My Beautiful Little Hammy

[Eric65]

When it's my little hammys time to go, I've been thinking about adopting another. But where I live, there's not really any near enough that come up for adoption near me. They're just too far away. But for now, I hope I have her for a while yet.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Hopefully you will have her for some time yet. She is a sweet little hammy ❤

 

[Maz]

When it's my little hammys time to go, I've been thinking about adopting another. But where I live, there's not really any near enough that come up for adoption near me. They're just too far away. But for now, I hope I have her for a while yet.

It's always an option to get another one first Then you still have one to look after and comfort you when she goes. But that means having enough space really. I've sometimes found having a younger one around helps perk up the older one a bit On the other hand your attention can be 100% on the one hammy before they go. So pros and cons.

 

[Eric65]

Good evening all. Well, my little hammy had a bit of a dramatic moment last night. She was having a bit of nibble at the bars behind her mushroom hide, when i heard her squeeking loudly. Somehow she had got one of her rear paws caught in the bars, and she was trying to pull away. How on earth she managed to do that, I don't know. At first i thought she had ripped a nail out, because there was a little bit of blood. But upon closer inspection, she hadn't. Anyway, shes OK. She calmed down after a minute and went back to bed. came out later like nothing had happened, gave her a cuddle and she just went back to doing what she normally does. Wee, food, drink and bed

 

[Maz]

That sounds a bit scary. How on earth did she manage to do that? The bars are wide enough on that cage? But if it was a rear paw she must have been in an usual position. And yes they do panic and try and run away if a foot is caught and that can make it worse. Hopefully the foot is ok - maybe just keep an eye on it.

This is why safe wheel design is so important. Some wheels had unsuitable stands and a hamster could get a leg trapped. When I first started keeping hamsters it was extremely common for hamsters to have broken legs and be injured - often from hanging roof toys or ones with chains - they would get a foot caught in the chain jumping out and either end up hanging by a broken leg, or, in some cases, they would chew their own leg off to get free. Which sounds horrific but it;s the prey instinct not to be trapped.

 

[Eric65]

all i can think of was that somehow, one of her nails got hooked under the very bottom bar. Shes ok though. she was out and about earlier, running around. i was almost in tears.

 

[Maz]

Aw - they forget it about it straight away afterwards and go back to normal somehow I think you had her nails clipped recently didn't you? So they can't be too long.

 

[Eric65]

That's right. But when i looked at her this morning after leaving her alone for the night, i did notice there was one that was a bit long on the foot she got caught. So while she was half asleep i managed to clip it a bit shorter.

 

[Maz]

It does sound like a long nail might have got caught. What was she doing near the bars that way round? If it's somehting she was using or nibbling, maybe it could be moved a bit further away from the bars?

 

[Eric65]

Because she was behind the mushroom hide, I couldn't see her. Only hear her biting the bars. It wasn't till she squealed that I reacted. But one thing about my hammy, she does some strange things at times. Makes me wonder what's going through her little head

 

[Maz]

They do do some strange things. I would move the mushroom hide further away from the edge - they sometimes like to make a cosy corner behind something and it was maybe a tight squeeze. And also you could attach cardboard inside the bars there so nothing to catch her nail on.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Sorry you both had such a scary episode, but it is good to hear Hammy wasn't hurt ❤

 

[Eric65]

Just an update. Cleaned hammy's cage this morning while she was asleep. When she gets up tonight, i'll do her nest. That's what i like about her, when i do a clean, it doesn't bother her and she lets me get on with it. Anyway, after her little mishap the other day, I've changed the position of her wheel and the mushroom hide, so that i can now see the corner she goes to, to chew the bars.

 

[Scarlet42]

Oh that is scary! But good that she's alright and is happy for you to clean and rearrange her cage.

 

[Eric65]

Some sad news this afternoon. My darling little hammy has just passed away as i was comforting her. she died a few minutes ago. She will be missed. R.I.P. Hammy. sleep now.

 

[Lovelyness]

Oh, so sorry to hear this. Rest in peace little one

 

[Socks' Mum]

Very sad news. Sleep softly at the bridge little Hammy

 

[Eric65]

Thank you all so much. Have got myself another little hammy to ease the pain. shes like a dark chocolate brown colour. I'm also going to call her Hammy, Bit camera shy at the moment, which is to be expected. Shes just having a good explore round at the moment.

 

[Eric65]

Shes just having her first go on the wheel. Already shes got me laughing. Starts running, then stops, and it rocks to and fro with her still in it.

 

[Maz]

I am so sorry your dear Hammy died. It's very sad.

Your new hammy looks very sweet and a lovely colour. I assume you know a cage needs cleaning out between hamsters? Particularly as it would have all the previous hamster's scent on it which can upset a new hamster, and also in case there was anything infectious.

Apologies if you've already done all that.