My little hammy Spiga had a stroke!!

[anamaya76]

Hi, my little hammy Spiga had a stroke while she was boarding at the vet as I had to go out of the country for few days. Vet believe it is a stroke, as she was completely fine and 2 days ago after she woke up she started to run in cirlces always in the same way, she run in cirlcle like a dog that try to bite her tail, her left leg is also weak. It is hartbreking to see her like this, she compulsively run around and is incapable to stop even when she wants to stop. Vet said is like a shortcircuit in her brain. To calm her down and help her vet gave her diazepan and some steroid (one off) to stop the effect of the stroke. When she is on diazepan she stop running in cirlces, she eats, drinks, sleep. Though she still circles a bit she is capable to go where she wants and do her normal thing. She is awake and her eyes are clear and so on. The problem is that when she is not on diazepan she keeps circling in a insane manner and get extremely agitated. When I went to pick her up today the vet told me to keep giving her the diazepan and to see how she gets on in the next 2 days, if there are improovments and to let him know what I want to do on monday. I have read that hamster can recover quite well from stroke, I would like to know if someone knows how long after the stroke she should start to recover or if anyone had a similar experience. I am so sad because she went through so much in the last few months, in september she had a tumor removed, in October she had a second tumor remuved, both ops went well and she was fully recovered when one of the root her cheek teeth started growing upward, so is now in her sinus, vet put her on painkillers and she was fine again, eating drinking, running on her wheel, putting on weight and playing as usual.. then suddently this!!! Is so unfair and I do not know anymore what to do!

[fluffymunchkins]

I'm very sorry to hear about Spiga
She has a condition refered to as 'spinning' or 'head tilt'.
Which a hamster can live with their whole lives, though its possibly she could recover overtime.

Its sounds likes shes been through a rough time. You will know if she is suffering and if it is her time to pass on x

[KatiePillow]

I'm so sorry to hear about spiga, she sounds like she just keeps bouncing back.. I had a hamster who similarly had health condition after health condition, but when he was finally ready for rest I knew it was his time.
you're both in my thoughts

[anamaya76]

Thank you all for the kind words, I am so sad, I just do not know what to do with my self! After I gave her the diazepan she was awake for about 1 and half hour, she ate, drunk, went around even if a bit wobbly, then went to sleep, woke up after about 2.30 hours and did the same then went back to sleep. Now 7.30 hrs after I gave her the diazpean, she woke up about 30 mins ago, had some food drunk and then started spinning again ( So I gave her another dose of diazepan and this time after 10minutes she went back to sleep in her nest. I hope I can find a dose that keeps her awake to do her normal things but not spinning. It is really horrible situation.

[souffle]

I am sorry to hear this. Do you think that there is any chance that she may have a secondary tumour in her brain anamaya76?
If this were the case it could account for her behaviour. With a stroke hamsters are usually more sort of weak and paralysed along some area of the body. The tumour would possibly cause the spinning though so I think this is more likely. Stroke victims usually improve a lot in 24hrs if they are going to recover. I think you need to think very hard about her quality of live and decide what you feel is the best path for her.
Ask her what she wants to do. Sometimes they tell you with a look in their eyes or a little action if they are ready to take their next step and need help to the bridge.
What ever you decide if the choice is made from love it will be the right one x

[Vectis Hamstery]

I'm so sorry to hear about your little girl. It sounds like she's a real fighter to stay with you through all her problems. I think seeing how she gets on over the weekend sounds reasonable as you have the medications to keep her comfy. I can totally empathise as I had a hamster who suddenly started spinning in tight circles which was heartbreaking to watch. As he was unable to do normal hamster-y things like feeding or grooming, I knew it was his time and he was put to sleep I hope Spiga has a comfy weekend with all your care and love.

[anamaya76]

Quote "Do you think that there is any chance that she may have a secondary tumour in her brain?"

Yes there is that chance, the vet told me about a possible growth which will also be in line with her symptoms and with the fact that she did not improove at all in 3 days. I actually noticed now when she woke up that she was making a sort of weird movement with her jaw and she had a bit of discharge on one eye . I been asking her and I told her that if is her time to go she can go, I asked her to tell me if she wants to go. Vet told me to call him on monday to let him know what I want to do. I right now hoping in a miracle but I am preparing my self to let her go if she does not improove, at least there she will be happy and in complete controll of her little fluffy body, with no pain. Though I will miss her allot, my little fury baby I love her so much and I do not want her to suffer!

[souffle]

Maybe she was telling go something with that little jaw movement anamaya I hope she has a peaceful night xx

[anamaya76]

she is at sleep now, she is been asleep since I gave her the second doze of diazepan, I put the allarm clock at 2am when she is supposed to take the other does, so I am sure that if I fall asleep I will wake up to give her the medication. I wish she was trying to tell me something with the jaw movements, but I think that unfortunately it was linked to the neurological problem she has, she looked very shaky and unstable
Though all the same maybe that was the message....
This morning when I went to pick her up at the vet, the vet told me to go and speak to her to hold her. I went to her and hold her for 2 hours, as soon as I picked up she calmed down, though she was not on medication at that time, as the vet wanted me to see what was the problem. While I was holding her I started talking to her and I told her to let me know if she wanted to go, so I could help her. After I started sending her reiki and she fell asleep on my lap cuddled in my jumper for 40 minutes, she looked so cute and peacefull! What ever happen I will remember that minutes forever!!

[souffle]

That is a lovely bond you have. Perhaps send more reiki? A special friend of mine has helped my pets and friends and family as well with their gift of reiki. If you feel it calms her then hold her.