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Original poster

Hamster suddenly going mental!

23 replies

BooseysMom · 16/05/2021 12:18

Can anyone help please? We have a usually, placid friendly, happy Syrian who enjoys cuddles and will fall asleep on you but suddenly 2 days ago he turned savage! He never makes any noises or bites. He now squawks and goes for your hand if you try and stroke him. He turns round and round on the spot really quickly and goes like a bolt of lightening up his tubes. He just seems generally . disorientated and agitated. He's used to being handled and we even gently lift him out of his sleep.house when he's half asleep to be cuddled
He won't drink but will eat a few seeds. The only thing that I can think of that we did differently is give him a few peas which I read in a hamster book are fine.
He doesn't look ill...he has bright eyes and he hasn't got wet tail.
The pet shop said it's too much sugar and to keep an eye on him. It's just so strange and worrying.
Can anyone throw any light on it please? We dare not touch him atm.

OP posts:
TenThousandSpoons · 16/05/2021 12:24

How old is he? How big is his cage? It sounds like he’s become cage aggressive where he guards his cage from “intruders”, possibly because he’s outgrown a starter cage.

PuffinPeter · 16/05/2021 12:25

A change in behaviour like that could mean he is unwell, but you would only know with a trip to the vet (ideally an exotic vet used to hamsters).

KidneyBeans · 16/05/2021 12:33

He sounds painful
Vet check

Original poster
BooseysMom · 16/05/2021 12:34

Thank you for the replies.
He's 8 months. We upgraded his cage to a Savage Hamster Heaven which is 76 cm x 45cm. We simply can't upgrade again..we don't have the room. He has been fine with his cage up to 2 days ago.
Yes, maybe a trip to the vets is required.

OP posts:
FATEdestiny · 16/05/2021 12:43

Our very placid russian dwarf hamster suddenly became vicious about 2 months before he died. He was 20 months old, so probably died of old age.

Regularsizedrudy · 16/05/2021 12:50

Why are you asking the pet shop? Go to the vet

FATEdestiny · 16/05/2021 12:53

Thought I'd share our hamster cage here, cos I love my DIY project.

Its a Freecycle sideboard - back and door panels replaced with wire mesh. Draw at top is a dark bedding area, with two levels of active play areas in the open. All internal surfaces covered with off its of final flooring.

Hamster suddenly going mental!
FATEdestiny · 16/05/2021 12:55

...offcuts of vinyl flooring.

Tetherreached · 16/05/2021 12:57

Hamsters tend to be quite inbred at pet shops. I had them for years. Some happily lasted until they were two and others died within a year. They are little animals and as such tend to hide anything wrong with them until they are unable to cope anymore, which makes treating them difficult. When my hamsters have done this, it has always led to death or a vet visit.
I hope your little hammie doesn't go down this road! Little animals in the wild know that if they show weakness then they will be picked off by predators. Doesn't help us as pet owners though Sad

Original poster
BooseysMom · 16/05/2021 20:08

@FATEdestiny...I love your DIY home. Impressive! I wish I was good at making things.

@Tetherreached.. thanks, they are good points that you make. It seems so unfair that he's not even half way through his life. I think we may have got to the bottom of it in that DS just confessed that on Fri he fell off the bed on to his back. I did wonder if it was a brain injury as his behaviour is so erratic and his movements jerky. One minute he comes out to see you, the next he's going hyper and squawking. It's pretty unnerving.

OP posts:
Aprilwasverywet · 16/05/2021 20:10

Maybe the Savage tank is the issue - - literally.!!
Sorry op, I have flashbacks from my vicious little buggar when I was a dc...

Original poster
BooseysMom · 17/05/2021 12:30

Maybe the Savage tank is the issue - - literally.!!

I upgraded to this from a Rosewood Pico xl which was anything but! So I thought the Savic Hamster Heaven was fine tbh. Measurements are 76cm x 46. Why do they sell these cages if they are unsuitable?!

OP posts:
KidneyBeans · 17/05/2021 13:53

[quote BooseysMom]@FATEdestiny...I love your DIY home. Impressive! I wish I was good at making things.

@Tetherreached.. thanks, they are good points that you make. It seems so unfair that he's not even half way through his life. I think we may have got to the bottom of it in that DS just confessed that on Fri he fell off the bed on to his back. I did wonder if it was a brain injury as his behaviour is so erratic and his movements jerky. One minute he comes out to see you, the next he's going hyper and squawking. It's pretty unnerving.[/quote]
He probably has a spinal injury/horrible back pain!
Why haven't you taken him to the vet?!?

CatPurple · 17/05/2021 13:56

Have you got a vet appointment booked? It sounds like he’s in pain.

Original poster
BooseysMom · 17/05/2021 13:57

I phoned the vet and left a message on Sat and I'm at work today so intend on calling asap when I get home. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
BooseysMom · 17/05/2021 16:32

Just booked with another vet. He's perked up now and even let us pick him up. He has a limp where he fell but doesn't seem to be in pain. We're taking him to the vet now

OP posts:
KidneyBeans · 17/05/2021 18:55

@BooseysMom

Just booked with another vet. He's perked up now and even let us pick him up. He has a limp where he fell but doesn't seem to be in pain. We're taking him to the vet now
How did you get on ?
KidneyBeans · 17/05/2021 18:58

By the way a sudden change in behaviour is a sign of pain
Limping is a sign of pain
Vocalising when being handled is a sign of pain
So he's showing at least 3 clear signs of pain

TenThousandSpoons · 17/05/2021 21:51

Hope the little guy is ok. The Savic HH cage is slightly under the recommended minimum (80cm x 50cm) especially as it tapers so much at the base. If you fill the base right up with substrate (eg care fresh or kaytee clean and cozy paper bedding) the measurements will be more towards the minimum recommended.

Original poster
BooseysMom · 18/05/2021 20:39

@KidneyBeans.. The vet gave him an injection which really smells! She manipulated his limbs and said he's fine, just a bit sore still. We weren't to know at the time as we were told by the pet shop it was diet related and he wasn't limping.
DS has been told to leave him to recover.

@TenThousandSpoons..thank you, he's going much better now Smile
I see what you mean abour the Savic. It's naughty really as it does taper at the base and it's deceiving. It's all we can fit into our tiny lounge though. On another thread someone has posted a pic of the same cage with another smaller one on top which we will have to do. Ours has got a tube system all around the outside of the cage and he really does love those tubes! He goes like an express train and even reverses too! It's quite a sight and I never manage to capture it on video.

OP posts:
KidneyBeans · 19/05/2021 09:54

[quote BooseysMom]@KidneyBeans.. The vet gave him an injection which really smells! She manipulated his limbs and said he's fine, just a bit sore still. We weren't to know at the time as we were told by the pet shop it was diet related and he wasn't limping.
DS has been told to leave him to recover.

@TenThousandSpoons..thank you, he's going much better now Smile
I see what you mean abour the Savic. It's naughty really as it does taper at the base and it's deceiving. It's all we can fit into our tiny lounge though. On another thread someone has posted a pic of the same cage with another smaller one on top which we will have to do. Ours has got a tube system all around the outside of the cage and he really does love those tubes! He goes like an express train and even reverses too! It's quite a sight and I never manage to capture it on video.[/quote]
Well I guess the lesson there is that pet shop staff aren't qualified to diagnose veterinary medical conditions. From your OP he sounded painful.
Even after he started limping you said he wasn't in pain - why then do you think he was limping? I'm not trying to be unpleasant but I just find it odd that even after you had described all of those signs to us you were still listing saying that you didn't think he was in pain.

Glad you've got treatment for him, hope he's doing ok

IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld · 19/05/2021 10:08

I didn't see this post until just now but my first thought as I read the OP was someone has dropped him and he's in pain, you need to interrogate everyone!! I'm so glad you managed to get to the bottom of the problem, I used to love my Hammys.

Best wishes for the rest of your Hamster Adventures 🐹

Original poster
BooseysMom · 19/05/2021 10:39

Yeah def a lesson learned I know! It's our first pet you see. I won't phone the pet shop again. We have now found a very good vet that could see him quickly. I tried 2 others which were fully booked..
Thanks all

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