Lilly

[elusive]

That sounds really positive, hopefully she’s on the mend.
It will be interesting to hear what your vet says, I think some kind of inflammation either some part of the spine or related nerves like the sciatic nerves maybe but what causes it is a bit of a mysterry.

 

[Maz]

It is wonderful the metacam is helping her so much. Is it possible she has arthritis?

It could be but it seems strange it came on so suddenly. Although sometimes we only notice when we see them fail to climb into something, but it does sound like Lilly's had a fairly sudden onset.

I hope your vet and her instinct works out what it is. Good that the Metacam seems to be helping. As you know Pip has also developed weak back legs, but not as severely - it's only with climbing, and he is older, and I don't see that as unusual with an older hamster. Our first Syrian, Charlie developed this - I can't remember how old he was - probably nearly two. He lived to two years 8 months and would zoom around on the flat, dragging his back legs behind him - still full of energy and life and would hop on his wheel and run for about 10 seconds once a day - just to keep his hand in perhaps

The vet at the time thought it might be Cushings but I wasn't convinced. In hindsight I think it was an internal tumour pressing on something as near the end he was developing a prolapse of the testicle area.

There could be a number of reasons and a mini stroke could be one of them, but with a stroke you'd normal expect more than just the back legs to be affected and the recovery to be different and perhaps quicker.

But it's good she's enjoying her scrambled egg and usual activities. It's good the Metacam is helping a bit. The fact she seemed surprised her legs wouldn't do something sounds familiar and suggests she is not suffering, but if the Metacam helped at least you know she is having some pain relief.

 

[Member ID2]

I'm giving the metacam more for its anti inflammatory use than the analgesic one but who knows how they feel.

Yes, with a stroke she'd probably have been wobbly and off balance.
Lilly falling over is caused by her back legs not balance plus the fact that she does everything so fast including getting herself upright again. She has otherwise good body strength which comes in handy now.

 

[Frida]

Lovely update on Lilly. I'm glad she's feeling a bit better

 

[ilguy]

Very glad to hear she has some use of her back legs returned! I can't wait to hear what the vet has to say, sounds like you have one worth their weight in gold

 

[Member ID2]

Lilly has gone quiet again and doesn't want to come out. She's currently sitting in the middle of her cage munching a sesame stick. Maybe out of cage time frustrates her just now and she likes her home which helps.

 

[ilguy]

How are her legs doing? I really hope she can make a full recovery

 

[elusive]

That’s a shame, it must seem strange to her if she can’t zoom around & dig like she’s used to but she sounds happy in her cage enjoying her sesame stick.

 

[Member ID2]

I just took this video to show her vet on Monday. She's getting about slowly but she's digging again which is a good sign. The big dig box put her off but she can get into this cat litter tray.

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[Frida]

It's good to see Lilly is out and about. She's a fighter... she's not going to let her back legs stop her from enjoying life

 

[elusive]

Well done Lilly!
She does look as though she’s managing pretty well there, certainly giving it her best shot bless her.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Lilly is so brave and determined. Beautiful girl.

 

[Member ID2]

The big dig box still didn't work for her so i drove around searching for this particular cat litter tray with low access yesterday but couldn't find one. Apparently, there's a shortage of cat litter trays! Whatever next.

So i bought another one for the dig box and took this one out for Lilly. Glad i did. She foraged more after the video and returned home with full pouches. Something she hasn't done for a while and made my day to see some typical Lilly behaviour.

 

[Maz]

That's great you found something that worked for her. Looking at the video it is more than weak back legs isn't it. She appears to have lost all use of the back legs. Maybe it was something neurological like a stroke, by the way she is moving. It's hard to tell if her general movement is an all over thing, or just caused by the back legs. Either way, she is full of determination and living her life to the full. Glad you got to see some typical Lilly behaviour

 

[elusive]

I can imagine just how much that made your day It’s lovely to hear how she’s managing to do more normal Lilly things with your help.
A shortage of cat litter trays is a bit bizarre! They are very useful, I must have at least half a dozen!

It looks to me as though she does still have some use & power in her back legs, comparing her movements to how Tin was when he lost the use of his back legs there is a big difference, she isn’t just dragging her back half like he did.

 

[RainbowBrite]

You did so well to think of something Lilly could dig in. She sounds like she had so much fun.

 

[Member ID2]

Lilly's mobility has improved a little. My guess would also be a stroke which can get worse before it gets better. I think that she got over the worst part and should now gradually improve over the next couple of weeks or so.

 

[Member ID2]

Lilly has been seen by her vet. Vet does not think that her mobility issue has been caused by a stroke. It's more likely to be a spinal inflammation or something pressing on a nerve that affects the use of her back legs, mainly the left one.
Lilly's underside looks swollen but not from the inside, more a swelling of tissue like a lymphatic problem.
Edwina developed that at 14 months and lived till 18 months when she died in my hands.
Like Edwina, Lilly is on Loxicom and can stay on it permanently. It is now a matter of observing her quality of life and see what the Loxicom can fix.

It feels like she has reached this stage quickly but she hasn't. She had nearly three months of her life and being the full on Lilly back post op which equates to around 8-10 human years.
Even if Lilly only makes it to 18 months it would be within the average life expectancy of a hybrid dwarf hamster. But she may surprise us all and live a lot longer than that.

Lilly had a nail trim without a whiff of gas or much fuss and didn't get to bite the vet either.

 

[Maz]

I hope she continues to be active and full of it and that things maybe settle a bit with the metacam.

 

[RainbowBrite]

You really have a very good vet. I am sure the loxicom will help Lilly to life her life to the full.