2 year old Syrian struggling to use lower back legs

GreyKnight · 03-15-2021, 03:39 AM

Hi folks

My 8 year old son has had a lovely little Syrian called Squeaky for the past two years (she is 2 years and 2 months old). She's always been a hardy little thing and very friendly, he plays with her regularly and has always cared for her very well. She's always been active, doing the monkey bars around her cage a lot, also we allow her to run around the living room occasionally for exercise (door shut and there's nowhere she can escape). She never bothered with a wheel though so we removed it after a year to give her more space.

We noticed two days ago that she is struggling to use her back legs. I have examined her more carefully today and determined that it's only her lower back legs that seem affected, she is still wiggling her back hips in an effort to use her legs, but she's kind of shuffling on her back knees, her lower legs and feet seem limp, though she can drag them back under her when she stops.

She's still active and eating / drinking, she doesn't mind being handled and doesn't appear listless, or in pain. I've manipulated her back legs gently and she doesn't mind. Poos are solid, she's weeing etc.

So, we're thinking maybe stroke, though the lack of listlessness seems strange. She's scurrying around the living room at the moment finding the titbits we've put for her.

My son is a bit upset, we've explained that she's probably nearing her end as she is over 2, he understands as he's very switched on to animals and reads and watches a lot about them, but it's still tough when you're 8 and have never been through loss before.

Just wondered if anybody had any more ideas?

thanks

Ria P · 03-15-2021, 12:48 PM

Hello and welcome to HC!

Yes, the first thought that springs to my mind is to take her to a vet asap.
She may have had a fall while monkey barring and she could be in pain. Hamsters are very good at hiding pain.
It may also help your son to take his pet to the doctors because that's what people do when they are not well.

My second thought is that you need to do some research on proper hamster care should you decide to get another in the future. It will be educational for your son as well.

It is very unfair to remove a hamster's wheel just because you think that they don't bother with it.
How do you know that she doesn't use it or want to use it while you are a sleep? Was her wheel big enough for her to run in it comfortably with a straight back?
A Syrian hamster needs a 26cm/28cm wheel in their cage. Her monkey barring may well be the result of built up energy because she doesn't have a wheel.

You say that you removed it to give her more space which to me indicates that her cage may be too small. There should be enough space for a big wheel, a big house and plenty of enrichment. A cage needs to be at least 80cmx50cm like the Alaska for example to accommodate a Syrian hamster's furnishings and to allow for space to run around in.

I hope that a vet will be able to tell you what's wrong with your hamster and take it from there.

GreyKnight · 03-15-2021, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hello and welcome to HC!

Yes, the first thought that springs to my mind is to take her to a vet asap.
She may have had a fall while monkey barring and she could be in pain. Hamsters are very good at hiding pain.
It may also help your son to take his pet to the doctors because that's what people do when they are not well.

My second thought is that you need to do some research on proper hamster care should you decide to get another in the future. It will be educational for your son as well.

It is very unfair to remove a hamster's wheel just because you think that they don't bother with it.
How do you know that she doesn't use it or want to use it while you are a sleep? Was her wheel big enough for her to run in it comfortably with a straight back?
A Syrian hamster needs a 26cm/28cm wheel in their cage. Her monkey barring may well be the result of built up energy because she doesn't have a wheel.

You say that you removed it to give her more space which to me indicates that her cage may be too small. There should be enough space for a big wheel, a big house and plenty of enrichment. A cage needs to be at least 80cmx50cm like the Alaska for example to accommodate a Syrian hamster's furnishings and to allow for space to run around in.

I hope that a vet will be able to tell you what's wrong with your hamster and take it from there.

Thanks, but to be frank you should read your post back and consider how self-righteous, assuming and condescending it sounds. I came looking for advice to help an animal, not to be read the riot act and basically told I don't know how to treat animals. I'm a farmers son and have spent my life with animals of all sorts, I'm more than aware of their various comfort needs.

I consider her cage to be large enough, but not crazy big to the point were it takes up half the room. It has tubes that run outside of the cage that she used to run around in all the time doing circuits. She is allowed to run free for exercise and my son plays with her every day. Like I say, he's no clutz when it comes to animals and is extremely empathic towards them. Who exactly are you to say what my son needs to be educated in?

Natrc · 03-15-2021, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyKnight

Thanks, but to be frank you should read your post back and consider how self-righteous, assuming and condescending it sounds. I came looking for advice to help an animal, not to be read the riot act and basically told I don't know how to treat animals. I'm a farmers son and have spent my life with animals of all sorts, I'm more than aware of their various comfort needs.

