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Original poster

Hamster has a very swollen back foot, what can I do?

47 replies

Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 18:49

Dd has just taken him out and is back foot is very swollen and he can't put any weight on it. It looks very lightly grazed.

OP posts:
bella39 · 27/05/2009 18:59

Sounds infected - will need to go to the vet.

ilovesprouts · 27/05/2009 19:01

may be its fallen when climbing

FabulousBakerGirl · 27/05/2009 19:02

You need a vet.

Is he making any noise?

KingCanuteIAm · 27/05/2009 19:02

Darn, Bella beat me to it!

A simple light graze will not cause swelling so you really need a vet to look at it.

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 21:19

Thanks, he seems to be fine other than a swollen foot.

OP posts:
FabulousBakerGirl · 27/05/2009 21:23

Is he making any noise?

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 21:27

No he isn't making any noise, he looks completely normal until you look at his back leg. Would it swell if it was dislocated?

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 27/05/2009 21:29

Yes it would swell if it was dislocated, or infected, or broken. There are lots of possible causes, which is why you need a vet to look at it really.

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 21:30

I will take him just wondered if I could do anything overnight.

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 27/05/2009 21:30

Other possible causes are cysts, tumours, arthritis on the joints... and so on.

KingCanuteIAm · 27/05/2009 21:32

It is difficult if you don't have any clues, things that will help one thing will hurt another IYSWIM. If you are going in the morning then I would leave it alone myself, just try to keep him quiet, maybe you can confim him to a small area of the cage?

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 21:32

Thanks, dd's goldfish has already died this week , so i'm hoping it's not fatal.

OP posts:
FabulousBakerGirl · 27/05/2009 21:33

He isn't making any noise because he is injured and in the wild they stay quiet to avoid being found by predators.

You need to have him seen asap and the chances are if anything is broken he will have to be put to sleep as they are too small to have a GA.

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 22:00

Oh I see what you mean, I thought you meant was he sqeaking. I'll have to wait till later to see if he is rummaging about. Thanks.

OP posts:
bella39 · 27/05/2009 22:45

Hammies can have GA's.

It may just be an infection and he may only need antibiotics.

Good luck & keep us posted.

Original poster
Amapoleon · 27/05/2009 23:03

Thanks, will do.

OP posts:
ilovesprouts · 28/05/2009 05:32

hope its ok

worley · 28/05/2009 05:41

what colour is the swelling? mine bumped his leg and got a big haematoma (blood blister) it was massive, drained it off and he lived quite a while longer.

Original poster
Amapoleon · 28/05/2009 08:34

It's skin colour.

OP posts:
FabulousBakerGirl · 28/05/2009 08:40

I was going on what I was told when my hamster broke his leg. They said he was too small for a GA and he had to be put down.

bella39 · 28/05/2009 08:48

Sorry to hear that, FBG. I don't know the full circumstances of your hammie but his leg may have been too badly broken to fix.

FabulousBakerGirl · 28/05/2009 09:54

I feel so guilty as he got it stuck in a toy I bought him. He was a real charater and sweetie even though we could never hold him.

KingCanuteIAm · 28/05/2009 14:32

Amapolean, did you get to the vet? Hope hammy is ok?

FBG, if you bought a nammy a hammy toy and he got injured by it the fault is with the design and/or manufacture not you. I know it is awful when a pet gets hurt though

FabulousBakerGirl · 28/05/2009 16:37

I know you are right but I was trying to give him something nice for Christmas and it ended up killing him.

The shop knocked off the cost of the toy on my next purchase.

KingCanuteIArnt · 28/05/2009 16:56

Ugh, sometimes I think a gesture like that is just adding insult to injury IYSWIM.

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