Raffy (Syrian Hamster)

[Jain]

Raffy certainly carries his age well and he is obviously still active and enjoying bustling around he,s a proper trouper

 

[Maz]

Raffy says thank you Jain

 

[Maz]

Been having a hectic week or so here, but need to prioritise more Metacam for Raffy in the next week. He is doing amazingly well - it's like he's still only 6 months old. The other night he actually climbed into his tube from the cage door. Couldn't wait for me to put it in the cage for him to walk into. I've been doing that since he couldn't push up with his back legs to climb into the tube, but he did push up with his back legs and climb into the tube!

He clearly very much likes summer and slightly warmer weather. Full of beans.

 

[Lovelyness]

Been having a hectic week or so here, but need to prioritise more Metacam for Raffy in the next week. He is doing amazingly well - it's like he's still only 6 months old. The other night he actually climbed into his tube from the cage door. Couldn't wait for me to put it in the cage for him to walk into. I've been doing that since he couldn't push up with his back legs to climb into the tube, but he did push up with his back legs and climb into the tube!

He clearly very much likes summer and slightly warmer weather. Full of beans.

Aww That’s so great to hear

 

[Maz]

This is why I don’t scatter feed with Raffy . I put a tablespoonful of food out a day and the pile gets bigger and bigger! Until I throw it away. Previous Syrians it just piles up in the cage! Depends on the hamster though.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, I prefer a bowl for that, and so that I can see how much Socks is eating and what he eats.

 

[Doodleham]

This is why I don’t scatter feed with Raffy . I put a tablespoonful of food out a day and the pile gets bigger and bigger! Until I throw it away. Previous Syrians it just piles up in the cage! Depends on the hamster though.


View attachment 7599

He's got quite a stash there.

 

[Maz]

I did let it pile up a bit! I think he has a big stash underground so just picks at the daily food. But if and when I empty that large plate he gets very upset

 

[Lovelyness]

Blossom gets most upset and squeaks at me if I’m late with her tea. Truth is, she has a mahoosive stash in her burrow and could live for days on it lol. I scatter feed her a tablespoon of food just to keep her happy as she likes to forage for it, especially in her dig box. It keeps her out of mischief at least! In some ways, it’s a waste, but in other ways, it’s not cos it keeps my little girl happy

 

[ilguy]

I also stopped scatter feeding for Henry too, way too much uneaten food would just sink in the bedding. I think a bowl has it's merits.

I do like to place a few treats around as a scavenger hunt though

 

[Maz]

Me too I just scatter the treats

 

[Zara]

wow, that sure is a fabulous stash!! He’s just making it difficult for you to take some from the bottom to reduce it.

I only ever scattered treats too.

 

[Maz]

As mentioned in another thread - Raffy had a visit from a mobile vet today. Along with a vet nurse. The nurse was very impressed with his cage . Raffy was rather bleary eyed but pottered about a bit for the vet to see. He got weighed inside his taxi tube (at my request so he didn’t feel stressed being plonked in a weighing dish). The vet had to examine him - he was quite good about it. One of his testicles is enlarged and possibly pressing on something hence his walking being affected. But he is, as you know, active and well - he had a blip a few weeks ago but has been fine on Metacam.

So he’s continuing on Metacam. I should say Meloxicam - which is the drug name. Metacam is a brand name and there are different brands.

He didn’t seem to avoid me after the experience and came out as usual tonight - however his disapproval was registered in that he tried to escape the hamsterproofed section by chewing at a rough bit of wall to get past it.

He did that this morning as well while out- it very much says - don’t like all the interference and I’m going to try and escape! The nurse was quite worried seeing him do that but there’s no way he can get past it although probably not that good for him chewing a stone wall. So I’ve blocked that bit off a bit more so he can’t get to it.

 

[Lovelyness]

Glad to hear he's none the worse really after his experience with the vet

 

[Socks' Mum]

Little rebel! It's confusing though, and worrying that he might have a tissue problem affecting his gait. Perhaps he was just sleeping with it out, as male hamsters often do.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Free roaming, if it can be done safely, probably extends hamster life spans, and is an excellent thing to do.

 

[Maz]

Little rebel! It's confusing though, and worrying that he might have a tissue problem affecting his gait. Perhaps he was just sleeping with it out, as male hamsters often do.

At the age he is, something was going to be going on somewhere and there’s not much you can do except keep them pain free and comfortable. I had wondered if his testicles were retracting but don’t see him when he’s asleep. I’m not too concerned as he is so well and active and the Metacam clearly helps a lot as he has been very active since. Obviously it needs keeping an eye on.

The vet said it might be a tumour but if it is then it could be benign - I think if it wasn’t he would have been losing weight.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, he is a happy hamster and has his life the way he likes it. He's a fit fellow!

 

[ilguy]

And still as refined as ever! I'm sure he was just making sure the play area was up to code

 

[Maz]

Thanks ilguy