ROFL, you guys are awesomely funny!!! And your right, he is the most bad ass Hamsterminator ever! and Nope, this lil dude needs no meds, when I picked him up they just said, ' hes ready to go' and scheduled him for his 2 week checkup to remove his stitches. When I looked at him for the first time I was like 'OH SHIT, you sure hes not going to need something?' I love the little hamster wheel drawing! I too have been thinking of some way to construct him a miniature support mechanism to replace his leg. Perhaps ill post a video diary on youtube about Mika, the 3 leged borg/metal mech warior hamsterminator, and ask viewers to help him and submit their ideas for hamster devices. I will follow up with videos and pics of his rehabilitation and create an international hamster superstar whose heroic battle to survive steals peoples hearts away.
Thanks for your support, I think I will read him some of your posts to cheer him up!
Hamster update For all of you who expressed your consern: He is doing well, I dont think He even feels pain... He's eating and drinking as much as ever, Its quite funny to see him grab shreds of carots with one hand and jam them into his cheek pouch. My hamster is so bad ass he is even attempting to do his onwn physical therapy by running on his wheel. Thats right my post op 3 leged hamster runs on his wheel, stitches and all!
He stopped bleeding and his color and swelling is much better. some peech fuzz is even comming back in He will go for his check up and to have his stitches removed next wednesday.
New info on the Haminator... I guess his cybernetic tissue was last years model and did not combine well with his body... In other words, He had his stitches removed and got glued back togeather so he could continue healing.
Well all was going well and he seemed as though nothing was bothering him untill the other day I came home to little bloddy footprints all over his cage and house! I proceded to examin him and found a nasty open sore on his belly. This is where he previously had a scab needless to say it got really messed up.
So long story short I took him in again and the vet said that it was ok, then took him back to flush the wound and cam back saying that its actually the cancer comming back and that he will have to go under the knife again... Ahhh what the hell little guy heal up already!!... So now hes got more stiches, poor thing. The vet finally said that she was unable to remove all of the cancer so It has a good chance of comming back.
I really hope he pulls through. I make him mini haminator salads in the mornings so he has something nice while im at work. I think he really feels it this time.
When I first saw those pics before enlarging them, eww, it looked dead and mutilated, but up close, it looks, undead...zombie hamster. Somehow I picture your hamster as an enemy in Castlevania, thinking something along the lines of that behemoth that chases you in the first stage of Dracula X. Better yet, throw that creature into Doom.
Aww. You've really gone the extra mile for that little guy. Even if he winds up visiting hamster heaven a little earlier then hoped, he's gonna know he was loved.
Seriously, you've gone above and beyond what most people would do to save a hamster. I'm sure his life is much better having lived with you than someone else.
Seriously, you've gone above and beyond what most people would do to save a hamster. I'm sure his life is much better having lived with you than someone else.
If my bird got sick I would total spend whatever the cost I could to help save his life. Kudos for trying to take care of what you love. I hope he pulls through for you.
What you did ZoOmer was very noble, and its also good that you were able to, some people wouldn't be able to even afford it, especially for something as small, and seemingly minuscule as a rodent, they'd either let it die or put it out of its misery.
Hey, many years ago my mom actually performed CPR on one of my sister's hamsters, a newborn one that the mother refused to care for, she said that it had stopped breathing, basically looked dead, so she breathed into it, it was revived and then she cared for it personally, giving it milk with a dropper until it got stronger and then later when it was able it lived just as well as any of the hamsters.
Heck, one of the hamsters at one point got its leg stuck between the water bottle and the metal thing that it hangs from along the side of the cage, this hamster amputated its own leg, knawed it right off, it healed up well though, later she was named Stubby, she was a rather mean little thing too, but otherwise functioned okay.
As for the bills, there were only 2 that I had to pay, a small one for the initial appointment and then only $100 for the surgery, all the checkups and this second surgery and the checkup to follow were free! This vet I have is truly amazing She said that she just cant see charging people 2 and 300+ for work on little pets that only live a short time anyways. Then i got to thinking hmmm, i wonder If i paid another vet $200 if my lil guy would have been free of the cancer... but prolly not, it was pretty intense.
^ Cancer has a tendency to migrate in the bloodstream sometimes, so even if the whole tumor gets taken out... if there is a single cell left in the system, it can sprout again... sometimes in an entirely different part of the body, even. It sounds like you've got a wonderful vet there.
My Hamster Mika has an insanley fast growing tumor on his leg and I took him in to get it checked out a few days ago and the Dr. said that he will probably have to have his leg amputated Hes a little over a year old so he should pull through just fine and adapt but Im still a little upset about it because I should have taken him in sooner. The tumor trippled in size in a week... yeah lame. Anyways headding out to drop him off, just wanted to share. I'll post some after pictures when hes home. Meanwhile, this is Mika
You got such a cute hamster. I hope he will be okay. Sorry to hear such bad news.
^ Cancer has a tendency to migrate in the bloodstream sometimes, so even if the whole tumor gets taken out... if there is a single cell left in the system, it can sprout again... sometimes in an entirely different part of the body, even. It sounds like you've got a wonderful vet there.
Yeah when he went in the second time it looked like that sore was cancerous. It was really scarry! hes doing ok now I think, I had to take his wheel away from him because hes to bad ass for his own good, he'll run till his stitches fly off.
Sad news: Today Mika lost his battle with cancer. He put up a great fight but eventually got tired. His wounds refused to heal and after two surgeries the cancer was just too much for him and I made the decision to have him put to 'sleep'.
He was a real trooper, he never seemed to blame me for his condition and never really even seemed to acknowledge the fact that he only had three legs. He ate and ran in his wheel like there was no tomorrow, maybe he know his time was coming and wanted to go out strong. I admire his strength. Even in his final minutes he was packing his cheeks full of food. I really didn't quite understand it, here he was, with a gaping hole in his side, all infected with stitches hanging off from the swelling of the tumor returning and all he can think about is food. If that were me I would be crippled over in pain begging for death. The vet agreed that it was the right thing to do as it would only quickly get worse. The little guy took on more than 5 minutes of gas and 2 lethal injections of anesthesia before finally letting go.
Honestly I didn't think I would be all that upset when I made the decision but it really hit me on the way to the vet. I thought about times when I was too tired to play with him, or times I put off changing his bedding until I got home from work and that I would never be able to make it all better. I'm sorry Mika, that I didn't get you a bigger house. I'm sorry I never fixed your squeaky wheel. I'm sorry I never got you a better water bottle or a bigger hide out. I'm sorry I didn't hold you more and cut up your veggies more often. But thanks for always being so awesome and for all the Good times. Thanks for never biting me... except for that one time when I woke you up and scared the shit out of you. Thanks for only peeing in one corner of your cage so it was easy to clean and thanks for never getting lost for more than 5 hours. Most importantly thanks for being my little buddy and for letting me take care of you. I hope I was an ok Hamsty dad.
Thanks for all the nice comments you guys made throughout Mikas epic adventure.
Damn dude that sucks. It's easy to be upset thinking you could have done this or that better, but it sounds like you did all you could for the little guy. May he RIP.
Damn dude that sucks. It's easy to be upset thinking you could have done this or that better, but it sounds like you did all you could for the little guy. May he RIP.
Cancer is hard. I can tell you from first hand experience that it changes you. Im sure your hamster loved you very much.Let me tell you something...I don't remember all the different surgeries I had, I dont remember every doctor I saw, every nurse that checked my temperature, I don't remember every milestone or every botched surgery/problem I faced. What I do remember is my mother being at the hospital every single night with me for 11 months. She never left my side. Trust me from everything you have said your hamster holds no grudge against you and it loved you very much.
Comments
Thanks for your support, I think I will read him some of your posts to cheer him up!
Made me laugh a bit
He stopped bleeding and his color and swelling is much better. some peech fuzz is even comming back in
Well all was going well and he seemed as though nothing was bothering him untill the other day I came home to little bloddy footprints all over his cage and house! I proceded to examin him and found a nasty open sore on his belly. This is where he previously had a scab needless to say it got really messed up.
So long story short I took him in again and the vet said that it was ok, then took him back to flush the wound and cam back saying that its actually the cancer comming back and that he will have to go under the knife again... Ahhh what the hell little guy heal up already!!... So now hes got more stiches, poor thing. The vet finally said that she was unable to remove all of the cancer so It has a good chance of comming back.
