My hamster is dragging its back leg. Should I be worried about injury?

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!

Thanks for reaching out about Amber. A sprain or strain should heal well with some cage rest, but a fracture or other injury is better managed through a veterinary visit. If you have a chance to handle Amber, try touching the leg to determine how painful it it. Even a sprain could respond better with analgesic medications. Good luck.

Spinal injury is possible especially if Nefarix cannot move his hindlimbs. Hopefully, he is experiencing weakness and not paralysis. Take the wheel out of his cage so he can rest. Monitor his ability to urinate and defecate. If he cannot urinate or defecate, you must get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

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.

Ouch, poor Tyson! From your description, I share your concern - this sounds like a potentially very serious injury and a fractured bone is definitely a worry if he's dragging his foot. Tyson needs to be seen by a vet, to determine the extent of his injury and get him treated accordingly. He may need to be sedated to have that laceration closed if it is deep, and the vet can discuss options if there is a break. The vet will be able to start him on pain meds, and likely will start antibiotics as well since bite wounds are very prone to infection. In the meantime, keep them separate, and keep Tyson confined in a small cage somewhere dark and quiet to minimize stress. I hope this helps and he feels better soon!

Sorry to hear about Flash. If you believe his leg might be fractures, you should probably be seen by a veterinarian, as broken legs or back can be very painful and possibly life threatening. I would remove the wheel for now in hopes of preventing further damage to the leg/back.

Hi there. I think it is unlikely that the problem will be solvable. However, more importantly do you feel he is in pain? If he shows signs of pain or if you think his quality of life is diminished then I would recommend that he be evaluated by a veterinarian. At that time you can discuss pain management as well as quality of life questions and decisions. Good luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.