Rodney - Page 26

Ria P · 10-03-2022, 12:40 PM

Not quite sure what happened tonight but Rodney got spooked.
I opened up his freeroaming area and scattered the toys about the whole area.
He run from the hall to the kitchen and lounge to have a good sniff around. He then went back to the hall and run on the saucer with me next to him.
Rodney suddenly looked up and then shot off the saucer and raced to the corner under the shoe rack and wouldn't come out.
I retrieved him and put him down in the lounge but he then raced under the armchair and wouldn't come out.
I retrieved him again and put him back in his cage because i felt that he needed to feel safe. Rodney went in his house where he is now.

I made a couple of mistakes with the best of intentions.
I should have kept his playground set up the same and in the hall.
When he got spooked the first time, i should have put him back in his cage.

I have no idea what spooked him but hamsters do sometimes spook for reasons unknown to us.

cloudy · 10-03-2022, 12:47 PM

Aw. I hope he is okay now. They are very gentle little creatures.

Ria P · 10-03-2022, 01:41 PM

He's a bit odd. He was in his hammock when i went down to check on him. Gave me a look and went off in his house. Out of character but he has been spending more time in his house in the evenings over the past week. Last dose of antibiotics tomorrow but they haven't really helped much. His gastric system is still not right. I worry that he may be uncomfortable so i'm going to try him on metacam. If it gives him diarrhoea i'll stop it and take him back to the vet. Can't see what else they could give him thougn and i don't want to keep stressing him with medication and visits to the vet. Hard to know what is best for them when they get old and ill.
That's him earlier tonight. He still looks ok.

Stanza · 10-03-2022, 03:15 PM

Bless him, he still looks in good health but as we all know some days you may look ok but you certainly don’t feel ok, maybe he simply wasn’t feeling it tonight. So difficult looking after hamsters in their elderly years, but you do fantastically well, they all know they are dearly loved and cared for.

Not suggesting it’s at all related, but Hams has been spending more time in his bed over the past week, I thought it was maybe because the season is changing but I don’t have any other hamster experience to go by. Have you noticed this with other hamsters before who are not as elderly as Rodney? Do they just naturally sleep more in the winter months?

Ria P · 10-04-2022, 09:38 AM

I haven't really noticed any seasonal behaviour. Their behaviour is more influenced by personality and age.

Rodney has always been a very alert and lively hamster who used to get up at 18.00 when he was young. Keen to get out of his cage to run around and climb.
Jack has always liked to eat and sleep with a bit of freeroaming and wheeling inbetween.
Those two Syrians are so different.

Ria P · 10-05-2022, 12:57 PM

I've set up Rodney's playground as per normal tonight and now he's happy again. He had a walk around in the lounge and kitchen and then headed back to the hall by himself. No more scratching and gnawing at the door now but i left it ajar so he had to push and squeeze himself through. Made it more exciting for him.
Back in his cage he cracked the monkey nut open. He loves doing that.

cloudy · 10-05-2022, 12:59 PM

That first picture is wonderful! He looks so happy and cute going for his stroll.

Ria P · 10-05-2022, 01:40 PM

Yes, stroll is the perfect word. He seemed well in himself tonight. Had a little jog on the wheels and climbed on the shoe rack.
The second course of antibiotics made no difference and he's not showing any real signs of discomfort at the moment so i'm going to wait and see.
I did speak to the vet today though and enquired about pain relief that wouldn't upset his stomach. I like to be prepared and have something at hand because an elderly or ill hamster's condition can change so quickly.
I've promised my boys that i would never let them suffer.

Stanza · 10-05-2022, 01:43 PM

Completely agree, the first picture is fab watching him stroll across the kitchen, how lovely! He’s looking good and clearly enjoying his treat in the Sputnik too

cloudy · 10-06-2022, 01:47 AM

Does it help hamsters to use probiotics when they take antibiotics? I know it does with guinea pigs.

You sound like you have a really good vet. That is always such a wonderful thing.