very sick hamster

Question
we are devastated  because our sweet black bear hamster is paralyised and cannot do anything but push himself around his cage. He cannot use his fronts paws. It can't be cage paralysis because he runs in his wheel everynight and most nights we have him out in his ball. He gets plenty of exercise He is making weird movements with his mouth.  I think he has had a stroke.  I called 3 vets today and they do not see hamsters. All we are doing now is holding him and trying to keep him comfortable. I can not figure out what happened. WE had him out yesterday morning and when we came home yesterday evening he was paralysied and making strange movements. He is such a great hamster that I hate to see him in any pain. What can we do?

Answer
Hi Lisa,

I'm so very sorry to hear this, your story saddens me especially since the vets won't see him, so much for animal lovers eh??

You are right in thinking he may have had a stroke, another cause may be that he's taken a fall from something in his cage and broken his back. Either way, it doesn't look good. Hamsters can sometimes recover from a stroke, usually it takes anything from a week to a couple of months for them to recover completely. All you can do is be sure he is comfortable and that everything he needs, bedding, food and water are all close by. Try every vet in your area. I think this is disgusting that 3 will not even look at him, really, I am shocked at this! things like this make me so angry!

Try to avoid holding him as much as you can, if he has broken his back, it will only make it worse honey..

Until you can get him to a vet somewhere, there really is nothing more you can do :( I'm so very sorry.

Have you tried contacting a local rescue centre? but be warned, they may just put him to sleep. However, in cases like this, maybe its for the best.

I wish you and your hamster all the very best of luck, and thank you for your question.

Joanne x