Raffy (Syrian Hamster)

[Socks' Mum]

Oh sweet little Raffy. Perhaps he was a bit stressed after the vet visit and it set him back a little. Great that he can enjoy a bit of movement and stimulation and you can spend time together. Time gets so precious as hamsters get older.

 

[Hank]

Could it be the heat as well? Jas didn't come out on Friday, wanted a night in. Maybe he just needs a couple of quiet days.

 

[Maz]

Yes it could be - it doesn't feel that hot in our house to me, but maybe it does to him. I'll see how he goes.

 

[Zara]

I’m sorry to read this Maz, maybe it is the heat and he’s only popping out for short periods in the very early hours when it’s cooler. Hopefully wt the heat easing he’ll be out again a little earlier. Guess it’s not unusual for them to reduce free roaming as they grow older. We went from every night to every other to about twice a week. Hope he pops out for you later

 

[Jain]

Hope Raffy perks up a bit soon he's bound to have his " Golden Oldies off days " but it is concerning when they are not themselves.

 

[Maz]

Thank you Jain and Zara

 

[Maz]

Dear little Raffy is not very good. He did wake up tonight while I was spot cleaning his pee area (which is well away from his burrow/nest. And talking to OH and making a bit of noise putting his food out. But looked just as peaky as last night and it's clear his back legs are worse. And are not really working. I was beginning to think yesterday he might need to go to the vet's to be helped on his way in case he's suffering and in pain, but waited in case he suddenly came round. Also the last couple of nights he only ate half his baby food. He finished it off at some point during the night but I was wondering if he wasn't getting the full dose of metacam that way (or not all at once). So tonight I gave him the teeniest bit of baby food with the metacam and he ate all of it. I did get him out on the sofa to see if he came round a bit and then on the floor. He did run off behind the tv cupboard as usual but only just managed to keep his balance as his back legs aren't supporting him. As with other nights - he just sits under something and doesn't come out. That was a bit worrying as I wouldn't dare move the tv cabinet in case it squashed him. But just as we were going to get a torch, he came out of the back, but was just sitting there. So offered him his tube to walk into and had him back on the sofa for a little bit, a little cuddle. Gave him some porridge on a teaspoon - he ate a tiny bit.

He is clearly still interested in food but it seems to be an effort. It was also clear, once he was back in the cage, that he couldn't reach his water bottle as he couldn't push up with his back legs. So that has been lowered. He still managed to dig himself down into his burrow reasonably vigorously. He seems to have stopped using the house entrance. Looking at him I think he was in pain. And almost decided tonight that I might need to take him to the vets to be helped on his way. But he had his full dose of metacam tonight so I'll see if that helps - it may be it's not enough any more. I've put the hamstercam on his cage instead of Tino's so I can see what he's like during the night. I've also taken one of his platforms out - he was clearly struggling to get up there to get to his veg and baby food - although does manage. And put those dishes on the substrate. I was going to take the other platform out but he sometimes likes to sit under there so I left it. It does have a bendy bridge up to it, so it's up to him if he wants to go up there - there is no real reason to and it's not very high. And lowered his water bottle right down.

This is one reason I don't like using a water bowl with an older hamster though - if they can't support themselves on their back legs, they can end up face first and drown. I have heard of that happening with a hamster who had a minor stroke.

He did sort of perk up a bit after being out and back in his cage and went and sat in his coconut. Turned round and looked at me for a few minutes and although he still looks a bit strained around the eyes, he looked kind of happy for a moment. It's the looking strained around the eyes that makes me think he's in pain, more than the back legs going. He then climbed onto his wheel for a 1 second run but toppled onto the substrate as his back legs wouldn't work - which was sad. He did the same last night. I wonder if he is trying to show me he can't do things any more - or just decided to have a go anyway.

I think I know he is going to need to go to the vets soon but as many of you know, the timing isn't always easy. They can sometimes suddenly perk up and come round again. Like he did last time when he was started on metacam. He has had his full dose tonight, before I went to bed. He can reach everything he needs to (I scattered his food on the substrate). So I'll see if he is any more active overnight. As opposed to when he's just woken up.

But if he still seems in pain after his full dose of metacam tonight, then I'll have to make that tough decision. He has gone downhill very quickly. Just three or four nights ago on the sofa he was fine.

Although he hasn't been quite right ever since the vet came - with the hiding away. Maybe it pressed on or worsened something when he was examined somehow. I'm wondering if something might have moved or burst inside after the examination possibly. Or maybe it's just the natural progression. She did say he had a tumour.

The last time he was out and hid, his face looked fine and that was only about four nights ago. Yesterday and today his face looked strained and he is wobbly. Mainly because he can't keep his balance without his back legs. He still loves the baby food.

 

[ilguy]

Sorry to hear Raffy is not doing well in his old age. For the meanwhile, maybe make him a forage board to give him something he can enjoy with his front legs? See if he gives it a go

He is still eating and having his moments. I think if he shows interest in something accessible at ground level I would hold off personally. It's a tough call with his back legs in such a state, I hope he still shows some life overnight

 

[Maz]

That's a lovely idea ilguy. Any tips how to make one? I'm not that good at ideas for making things!

I hear what you say - it comes down to whether he's in too much pain really and I'll have to go with instincts and messages from him for that. They are so good at hiding it, so when they're not hiding it ............He does look quite ropey. He just staggers over to his baby food. Has a half hearted attempt at the veg and then leaves most of it. I think they keep their routine going however bad they feel.

But yes I'll wait and see how he is after tonight's full dose of metacam. There can be ups and downs. I get the impression he doesn't want to get up at all at night. It's probably only because I was spot cleaning and it disturbed him.

Last night he still pouched the sunflower seeds scattered out of habit, while trying to go back to bed. Sort of as routine but didn't seem excited at all. Tonight he just left them. Everything seemed an effort. He is definitely off food - apart from the baby food - but even then was only eating half of it the last two nights. I only give him about half a teaspoonful. Tonight it was just a pea sized amount with the metacam and he ate all of it.

See if the full dose of metacam in one go helps tonight.

 

[Socks' Mum]

It's heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing with us, I know it will help very greatly when my hammy gets there. It has been fast, just a few days. So sad. But you know Raffy better than anyone and understand him so well. You have so much experience, it is awesome. I hope things aren't too hard. Thinking of you two

 

[Hank]

I'm sorry he's not doing well. It does sound really hard.
Did you say that they gave you different medication? Could it be that he was responding to the other medication more?
I hope he's a bit better tonight after having the full dose

 

[Steve]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear little Raffy is not his usual happy self, it must be so hard. I hope he gets better soon.

 

[Maz]

Thank you all. It's the same metacam (loxicom). I got the vet to do a new prescription. He did come out again in the night about 2.40am - just once for a few minutes. I had put a tiny bit of porridge out. He ate about half of it. But on his way back to his sleeping area, he toppled over and was stuck on his back for a good 30 seconds. He did manage to right himself but it's very sad and I wasn't there to help during the night. He clearly wants to run in his wheel but can't. He sat in it for a minute or two. Then went back to bed. He noticed the lowered things.

I'm going to firm down and flatten the top of the bedding to make it more level to walk on and move food closer to where he's nesting, but he did topple over on the sofa as well in a similar way.

The fact he got up at all and ate something suggests he hasn't given up. I'll see if he seems in pain tonight.

 

[ilguy]

Thank you all. It's the same metacam (loxicom). I got the vet to do a new prescription. He did come out again in the night about 2.40am - just once for a few minutes. I had put a tiny bit of porridge out. He ate about half of it. But on his way back to his sleeping area, he toppled over and was stuck on his back for a good 30 seconds. He did manage to right himself but it's very sad and I wasn't there to help during the night. He clearly wants to run in his wheel but can't. He sat in it for a minute or two. Then went back to bed. He noticed the lowered things.

I'm going to firm down and flatten the top of the bedding to make it more level to walk on and move food closer to where he's nesting, but he did topple over on the sofa as well in a similar way.

The fact he got up at all and ate something suggests he hasn't given up. I'll see if he seems in pain tonight.

Oh wow, poor Raffy For the forage board, I cut out two squares of cardboard (about the size of a cell phone). One I cut a few holes all the way through for treats, using different shapes. The other will just be the bottom, I glue it on with kids glue.

It's great for bonding early on, it can be a bit interactive early on if you refill it during play. Raffy should be able to get at it with his front legs, and my heart goes out to you Maz. He is a special old man

 

[Socks' Mum]

It is so sad, little Raphy. I hope things get easier for you both. It must be difficult, waiting for a sign that it's time, but also worrying about him potentially suffering when you are sleeping. Perhaps he will go to sleep and just pass in his bed.

 

[Maz]

Thank you ilguy . I might have a go at that. He doesn’t seem that interested in foraging at the moment - just the baby food and porridge. He picked out one little bit from the scattered food but that seemed an effort.

The new bottle of Loxicom arrived today so maybe that will be slightly more potent/effectuve. The other one was in date but opened already when I started using it. I’m aware it’s all temporary though and think this tumour has caught up with him.

Socks Mum - we often wish they would just go in their sleep. Sometimes they can soldier on for a long time - depending on what the medical issue is. As my vet said - if you leave them long enough they will die in their sleep but sometimes that isn’t the kindest thing to do if they are suffering.

I wish they had stronger pain relief for hamsters.

But realistically you wouldn’t treat a human with pain from cancer - with something like ibuprofen (which is the equivalent of Metacam/loxicom) - they would need something much stronger.

I’m going to get the dose double checked though in case it can be upped a bit (there is some leeway apparently) but it still might not be enough.

 

[Maz]

Raffy seems to be dying. He did appear this evening and had taken his blueberry and was sat in his coconut (he never used to do that until the last couple of nights). But he looks terrible, can hardly walk and I can tell by his face that he's in pain. He completely ignored his baby food with metacam in it. I tried to put it near him as he was walking back to the house but he ignored and walked through it. He seemed to be concentrating on just getting back to bed very slowly. I've made up some more and left it out. But he has really gone downhill quickly and I will be looking to try and get a vet appointment as I don't want him to suffer.

 

[Zara]

I’m so sorry to read little Raffy is not doing so well. It sounds as though he is starting to struggle and as you say the Metacam could simply not be enough to keep him comfy. I think when the time comes, you just know in your heart it’s the right thing to do. Thinking of you.

 

[Maz]

Thank you Zara.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, it is time to let him pass without suffering. I hope all goes smoothly. Take care Maz.