Question about three-legged hamster

[orangenish]

I had the opportunity to adopt a dwarf with three legs today, but didn't. While she was awfully cute and sweet, I wasn't sure if there were any other health issues besides her missing leg (it looked to be a birth defect and not caused by an accident or anything else). Should I have taken her? While I could take a hamster to the vet if problems

Comments

[zombieroadtrip]

A three-legged hamster is most likely the result of an overzealous mother grooming her when she was a baby. Little pinkie hamsters are very delicate, and sometimes mothers trying to groom them and lick the afterbirth off accidentally take off the tail, or a leg. I don't think any medical issues could arise at this point if the nub is healed over and didn't look scabby. If you keep her on a soft bedding like Carefresh, rather than a wood-based bedding, I don't think her little nub would get anymore worn down.

I would adopt her, but that's just me, I'm a sucker for animals like that.

[inertiaflux]

I adopted a winter white that has a backwards paw. I'm not totally sure how she came to get a paw that way but she does, and she gets around just fine. Not the same as a tripod, but she's never had any issues at all. Of course the shop that had her never gave her a wheel, they thought she couldn't run in one. HA, I gave her a silent spinner so she wouldn't get caught on anything, and she runs like the wind...ALL the time. She loves it! She had to figure out how to do it, but when she did she hasn't stopped. She's been one of my little hamturd pals for 2 years and she's wonderful. I love her to pieces!

[exquisitegeek]

I would adopt her. ^_^

[electrolyn]

My hamster, a dwarf, broke his leg while being adventurous on a cage, so he has a twisted foot now, at the back too, it's been a year. He's growing well and happy, just that I don't give him a wheel cos I don't wanna strain his leg, it's a twisted foot with some kinda stump now, so I give him more time with me to play :)

[emonoodles]

I had a three legged hamster that died yesterday. :(

When he was a couple of months old he tried to escape from his cage and broke his leg and I took him to the vet and they had to amputate it. He lived to be over two years old and never had any other problems.

[orangenish]

I'm very sorry about your hamster, and I'm glad he lived a nice long life.

[emonoodles]

Thank. <3