[Gpdd] MISC.- my hamster (yes I know this is the GUINEA PIG digest!)

rzm.2 at juno.com rzm.2 at juno.com
Wed Aug 3 20:16:56 EDT 2005


Well I made a kinda weird discovery today. As some people know I got a hamster back in April that has had a rough little life. I found him in a pet store, and no I don't normally buy my animals at pet stores, but this little guy was meant to be with us I think. My husband & I had taken the day off and went to 2 area shelters looking for another piggie friend for Albert. Well at the 1st place all the piggies were spoken for (good for them!) & at the 2nd place they only had 2 piggies that couldn't be separated. So we came home feeling kinda dejected & I thought I'd run down to the pet store a couple blocks from my house & get Albert his bedding for the week. I saw this little blueberry hamster kind of cowering in the corner of his house hiding from a bigger & very nasty older brother hamster. I asked the owner about him and she said he was the runt of the litter & they thought he might have some kind of birth defect because he hadn't grown at all. I said maybe the reason he couldn't grow is because big hog hamster wouldn't let him have any food! She said they figured he wasn't gonna live very long, so that's why they didn't separate them! We decided right then that he was coming home with us. As soon as he was situated in his house he just ate & ate! He played all night & wasn't the least bit nervous in his new home! We had noticed he is a little wobbly & he hasn't grown at all. =(  He seems very happy though, so I figured he was just a little clumsy being the runt and all. Well today I got him a new water bottle & was sitting on the floor in front of his house just watching him. I never actually sat right in front of his house before. I thought I was seeing things, but sure enough my husband & friend confirmed it: he is missing a back leg! There is the tiniest of stubs where a tiny leg & foot should be. No wonder he's clumsy! I know this is the GUINEA PIG digest, but I just wonder if anyone with any hamster experience has any input on this. He seems very happy. He runs on his wheel & in his plastic ball, and has a grand old time! I don't want him to have a bad quality of life. He seems happy, but I'm afraid he could be in pain. Will this affect his life span? Also I wonder if there is any other birth defects that maybe we don't know about? Sorry this is so long, but I'm just astonished that he could have lived with us 3 months & I never noticed he was missing a leg! I feel so bad for him. =(
Carla & Snickers we will be praying for you! =)
Sorry SOOOOOO long! 


***JAIME***
http://www.piggiepages1.blinkz.com/




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