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Is this concerning?

RainbowBrite

RainbowBrite

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Orko appears to drag himself twice in this video. I have never seen him do this before. Could he be in pain? I would be so grateful if members could give me their opinion and if he needs to see a vet. He is eating and drinking well, active and using his wheels.

 
I see what you mean but don't know why he was doing it. I would take him out for a health check, wear gloves if you are worried about getting bitten. I'd check him over and then place him in a box to observe close up how he is moving about.

I noticed a long, curling nail this morning and took Scottie out to trim it. He didn't like it but i'd rather have him upset for a short while than walk around with a curling nail.

I try not to worry about trust issues and upsetting a hamster when something concerns me regarding their health or welfare.
 
Beryl said:
I see what you mean but don't know why he was doing it. I would take him out for a health check, wear gloves if you are worried about getting bitten. I'd check him over and then place him in a box to observe close up how he is moving about.

I noticed a long, curling nail this morning and took Scottie out to trim it. He didn't like it but i'd rather have him upset for a short while than walk around with a curling nail.

I try not to worry about trust issues and upsetting a hamster when something concerns me regarding their health or welfare.
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Thank you Beryl. I will do this. I do not know how I will find him though.
 
Agreed about giving him a health check but I think this might just be scent marking. My hybrid girl does it sometimes and I was initially concerned until I realised what she was doing! Maybe he's decided he particularly likes that thing he's rubbing himself on! Snowy mainly does it on one of her ceramic hides.
 
Yea it looks like a combination of a stretch, a scratch and some scent marking :). Have you got any further video from last night showing him walking around normally or running in his wheel?

It’s tricky doing a health check with a Robo but I think it will be less stressful for him than if you take him to the vets. I think mid to late afternoon is a good time - when it’s still daylight and when the hamster has chance to go and have a nap and still have a normal night afterwards to get themselves back to normal.

Could you set up a playpen area? Or use the bath? Somewhere safe for him so he can’t escape. A tip there - in the playpen, as well as a few toys to run around in, I also had a cardboard box - it was about 10” high a foot long and about 7” deep - just a handy size but any box will do if it’s tall enough he can’t climb out but I found that smaller size was good for handling him easily.

So in the box I just had a thin layer of bedding (thin enough so he couldn’t disappear under it) plus a little bit of scattered food and a treat. Then I turned the box in one side so it could be walked into in the playpen. That worked as after running round in the playpen (which can be a a bit of a large scary area for a robo the first time - he walked over to the box and walked in - a cosier area - then you just carefully tip it right way up again so he’s inside it- I had my hand the other side of the box so he couldn’t see a hand. He was happy enough in the box nibbling and I was able to handle him a bit in there and they get used to it then. You might find he goes very still once actually picked up and held and you can then turn your hand over so you can see his underside, but keep holding him low over the box in case he decides to wriggle free.

To get him out of the cage - I just started removing things and Substrate until Pip came out to see what was going on and had a mug on its side in the substrate - he walked into that to investigate which was handy so I just popped my hand over it and lifted him out that way.

If he doesn’t walk into a mug the easiest way is to probably just scoop him into the mug along with some substrate and put your hand over the mug then - it’s quick enough it won’t stress him and better than having to try and chase around with your hand.

With our first Robo who hid away a lot I literally had to remove everything from the cage to scoop him up. If that happens it can be an idea to leave them in the playpen for a while, while you set the cage up again.
 
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You might want to observe him a bit more/watch a bit more video first and see if he’s running and walking normally. If you decide he’s looking fine and to delay trying a health check. But at least he is a bit more settled and confident and will get used to it after the first time.
 
Thank you all for your replies. I had not seen them before doing the health check. I went to do it right away and I am happy to say he seems very well. His fur is clean, his nails look short and all the same size, his eyes are bright. He weighs 22g. Thankfully I was able to stop my partner just before he went out to help me as it takes a long time to find Orko. He really hated being handled and tried his best to escape. We used his carrier as felt it was easiest. He is so so sweet and did not try to bite at all. My partner sat by the carrier talking to him when I put everything back in his cage. He kept trying to get out the carrier and washed himself a lot which I know is a sign of stress. Once back in his cage he checked everything out and then disappeared.

I really appreciate you all replying as I was so worried.
 
The scent gland of a Robo is in the middle of his underside and sometimes the fur can look a little yellow, especially in males who scent a lot.

A scent gland can become blocked or infected so it is a good idea to do a health check from to time or when something unusual happens like Orko dragging his back end.

I'm glad to hear that everything is as it should be with Orko and that you are reassured now.
 
Beryl said:
The scent gland of a Robo is in the middle of his underside and sometimes the fur can look a little yellow, especially in males who scent a lot.

A scent gland can become blocked or infected so it is a good idea to do a health check from to time or when something unusual happens like Orko dragging his back end.

I'm glad to hear that everything is as it should be with Orko and that you are reassured now.
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Thank you Beryl. Strangely, he has popped out a few times since then. He seems to do this when we disturb him. My partner gave him a piece of baby corn but he was very frightened and did not come back to eat it.
 
He will get over it :) And yes once they are used to it they become less scared of you. I find if I need to do something like that, I leave Pip out for a bit for a play in the playpen, then he's had some benefit/fun from being out and seemed to want to come out again! So although they don't like being dragged out of the cage and checked over, they forget that bit when they find tasty treats in a playpen. They easily walk into a "transporter" in the playpen so putting them back in the cage is easier too.

Beryl is right about checking the scent glands now and then. Our first robo had something wrong with his and it turned out to be a tumour. He was about 18 months old at that point.

I just talk to them after a kerfuffle like that and say sorry but it was for your own good - in a kind of apologetic voice, and you are soon forgiven!
 
RainbowBrite said:
Thank you Beryl. Strangely, he has popped out a few times since then. He seems to do this when we disturb him. My partner gave him a piece of baby corn but he was very frightened and did not come back to eat it.
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I think his interest has been piqued at being out of the cage but he is still wary of being picked up again!
 
Maz said:
I think his interest has been piqued at being out of the cage but he is still wary of being picked up again!
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That is a good point. Sadly he did not feel comfortable enough to come back out even for the baby corn.
 
Well it is daytime :-). He might be a bit reclusive for a day or two but he'll bounce back :)
 
RainbowBrite said:
That is a good point. Sadly he did not feel comfortable enough to come back out even for the baby corn.
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Don't worry about it. He'll come back for it later. Robos are naturally like that and very few actually enjoy being handled or actively seek out a human's company for the sake of it. I've never met one.
In fact, there's usually a motive with any hamster. Our lot anyway. No matter how tame and bonded they are, they come to me because they want something.

I didn't see Scottie for a while after i trimmed his nail this morning but by the afternoon all was forgotten and he was out looking for a pumpkin seed when he heard me.
 
Beryl said:
Don't worry about it. He'll come back for it later. Robos are naturally like that and very few actually enjoy being handled or actively seek out a human's company for the sake of it. I've never met one.
In fact, there's usually a motive with any hamster. Our lot anyway. No matter how tame and bonded they are, they come to me because they want something.

I didn't see Scottie for a while after i trimmed his nail this morning but by the afternoon all was forgotten and he was out looking for a pumpkin seed when he heard me.
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Aww, Scottie was very forgiving. Thank you for sharing this with me. I can understand how scary it must be to be handled. He never even comes out in the day let alone be forced out by two giants. I am sure he will eat his corn tonight.
 
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But he will get familiar with it then it won't be scary :)
 
A_J said:
Agreed about giving him a health check but I think this might just be scent marking. My hybrid girl does it sometimes and I was initially concerned until I realised what she was doing! Maybe he's decided he particularly likes that thing he's rubbing himself on! Snowy mainly does it on one of her ceramic hides.
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How is your hammy doing AJ? :)
 
Maz said:
How is your hammy doing AJ? :)
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She is well. Actually been a bit climbing into my hand when I put it in the cage the past few days. Usually she'll happily accept treats out of my fingers but I have to use both hands when I want to pick her up. Spotted a new burrow entrance this morning so she's been busy!
 
RainbowBrite said:
Aww, Scottie was very forgiving. Thank you for sharing this with me. I can understand how scary it must be to be handled. He never even comes out in the day let alone be forced out by two giants. I am sure he will eat his corn tonight.
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It's about trust really. As well as familiarity - once they learn to trust you they aren't scared by you handling them.
 
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