DownSyn Forum

Momof6 · Way, way WAY off any kind of topic but... update 5/17/10

Is it possible for a gerbil/hamster to have a seizure disorder? I ask this because we have one of those little furry things and some strange things have been going on with it. Just last week ( and this isn't the first time this has happened. this is like the 5th time ) she looked like she was going to die. She was flopping around in her cage. On her side kind of shaking and breathing real fast. Faster than normal. She would also try to walk and all at once just fall over on her side. This went on for about 12 hours. I told the kids that night that we would probably wake up and she'd be gone.

Well, that wasn't the case. Infact, we woke up and she was running around and playing like she always does. And she has been her normal since then.

I know, we have some very strange animals, if you remember our cat needs to shower with someone just about every day. And speaking of cats, he just found out she has 29 toes. Well I should say..did. The vet nad to take off 3 toes duw to the nails being inbedded and curling the wrong way. So on her left front paw she has 7 toes, the right front paw has 8 toes, 5 on left back paw, and 6 on her right back paw. ( did I mention she has 2 heads?...lol just joking ) So, yes, I have strange animals, but you know what?...they fit right in with our family. Very Happy

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~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 17, Chelsea 14, Connor 12, Logan 6, Cody 4 & Austin 1 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 )
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~Ben'smum~ · Posted: March 19 2010, 11:01 AM Post subject:

Did it have a head trauma recently? Dunno about seizures but I guess it could happen.

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Karen- Mum to the world's cutest baby!! Very Happy

Ben

JanetG

Momof6 wrote:

if you remember our cat needs to shower with someone just about every day.

HUH??? How in the world did I miss THAT post?!?!?!

No idea on the hamster either - VERY strange!

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Janet (44) and Jeff (44)
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Ditta · Posted: March 19 2010, 3:40 PM Post subject:

When I had a hamster and at the end of his life his back legs got paralyzed, the vet said it was probably a tumor and that hamsters have a higher incidence of tumors *shrug*
Also, all mammals could have a seizure as far as I know...
I hope hammy is ok and it was a one off...

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Anna

Mummy to Matilda (2005,) Philip (2007) and Teddy (DS, 10/2009)

Momtoseven · Posted: March 19 2010, 4:02 PM Post subject:

Warning - long post, but not much advice! We had a hamster once - poor thing - we bought one of those balls for him to roll around in and my 2-year old thought the hamster would enjoy being shaken up inside the ball. I caught him doing it and yelled, but it was too late. That evening our hamster became very ill - it was extremely sad - we were all crying because he was clearly in so much pain. He died that night. My son who shook him is now 19 and loves animals very much - he still remembers his poor hamster - he did not mean to hurt him. Anyway - sorry to ramble here, but I was going to suggest that maybe your hamster had just some slight head trauma that she recovered from - I have never heard of a hamster having siezures but I am not an expert. At least she is recovering after these episodes.

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~Ben'smum~ · Posted: March 19 2010, 4:52 PM Post subject:

Momtoseven wrote:

My son who shook him is now 19 and loves animals very much - he still remembers his poor hamster - he did not mean to hurt him.

I accidently killed a pet terapin once, I was told they like to live in luke warm water and I guess it got it *a bit* warmer than luke warm!

Christine- how many hamsters have you got? My sister bought my neice a pair of russian hamsters for her birthday a few years back. They were supposed to be sisters..... but you guessed it, she had baby hammy's. they kept breeding with each other that she finally had a litter born with no eyes! I nicknamed them 3 blind mice! Laughing

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Karen- Mum to the world's cutest baby!! Very Happy

Ben

Momof6 · Posted: March 19 2010, 6:16 PM Post subject:

Oh my....lol.

We just have the 1. We've had her for a few years so she is really old for a hamster. She acts like she has 9 lives....lol. She got out once and fell down the register. Maybe that's where she got some head trauma, but that was last year....that goodness the heat didn't kick on them. Confused

_________________
~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 17, Chelsea 14, Connor 12, Logan 6, Cody 4 & Austin 1 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 )
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

burnsun · Posted: March 19 2010, 6:54 PM Post subject:

if she is that old.... I would guess seizures and getting ready to go...... sorry!

And I rolled over and killed a kitten when I was four........ but why I had a kitten in my bed was another story.....not for publication...... but let me just say that my disdain for the catholic church and birthcontrol started early in our house by looking at hypocritical truths and trying to fix them.....

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Miranda Olivia (2/1/05) DS & Partial Complex Seisure Disorder & iratractable epilepsy
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Adens mummy · Posted: March 20 2010, 7:01 AM Post subject:

our Keeshhond started having seizures we medicated her in the end we lost her Sad

Sounds like it to me

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erikatx · Posted: March 21 2010, 5:10 PM Post subject:

lol! @ the 2 heads... ALMOST fell for it.

no advice here

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MiniMidgMom · Posted: March 21 2010, 9:38 PM Post subject:

No hamsters, but used to have ferrets. They are also prone to tumors, I think on the adrenals. One of mine lived over 10 years, and at the end she would do just what you described, sometimes seem almost comatose, then suddenly pop out of it.

The vet said that because of the tumors she had sudden shifts in electrolytes that would self correct, or something like that. I had a friend who had access to veterinary meds and gave me some so I could euthanize her when it happened.

It was so traumatic! But I couldn't stand seeing her like that, and I just knew the attack would come on when the vet was closed so wanted to be prepared. And sure enough, I woke up and found her paralyzed so I put her to sleep. Sad, sad, sad.

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Momof6 · Posted: May 17 2010, 9:24 AM Post subject:

Just wanted to let you all know that our little critter passed away last night. Yesterday was having these seizure things again. By the late night I thought she was going to be ok again because she was playing, but when I woke this morning she was gone. She is now bouncing off the clouds.

_________________
~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 17, Chelsea 14, Connor 12, Logan 6, Cody 4 & Austin 1 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 )
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

~Ben'smum~ · Posted: May 17 2010, 10:00 AM Post subject:

RIP little hamster. Sad

How'd the kids take the news?

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Karen- Mum to the world's cutest baby!! Very Happy

Ben

Karien · Posted: May 17 2010, 3:02 PM Post subject:

Sorry to hear about the hamster.

Can I send you an elephant, giraffe or maybe a rhino in ti's place. I don't think they'll want to shower with you?

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Karien: happily married to Neels
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~Ben'smum~ · Posted: May 17 2010, 3:13 PM Post subject:

Karien wrote:

Can I send you an elephant, giraffe or maybe a rhino in ti's place. I don't think they'll want to shower with you?

LOL!!!!

_________________
Karen- Mum to the world's cutest baby!! Very Happy

Ben

Momof6 · Posted: May 17 2010, 3:35 PM Post subject:

~Ben'smum~ wrote:

RIP little hamster. Sad

How'd the kids take the news?

Kids are fine. All the said was "oh, can I dig the hole?"

_________________
~Christine~
Mom of 6
Brandon ADD/ADHD 17, Chelsea 14, Connor 12, Logan 6, Cody 4 & Austin 1 ( DS & Hirschsprungs pull through 12/8/08 )
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/austinpaquin

mellysmom · Posted: May 17 2010, 8:59 PM Post subject:

Can I dig the hole? LOL! Children are such sensitive people aren't they?

We had an English Springer Spaniel mix who had seizures. We gave him medication everyday for it. So, to answer your question, Your little hamster, may he rest in peace, probably had them too.

We've had hamsters in the past. I cried when they died. Smile

Michelle