Oh Dear! What Have I Done?!?

[coconut4paws]

This is my first time posting and I have a problem. I have 6 dwarf hamsters, but I am going to focus on the main issue in the bunch right now. My little russian Sugar is acting...odd.:( I think she might have broken her back and she is kind of 'twitchy'. I lifted her up with her food dish and stroked her back gentely and she didn't seem to be in pain, also the were no obvious differinces in her spine. I am very confused and upset right now and any advice would be great. Once I get this cleared up I'll intoduce my hammies with pics, oh and me too. But untill then please help.

[coconut4paws]

Oh, and yes, she is drinking eating and grooming.

[HandcuffedAngel]

"Twitching"? Could be a seizure.

Your best bet would be to get your hammy to the vet. Not only are most of us not vets, it's hard to diagnose big problems without seeing the actual animal and performing the proper tests.

Please, please, please, take Sugar to the vet.

[coconut4paws]

Well, she isn't exactaly twitching. More Like having trouble with her back legs. I am desperately trying to find a small animal vet around here with a good reputation.:hamster2: :(

[dwankrista]

The animal needs a vet and fast. IT could be anything from a stroke to an injury to who knows what else. If she is housed with cagemates I would separate her immediately into a single level cage with nothing to injure herself on (i.e. a wheel, ladders, etc.)

In the meantime you need to get her to a vet and fast.

[coconut4paws]

I called the vet and I described it to him and he told me it most likely is a broken back. I took out everything but the food and water. However I do not want to seperate her from her other 3 cage mates because the are by her side bringing food and miking a huge nest and gromming her. She is still quite mobile and eating and drinking exactaly like a normal ham. I don't think I can go vist the vet. It's killing me not to but it would be 75$ for just walking in the door. We are very tight on money and just can't. I am calling him to keeping him updated.

[HandcuffedAngel]

Don't people think about these things before they get animals?

Why don't you ask about maybe working out a payment plan? Your ham needs help or else it will most likely die and you're denying her proper care.

Do not take on responsibilities you can't handle.

I wish you luck and hope you make a proper decision regarding your baby that you're not treating like a baby.

[Orbett]

If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet. Simple as that. If you don't take her to the vet she will in all probability die. It's a pity you bought her because if it had happened to her and she had another owner she might have been fine. Anyway, I'll pray for her...though it won't do much good if you don't get her to the vet.

[coconut4paws]

Excuse me. I have done what I can. My father is a boat salesman and he doesn't sell many boats in the summer, there fore not much money. If this happened in the summer she would have been to the vet and back. Apparentaly you like to insult people who may be going through hard times. And excuse me for getting a hamster I didn't know you had to be RICH to get one. i am a better owner than some. I own two that would have died if left another day. So terribly sorry for doing the best i can. And just to let you know she is doing fine and I might have paniced and been over dramatic because she is doing fine. Just a little slower.

[coconut4paws]

Oh and thanks for the prayers.

[Punkygirl0101]

I doubt she has a broken back and is still moving. She would have died almost instantly if she broke her back. She probably had a stroke.

But the truth is, just because hamsters are "disposable" cheap pets, doesn't mean they don't deserve vet care. I have spend thousands on my rodents alone...and much, much more on my dogs and cats.

If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet.

[HandcuffedAngel]

I didn't say you had to be rich but you need to think about things before they happen. Consider opening a separate bank account for vet money so next time this happens, your pet can receive proper care.

I know what it's like to be tight on cash and have urgent needs that I think I can't handle, but you need to ask the right questions.

Just because you're a better owner than the person that makes their animals live in their own feces and urine and never feeds them does not make you a great owner, so don't feed me that bologna.

I'm an anal witch because I feel like I have to be because no one wants to think ahead about the responsibilities they're taking on. Start a vet account. Put $10 in it a week. Soon you'll have a good amount of money saved just for emergencies with your animals and next time you won't have to get on here and listen to me lay the hammer down.

Think about it. Please. I'm mean for the good of your animals, not just to be a ... *ahem* ... mean person.

Good luck. Give Sugar some sugar from the evil lady.

[lilangel1518]

Hey there, welcome to the forum. I'm praying for your little baby. This forum can be quite harsh, espeically when it comes to vet care, but I do understand where you are coming from and I'm sorry some yelled at you. I would just keep an eye on her and watch her progression and just keep calling the vet who can give some advice. Keep us updated.

