes and bottom incase of illness but I also monitor how much she drinks, pees and her weight to watch out for any changes.

fluffymunchkins · 02-19-2011, 02:50 PM

I do regularly check teeth, at least once a week

But obviously its more important with hamsters that tend to bar chew.

It takes some practise to scruff, i know i was very nervous to do it at first.
I used Treo as my helper as hes so calm and laid back (poor thing putting up with me using him

) And I eventually got used to scruffing even my robo.
Maybe if you went along to a show or knew someone with a hamster that was used to being scruffed. You could ask for them to show you and you could have a practice with their hamster

Luther · 02-19-2011, 04:33 PM

Sorry... but can someone explain what scruffing actually is. I'm new to all this and never heard the term before.

alexarcano · 02-19-2011, 04:44 PM

Hmm. Buster yawns a lot. I just wait for one to happen and have a look then

He's really cute when he does it too, usually stretching at the same time

Gillzy · 02-19-2011, 07:05 PM

Scruffing is the grabbing of the baggy skin at the back of the neck. When animals are young mothers use this bit of skin to grab the child and pick them up (cats and dogs have them too). Usually, though, older animals aren't very comfortable with it. I know Sen just squirms away when I even try, but she doesn't like me being near her head anyway. I actually find it easier to do something similar to what STF does, and hold her tight and go in at the chin and just make her "smile" kinda... heh. She doesn't like it for too long though...

amyXlovesXhamstersX · 02-20-2011, 04:43 AM

Ok, I will check her teeth every week or so because she is a bar-chewing lunatic! FM, there is no shows near me, I dont think there are even any in scotland and only 1 or 2 people I know have hamsters and they have never scruffed them either! Last night i tried to hold her on her back ad she stayed still then wriggled about so i put her down, i dont think she likes it! Ruby is really calm though, so i could maybe try scruffing? Does anyone have pictures to show exactly how you do it, because im scared of doing it wrong...

Gillzy · 02-20-2011, 04:45 AM

If she's pretty calm you could just try opening her mouth?

amyXlovesXhamstersX · 02-20-2011, 04:49 AM

Gillzy, i dont want to do that because even though she is calm, im terrified of being bitten

I have never been bitten by a hamster before, only a gerbil and i had done nothing t it, it was hanging off my finger!

Gillzy · 02-20-2011, 05:07 AM

You could always work up to it, like when stroking her stroke her face and things but obviously don't do anything you're not comfortable with.

Ever since having a cat when I was younger (and being responsible for washing her if she was smelly, and removing ticks and things) I've developed a resistance to scratching and biting (although first time I was bitten by my first hamster it did scare me a little) - I just deal with it. Sen hates this because if I block the door to her house with my hand she used to scratch and bite (well mouth) to try to move my hand - which didn't work, so now she gives up a lot faster haha.