Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my daughters hamster was fine yesterday, uses her wheel for miles and miles every nite...

today we noted that her hind quarters are paralyzed!!!!! she is dragging herself around, and otherwise appears normal, is eating, cleaning,drinking......

any ideas? (we have l0 lizards and one gerbil and one hammy)

thanks.....
sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

We see a lot of wheel accidents at my practice. I would rec. bringing your hamster to the vet to check for any open wounds and to assess neurologic function. In the meantime, try to keep him confined as much as possible. The theory being if the paralysis is due to trauma and subsequent swelling around the spinal cord (best case scenario) it should heal and start to regain function within a couple of days, but you will want to keep him quiet to help the inflammation go down ( these little guys don't do well with steriodal antiinflammatories {e.g corticosteriods like prednisone and dexamethasone}. If the doctor has a drug named Meloxicam this would be his best bet for an antiiflammatory). If he has done permanent damage and severed the cord, you will have to make a difficult decision. Sorry, I hope the best for you and your hamster.
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Stacey

we love this hammy!

Im still not sure what happened, my daughter had a friend sleep over and she is (my dtr) is 13 and a very kind person with critters, as far as I know its not from a fall, daisy does go "miles and miles" on that wheel but also is a climber, maybe she fell.

thanks for your advice....are you a doc? or do you work in a vet office as an assistant?

thanks again........I just checked on her and so far she is still ok, its 6am
sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

We see a lot of wheel accidents at my practice. I would rec. bringing your hamster to the vet to check for any open wounds and to assess neurologic function. In the meantime, try to keep him confined as much as possible. The theory being if the paralysis is due to trauma and subsequent swelling around the spinal cord (best case scenario) it should heal and start to regain function within a couple of days, but you will want to keep him quiet to help the inflammation go down ( these little guys don't do well with steriodal antiinflammatories {e.g corticosteriods like prednisone and dexamethasone}. If the doctor has a drug named Meloxicam this would be his best bet for an antiiflammatory). If he has done permanent damage and severed the cord, you will have to make a difficult decision. Sorry, I hope the best for you and your hamster.
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Stacey

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Stacey

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>>Stacey
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Rob

This should be posted in the exotics site.

I looked there first and the last post was like 12-19.

I know from being here enough that it is a busy forum, and there are alot of vet techs etc, knowledgable people and that someone might offer some advice.

sorry for taking up space with this ...thankfully my dragons all are doing quite well!

sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

I have a rabbit that broke her back. She was still able to eliminate on her own (without control) and is so sweet that I decided not to have her put down. Yes, it is more work to care for them but in my case, it is worth it.

By the way, hamsters only live a few years. My bunny has a good 6 or more years to go.

The rabbit forum is slower then the hamster one. I don't think people look for small animals under exotic. Goats are under horses, can't understand that one.

she started perking up a bit!

I got her all cleaned up (eliminated on herself) still no rear leg movement, but she started to eat, greens, sunflower seeds and most importantly drinking her water (supplemented).

I had a hamster just like her (my dtr named her after my childhood pet, yes so sweet) and we just love her so much!

I have to go away overnite and my dtr (l3 y.o.) will take care of her and the rest of the crew of herps while im away...

Ive made sure she knows what to do, and made it HER responsibility and she does take that seriously! (she is a good kid)

anyway, I hope that she will get thru the nite to go on for many many days and months, im really not ready to lose her, my dad passed away unexpectly in sept from an accident and im just not ready to lose anything else that I love.

thanks for taking the time to post.....
sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

BAH!

Post where ya like LOL

You are right, a lot of people here have other critters besides Beardies and we have some vet techs, etc. I say get the answers wherever you can! LOL

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Lisa
www.beginnersbasics.com

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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......