Three days ago this little fellow presented for wobbliness and disorientation. Neurologic symptoms are often bad news, especially in three year old hamsters, but Hammy seemed to be doing pretty well otherwise and we wanted to give him a chance. Sometimes these symptoms can be due to an ear infection or stroke so we recommended oral antibiotics, frequent hand feeding and watering, and a quiet warm environment. Hammy's family was headed out of town though, so we offered to take care of him for a few days.
Hammy is a very friendly hamster. When he is not hanging out in the "sleephouse" he is happy to be held, and over the past 48 hours has made a remarkable recovery. Fortunately he never lost his appetite so we were encouraged that he might pull through. He is not out of the woods yet, but we are hopeful!
(On a side note, vets often get bitten when handling hamsters. It's not serious but it smarts just enough that we are a bit tentative when doing an exam or administering medication. However, Hammy showed not the least tendency to bite, and although this is primarily due to his sweet temperament, I also discovered that he lacks upper incisors!)