I consider her cage to be large enough, but not crazy big to the point were it takes up half the room. It has tubes that run outside of the cage that she used to run around in all the time doing circuits. She is allowed to run free for exercise and my son plays with her every day. Like I say, he's no clutz when it comes to animals and is extremely empathic towards them. Who exactly are you to say what my son needs to be educated in?

Just because you have experience of certain animals "comfort needs", doesn't mean you know the ins and outs of hamster care. Most people gain their hamster care knowledge from pet stores or others, and often this knowledge is outdated and incorrect. As an example when speaking to my aunt a couple of months ago about hamster care she believed her hamsters lived so long because she kept them in "one of those fancy rotastak compartment cages", she had no idea that these cages were bad because she was told at the pet store that they were good. Old habits die hard.

Firstly addressing your post, yes this could be a stroke, but if you have a cage with bars it could also be a broken bone from a fall. I would advise seeking advice from an exotics/small breed vet who will be able to help you. If it's the later the hamster will be in pain and will need help.

As for this comment - hamsters really do need large cages, and it's all about floor space. Forget about ramps, ledges, platforms and tubes/tunnels, the floorspace of your cage needs to be of adequate size (80x50cm is a good starting minimum but the bigger the better). The free runs for exercise is exactly what they need, but considering they are mostly awake at night when we are asleep, a big enough cage is so important.

I hope your hammies leg gets sorted.

Ria P · 03-15-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyKnight

Thanks, but to be frank you should read your post back and consider how self-righteous, assuming and condescending it sounds. I came looking for advice to help an animal, not to be read the riot act and basically told I don't know how to treat animals. I'm a farmers son and have spent my life with animals of all sorts, I'm more than aware of their various comfort needs.

I consider her cage to be large enough, but not crazy big to the point were it takes up half the room. It has tubes that run outside of the cage that she used to run around in all the time doing circuits. She is allowed to run free for exercise and my son plays with her every day. Like I say, he's no clutz when it comes to animals and is extremely empathic towards them. Who exactly are you to say what my son needs to be educated in?

Ok, fair enough, point taken.
My advice would still be to get her checked out by a vet.
I suppose i should have kept it at that.

LunaTheHamster1 · 03-15-2021, 05:42 PM

My first thought is that it doesnt sound like a stroke if both back legs are equally affected. Maybe some sort of trauma from an accident if she monkey bars or something that is stopping her back legs working. E.g tumour. They can also get arthritis in old age, but from what you state it came on suddenly? To be honest it could be a no. Of things and I would take her to the vets as at the very least she may need some pain killer.

GreyKnight · 03-16-2021, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

Ok, fair enough, point taken.
My advice would still be to get her checked out by a vet.
I suppose i should have kept it at that.

Thanks, I appreciate your acknowledgement - I know it can be difficult when you are passionate about something and you instinctively read into things that others write, I've done it myself before. No harm done.

GreyKnight · 03-16-2021, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

My first thought is that it doesnt sound like a stroke if both back legs are equally affected. Maybe some sort of trauma from an accident if she monkey bars or something that is stopping her back legs working. E.g tumour. They can also get arthritis in old age, but from what you state it came on suddenly? To be honest it could be a no. Of things and I would take her to the vets as at the very least she may need some pain killer.

Yes that's what I thought, she doesn't seem to be acting like she has had a stroke either, she seems totally herself, except for the lazy back legs. She has certainly fallen from her cage walls or roof on many occasions, but you can't prevent them from climbing, we always make sure there is a thick covering of sawdust in the cage though so she doesn't land hard. The roof isn't too high either, she can only really drop her own length when she's dangling.

I have made an appointment with the vet for this afternoon as a precaution.

LunaTheHamster1 · 03-16-2021, 04:00 AM

Goodluck at the vets, do let us know how you get on.

GreyKnight · 03-16-2021, 11:28 AM

So we went to the vet this afternoon, she said that Squeaky is paralysed in the back legs, seemingly from the knee down as she is still wiggling her hips when moving. She didn't react when the vet squeezed her back feet. She said it was likely a degenerative condition, but that so long as she was still eating and drinking and not looking miserable she would just leave her be. She gave her an injection of painkiller just in case and gave us a course of liquid painkiller to see her through any period of discomfort, but otherwise if she stops eating and drinking then we will do the honourable thing.