Hamster with sprained/broken leg! Help!!!

[kikimartin]

earlier today I was checking up on my two year old hamster Daisy and I noticed that she was dragging her foot around..so I freaked out..and my dad,he's a paramedic, looked at her leg and it seemed a little purple.. She can move her toes and she seems to not be in any pain..anyway I would go to the vet but I don't exactly have $60 to spend and have them say there's nothing they can do..I need some tips on what to do!! Please help!

[marmilla]

Have you called the vet yet to see how much they charge? It was only $25 for me to take my puppy in to get his shots. You can call around to different vets to see how much they charge. Some vets will also give student discounts. You can explain your situation and say how much you're willing to pay and see if the vet will work with you. Some vets will give advice over the phone as well. It's worth a try. I've read that you should take out all the toys and wheels in the cage so she can't hurt her leg further.

[kikimartin]

I took her wheel out... And I'm gonna borrow my aunts aqurium because Daisy's cage has bars and tubes...but about calling the vet..the small animal specailists are never there and if they are they always say to come in..and they don't make exeptions with pricing..ugg!...there is like 15 vets in my area and only 3 have small animal specailists...well I'll try putting her in the aquarium for now.. hopefully it will help...but thanks for the advice Marmilla!

[PCav]

Oof, that is a terrible thing to hear.

I'm afraid I can't offer any real helpful advice, just a sad childhood story. We had a wire ball that my old hamster, Zoe, could fit her legs through, and one of the neighbors kids was probably 6 years old or so, she rolled the ball real hard, and both of Zoe's back legs swelled up and she started gnawing at them, and we had to put her down.


I'm really sorry to hear that this has happened. all I can suggest is that if you can maybe wrap up her leg, or find some way to make sure she can't reach it until you can get to the specialist, go for it. Those wire cages, especially the wire balls, seem kind of risky for their little legs. Make sure you keep an eye on her!

Edit: To try and ease your mind though, you said she can move her toes and such, Zoe's legs were so swollen they were almost to pencil-thickness or bigger, and they weren't even recognizable as legs anymore. I think it was an extreme case.

[Garuru-Wolf]

Menagerie Medows will muchly help your hamster. They barley cost you anything! Look up Menagerie Medows and click on the site page, so you know where to go. But I must know this: Do you live in North Royalton? That is where it is located!

[kikimartin]

thx for all the help..and no I dont live in North Royalton but thx...turns out my aunt lost her aquarium after she moved and no one I know has one that I can borrow..but I'm gonna hopefully buy one today..and im sorry to hear about your hamster PCav that's so sad

[Garuru-Wolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by kikimartin im sorry to hear about your hamster PCav that's so sad

My hamster Snowball was killed because my dad tok her out of the cage and then to the family room. Instead of playing with her, like he should have, he took out his laptop. Snowball went in the washer.... THe next day my parents found her dead body. I wanna cry when i think about it!

[kikimartin]

:'( that's really sad...

[mulder]

kiki where in canada are you? i have a spare tank

[kikimartin]

BC...and your info thingy says your from Ontario... That's pretty far away...

[Garuru-Wolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by kikimartin thx for all the help..and no I dont live in North Royalton but thx...turns out my aunt lost her aquarium after she moved and no one I know has one that I can borrow..but I'm gonna hopefully buy one today..and im sorry to hear about your hamster PCav that's so sad

Sorry. I can't help because MM is the only vet I've heard of

[marmilla]

I used a big clear plastic tub with an open top for my hammy. Just make sure it has really tall sides. If you have cats, don't do this though. They can get inside!

(I also modified the top with screen later on to make a nice cage. She really liked having a lot of room to run around. Never had any escapes!)

[kikimartin]

Quote: Originally Posted by marmilla I used a big clear plastic tub with an open top for my hammy. Just make sure it has really tall sides. If you have cats, don't do this though. They can get inside! (I also modified the top with screen later on to make a nice cage. She really liked having a lot of room to run around. Never had any escapes!)

I can try that..my cats do care much about hamsters..they dont hunt anymore... Their too old.. :p ...my cat JC used to try and get her but we taught her not to...and she just stays away..

[kikimartin]

well the petsmart in my area has a $8 plasic hamster cage!! Hopefully when I put her in it it helps her...Thanks for all the help and I'll keep you guys posted...

[nik8806]

When you do put a wheel back in, make sure it has a solid base, so she cant hurt her leg or feet again!

Also - maybe give her some extra bedding so she can burrow, and some extry chew blocks or something - without toys to climb on shes likely to be bored

Maybe try giving her more calcium as well, especially if shes trying to heal her bone.

And Good Luck!!!