hamster paw

Question
my hamsters hind right paw does not grip anything, and seems out of place when my hamster is standing, sitting, climbing, and walking.  However she is very active, and has always had the paw issue.  Is This issue a deficiency in her diet, or is there something i can do in any way to help with this issue.  

She has no issue climbing all over her cage, through the tubes, or on people, and never seems to be in pain.  Is it common or wht?

Answer
Hi Demi

It sounds as though she might have sustained some sort of injury at some stage.  You haven't said how old she is - if she is young and has always had this, then she might have been born with a slight deformity, or had it injured as a baby.  I had a hamster who used to drag her rear leg and couldn't put any weight on it at all - she didn't seem at all bothered by it.

Is there any sign of any swelling or discolouration of the foot?  If so then a vet should have a look - in cases where there has been an injury that has healed badly then if the circulation is affected the vet tends to amputate the leg.  I've had several like this.  A lot of hamsters (babies) get their legs caught up in bedding and some types can cause serious injuries resulting in the loss of a limb or damage to the limb.

As she doesn't seem to worry about her leg then providing there is nothing else obviously wrong I would think it best to leave well alone - if you do notice any circulatory problems then it is worth getting this checked out.  

Regarding her diet - it is important to give a hamster a very well balanced diet.  Ideally she should have a good dry mix of hamster food available at all times and this can be supplemented with fresh vegetables daily (avoid giving too much lettuce as this can cause diarrhoea), seeds (such as sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, linseed), nuts (only give raw nuts i.e. not salted or flavoured), small pieces of cheese or scrambled egg (I usually give these as a treat every couple of weeks.  By varying what you give her this will ensure that she gets plenty of vitamins and minerals.  

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila