Harriet Our Teddy Bear Hamster

Question
My son and I cried for 2 hours last night as we both thought his hamster was dying. She was very lethargic, wobbling when she walked dragging her back little legs, and cuddling in her corner. It was very heart breaking. My son changed her bedding, as he placed her in a towel bundling her in it. He was trying to get her to drink and eat, but nothing. All of a sudden she began packing her food in her cheeks, slowly but surely attempting to sit up and eat, breaking her sun-flower seeds. She became almost like her normal self. She made it through the night, but she was not drinking water. Please help with some advise as to what could have been wrong with her.PLEASE We love our little Harriet.Thank you

Answer
IHi Rose,

    This could be one of 2 things, Cage Paralysis or a Stroke.
    Cage Paralysis is a disorder resulting from a hamster being confined in a cage that is too small and doesn't allow it sufficient exercise. Symptoms of this is the hamster appearing to be semi-crippled by dragging its back end around. There is a simple cure for this, a larger cage and more exercise. It is also thought that diets low in vitamins D and E may be a contributing factor to this condition so vitamin supplements may be beneficial.
    A stroke is most common in older hamsters (over a year old), but occasionally a younger one will be stricken.
The first sign of an impending stroke is the hamster tires easily and may even collapse after using the wheel. Other symptoms are, loss of balance and movement, paralyzed on one side (normally) and tilting their head to one side. Treatment for this would be to keep the cage in a warm and quiet place. Until your hamster recuperates (which generally takes about 2 weeks), it may be necessary to hand feed and water her. You can try giving her water with an eye dropper if she will not or can not drink from her water bottle or bowl. It is important to keep her hydrated, as a hamster can dehydrate quickly. If you can not get her to drink then it would be best to consult with a vet. It is also better to keep your hamster in an aquarium with no wheel, even after she recuperates.

If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thank you for writing and best of luck!