My senior hamster is dragging a hind leg. When should I see a vet?

I am sorry to hear that Hammy is painful. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. I am worried that he may have injured it. Possibly a fracture or an infection. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Since Chompie is not using her hind leg and if you believe it may be broken, I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian. Hamsters often hide any signs of pain since they are prey species. Your veterinarian will be able to closely examine Chompie and may recommend x-rays to look for evidence of a fracture. Other possible causes include neurologic diseases that are making the leg nonfunctional. Your veterinarian may recommend splinting the leg if it is fractured, or may recommend pain medications if indicated. I hope this is helpful!

Her foot has probably been caught in between the cage bars, this may be permanent damage (it often is in hamsters), if it is the recommendation will be leg amputation ( a very simple surgical procedure in hamsters).

If she will allow, check her teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. Make sure her cage is warm enough and away from high traffic areas, strong drafts/vibrations and loud noises. Monitor for loose droppings, lethargy and a decreased appetite. Although most hamsters are more active at night, this may simply be her personality. An exam with your veterinarian is always recommended to make sure she isn't sick or injured.

Poor chip. It is hard to say what is causing the abnormal activity with out examining him. I would recommend taking him to a vet for a good exam to determine if he has a fracture or soft tissue injury. The vet can provide pain control which will keep him more comfortable. hope that helps

She may not be dying, but she looks and is behaving as if she is seriously ill. You'll need to have Latte physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury though. In the tank, clean and sanitize her cage, bowls, toys and hides. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Keep her warm and as stress free as possible until she sees the vet. Offer small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte and moisten pelleted food to make eating easier.

Morty sounds really bad, and leaving him like this would be cruel. Dying is not a pain free process. He has to see a vet now, even if it's just to put him to sleep. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.