[biffyclyro89]

I called the vet and I described it to him and he told me it most likely is a broken back. I took out everything but the food and water. However I do not want to seperate her from her other 3 cage mates because the are by her side bringing food and miking a huge nest and gromming her. She is still quite mobile and eating and drinking exactaly like a normal ham. I don't think I can go vist the vet. It's killing me not to but it would be 75$ for just walking in the door. We are very tight on money and just can't. I am calling him to keeping him updated.

my god you have an expensive vet, it costs me about £10 to get my hammy checked over here and extra for any medication

[biffyclyro89]

Excuse me. I have done what I can. My father is a boat salesman and he doesn't sell many boats in the summer, there fore not much money. If this happened in the summer she would have been to the vet and back. Apparentaly you like to insult people who may be going through hard times. And excuse me for getting a hamster I didn't know you had to be RICH to get one. i am a better owner than some. I own two that would have died if left another day. So terribly sorry for doing the best i can. And just to let you know she is doing fine and I might have paniced and been over dramatic because she is doing fine. Just a little slower.

there not insulting you because you dont have much money, its because you dont get a pet unless you have the money to look after it. That includes vet bills. its no excuse that it only happens in the winter. its not a privilege of having a hamster because your rich, its just that you need to have to money to look after it. And not taking your hamster to the vets when you suspect he has a broken back (one of the worst injuries i could think of) is quite disgusting. I understand your situation, but next time think about these things before you buy a pet. Especially if you buy 6 when you cant afford the vet bills for 1 of them.

[KOKKINIKLOSTI]

Ok, i agree with all of you guys about the vet and vet bills, but right now there is a hamster in trouble! So i think that any other suggestions beside the fact that she is low on money would be much more needed right now! I would just keep contact with the vet! And what about borrowing some money from your parents? You may, for example, suggest to them that they give you money for the vet and pay them out with house chores or something!

[HandcuffedAngel]

I believe the reason she didn't see the vet is because her father cannot afford to give her money to take the hamster to the vet.

This is a problem and this is why it is suggested that you start a vet fund for future problems. Right now, there's really nothing you can do for that hamster except getting it professional care ... which isn't being done.

[coconut4paws]

My parents refuse to let me go to the vet for a hamster because they think it's just a rodent.(:crybucket ) I hate my parents decision. I would have the ced out every month if I could. Sorry to bother you. i love my hamsters very much and I treat them very well. I spend alot of time with them outside of the cage and I make fresh meals just for them. So sorry for doing all I can.

[Punkygirl0101]

I suggest in the future (When all your current dwarf hamsters are no longer living) that you NOT get any more pets until YOU personally can pay for their vet care. Its for the animal's sake.

[HandcuffedAngel]

I have to stick with Punky on this one.

You best needs to be better than what it is now.

[FemaleCheetah]

I agree with Punky and Handcuffedangel... you need to be able to afford vet care before you take on an animal... now that poor hamster is going to suffer because u cant take it to the vet :(

[pixibubbles]

Aren't there any shelters or subsidised vets in the area? i know i'm uk and the whole vet thing is a lot dsifferent here (cheaper for one) but we still have subsidised places likes PDSA and RSPCA who work on income assessed basis... you pay what you can afford.

Keep us updated on the little one.

[tvrodents]

I doubt she has a broken back and is still moving. She would have died almost instantly if she broke her back. She probably had a stroke.

But the truth is, just because hamsters are "disposable" cheap pets, doesn't mean they don't deserve vet care. I have spend thousands on my rodents alone...and much, much more on my dogs and cats.

If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet.

For christs sake guys get off this poor kids back! I'm sure you all having a rant and a strop and acting the high and mighty is really going to help thier predicament! you cant change the fact that they havent got enough money so instead of getting up on your soap boxes and having a go, how about trying to help!
Whilst I understand your morals, very few people could afford to spend thousands on thier animals even if they dont have a vet fund. I have a vet fund but I couldnt afford to spend that much in one go.
Right, on a positive note it doesnt sound like your hamster has broken its back as it would be in serious agony and would be unable to move its hind limbs, it would be very unlikely to want to eat and would find drinking hard.
Despite what punkygirl said, a broken back is not all that likely to kill an animal unlike a broken neck which is. The reason for this is even if the break severs the spinal cord the signals from the brain cans till reach many of the vital organs etc. Obviously this depends on where the break is to an extent and how bad it is. Neck breaks are by far the most dangerous as they are more likely to result in a severed spinal column and will cause instantaneous death. The only consolation for the owner if their pet breaks its neck is that death would have been instant and painless.

It sounds to me more like an ear infection which unlike a broken back a vet can treat with simple antibiotics and shouldnt be too expensive. Your vets are similarly priced to the ones round here. It would cost me an arm and a leg to take animals to my local vets. Ring up a couple of local vets if you can get some money together and see which one is willing to treat your pet for the least amount. The cheapest vets are not always the best at treating your animals but in this case if its a cheap naff vet or not vet... well...

Good luck honey.

Kat

[tvrodents]

Sorry EDIT: Sounds more like a stroke or possibly an inner ear infection to me...

[tvrodents]

Hey OP how is the hamster doing? Did she make it? Hope she's ok...

Kat

[CookieDough24]

Yeah, what happended? Hope everything went well.......:confused: