Rosie (Syrian hamster)

[Maz]

If it's just one or two nails maybe you can snip the very tip off with a small pair of nail scissors, trying the distraction method - ie plonk an egg cup of strawberry porridge (or baby food) on the sofa, sit near it and when she sits to eat some of it, surreptitiously snip a nail - I usually manage to get one or two done that way.

 

[Eric65]

I've tried a few distracting methods, but she's just a very wriggly hamster when she's being held. I don't mind taking her to the vets at all. Plus, it's like a little trip out for her. Besides, I'd rather someone do it who knows what they are doing, than me running the risk of hurting her. She's just too precious to me.

 

[Scarlet42]

If it's just one or two nails maybe you can snip the very tip off with a small pair of nail scissors, trying the distraction method - ie plonk an egg cup of strawberry porridge (or baby food) on the sofa, sit near it and when she sits to eat some of it, surreptitiously snip a nail - I usually manage to get one or two done that way.

This is what I'm going to try next time she gets up before I go to bed.

I saw she had one nail curling when she was sitting in her cage. I got her out to get a better look and found another. But only managed to look at two paws because she's so wriggly. I'm hoping there aren't too many.

She didn't like the vet at all, so I'm really hoping this works and she doesn't have to go back again.

 

[Eric65]

Last time I took hammy, they did all her nails. When she came back to me, she was fast asleep

 

[Scarlet42]

Last time I took hammy, they did all her nails. When she came back to me, she was fast asleep

That's exactly what they did with Rosie. Although by that point pretty all her nails needed doing.

 

[Scarlet42]

I think I managed to trim a nail. But not one that really needed it. She sat to lick the baby food with her back feet under her and her right side to me, when the long nail on her front paw is on the left. And she kept being suspicious of what I was up to, rather than being busy licking the food.

But afterwards, when she was in her cage and begging for treats she had both front paws on the bars and I was giving her small treats that she can pouch without using her hands. And I thought they were perfectly positioned for some clipping. It might involve doing too many things at once, but it's worth a try.

Although to complicate everything, I just noticed that she has one front tooth that's longer than the other. I need to get a better look and decide if the long one is too long. Because if that needs trimming the vets could do her nails at the same time.

I haven't noticed any change in her behaviour and her weight hasn't changed. But she is about a year and a half old, so maybe she's getting old without showing it.

 

[Maz]

Yes she probably does need another vet visit if one front tooth is longer than the other. Is it only just a little bit or is it very noticeable? If it's just a little bit it might be ok. If it's quite noticeable I wonder if it has broken off.

 

[Socks' Mum]

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.

I think I managed to trim a nail. But not one that really needed it. She sat to lick the baby food with her back feet under her and her right side to me, when the long nail on her front paw is on the left. And she kept being suspicious of what I was up to, rather than being busy licking the food.

But afterwards, when she was in her cage and begging for treats she had both front paws on the bars and I was giving her small treats that she can pouch without using her hands. And I thought they were perfectly positioned for some clipping. It might involve doing too many things at once, but it's worth a try.

Although to complicate everything, I just noticed that she has one front tooth that's longer than the other. I need to get a better look and decide if the long one is too long. Because if that needs trimming the vets could do her nails at the same time.

I haven't noticed any change in her behaviour and her weight hasn't changed. But she is about a year and a half old, so maybe she's getting old without showing it.

I hope she has a lovely long life with you

It could be worth taking Rosie to the vet to check her back teeth as sometimes uneven front teeth can mean that the molars are uneven too and potentially causing problems with eating.

 

[Eric65]

I read somewhere, that vets don't clip teeth anymore, in case they break. They tend to use a little grinder. That may not be the case for every vet though. It's not something I've had experience with though. My hammy will chew anything.

 

[Maz]

They do tend to burr the teeth and use a whiff of anaesthetic these days, yes.

 

[Scarlet42]

Yes she probably does need another vet visit if one front tooth is longer than the other. Is it only just a little bit or is it very noticeable? If it's just a little bit it might be ok. If it's quite noticeable I wonder if it has broken off.

It's very noticeable. I think one of them is too short. Although the longer one could still be too long. I need to get another look - she really hated going to the vet so I don't want to take her unnecessarily.

 

[Maz]

If they are different lengths then it does need looking at really unfortunately. To avoid them growing awkwardly and becoming occluded or she might not be able to eat properly.

 

[Scarlet42]

We've had a 'fun' couple of weeks. I got ill, so nothing happened other than we got fed and watered. When I was feeling a bit better I had a go with her nails when she had her front feet on the bars of the cage, but she kept moving them, so I didn't get very far. But then I noticed she had what I thought was a lump on her side. Except when I poked it it wasn't solid.

So she got to go the vets, had her nails clipped, her teeth looked at (and filed) and the not-lump turns out to be a cyst, which was drained. She was not happy about the vet visit. I told the vet that she'd bitten the vet last time, so this time they started off with the sedation to cut her nails (because she's so wriggly it was impossible for two of them to do it without the sedation) and then looked at the rest of her.

I expect her nails will get longer again and I will try cutting them if that happens, but she might just have to get them cut at the vets regularly. At least she's fine afterwards, even if she's not happy while she's there!

 

[Lovelyness]

At least you got everything done in one hit at the vets! Do you have a slate tile or anything in her cage to help keep her nails shorter? Hopefully she’ll be ok for a while after her trip to the vet today.

 

[Maz]

Aw glad you got it all sorted. What did they do with her teeth? Shorten one down to the length of the other one? Hope you're feeling better

 

[Scarlet42]

I think they shortened one tooth down. I have two slate tiles, one by her water and one by her house entrance. And a cork log. All of which she definitely walks over.

 

[Maz]

All trim and sorted . Teeth and nails

 

[Scarlet42]

I gave Rosie porridge for the first time yesterday. I put it out at the same time as her food. She came out of her house, could smell there was something new on top of it, but there was also food scattered where she was standing, so she found that and went back to bed. I went out, came back three hours later to see the porridge had moved a bit, but was still there. She was up, so I gave her some food through the bars. When I stopped and moved away she went over to the porridge, picked up and ate it. So I think she liked it, but wasn't that excited about it.

 

[Maz]

Maybe she's just getting used to it and not sure? I used to put it out and it was usually gone by morning. they'd eat a little bit and leave but must have finished it during the night. But I only gave a bit on a teaspoon