I really hope he pulls through. I make him mini haminator salads in the mornings so he has something nice while im at work. I think he really feels it this time.
Anyways whish him luck!
something along the lines of that behemoth that chases you in the first
stage of Dracula X. Better yet, throw that creature into Doom.
Seriously, you've gone above and beyond what most people would do to save a hamster. I'm sure his life is much better having lived with you than someone else.
Agreed. Wow.
~~NGD
Hey, many years ago my mom actually performed CPR on one of my sister's hamsters, a newborn one that the mother refused to care for, she said that it had stopped breathing, basically looked dead, so she breathed into it, it was revived and then she cared for it personally, giving it milk with a dropper until it got stronger and then later when it was able it lived just as well as any of the hamsters.
Heck, one of the hamsters at one point got its leg stuck between the water bottle and the metal thing that it hangs from along the side of the cage, this hamster amputated its own leg, knawed it right off, it healed up well though, later she was named Stubby, she was a rather mean little thing too, but otherwise functioned okay.
is this for real? come on opperating on a hampster? i know its your pet and all but i just cant see doing this..
Veterinarians have bills to pay too
As for the bills, there were only 2 that I had to pay, a small one for the initial appointment and then only $100 for the surgery, all the checkups and this second surgery and the checkup to follow were free! This vet I have is truly amazing She said that she just cant see charging people 2 and 300+ for work on little pets that only live a short time anyways. Then i got to thinking hmmm, i wonder If i paid another vet $200 if my lil guy would have been free of the cancer... but prolly not, it was pretty intense.
My Hamster Mika has an insanley fast growing tumor on his leg and I took him in to get it checked out a few days ago and the Dr. said that he will probably have to have his leg amputated
Hes a little over a year old so he should pull through just fine and adapt but Im still a little upset about it because I should have taken him in sooner. The tumor trippled in size in a week... yeah lame. Anyways headding out to drop him off, just wanted to share. I'll post some after pictures when hes home. Meanwhile, this is Mika 
^ Cancer has a tendency to migrate in the bloodstream sometimes, so even if the whole tumor gets taken out... if there is a single cell left in the system, it can sprout again... sometimes in an entirely different part of the body, even. It sounds like you've got a wonderful vet there.
Yeah when he went in the second time it looked like that sore was cancerous. It was really scarry! hes doing ok now I think, I had to take his wheel away from him because hes to bad ass for his own good, he'll run till his stitches fly off.
Sad news: Today Mika lost his battle with cancer. He put up a great fight but eventually got tired. His wounds refused to heal and after two surgeries the cancer was just too much for him and I made the decision to have him put to 'sleep'.
He was a real trooper, he never seemed to blame me for his condition and never really even seemed to acknowledge the fact that he only had three legs. He ate and ran in his wheel like there was no tomorrow, maybe he know his time was coming and wanted to go out strong. I admire his strength. Even in his final minutes he was packing his cheeks full of food. I really didn't quite understand it, here he was, with a gaping hole in his side, all infected with stitches hanging off from the swelling of the tumor returning and all he can think about is food. If that were me I would be crippled over in pain begging for death. The vet agreed that it was the right thing to do as it would only quickly get worse. The little guy took on more than 5 minutes of gas and 2 lethal injections of anesthesia before finally letting go.
Honestly I didn't think I would be all that upset when I made the decision but it really hit me on the way to the vet. I thought about times when I was too tired to play with him, or times I put off changing his bedding until I got home from work and that I would never be able to make it all better. I'm sorry Mika, that I didn't get you a bigger house. I'm sorry I never fixed your squeaky wheel. I'm sorry I never got you a better water bottle or a bigger hide out. I'm sorry I didn't hold you more and cut up your veggies more often. But thanks for always being so awesome and for all the Good times. Thanks for never biting me... except for that one time when I woke you up and scared the shit out of you. Thanks for only peeing in one corner of your cage so it was easy to clean and thanks for never getting lost for more than 5 hours. Most importantly thanks for being my little buddy and for letting me take care of you. I hope I was an ok Hamsty dad.
Thanks for all the nice comments you guys made throughout Mikas epic adventure.
Damn dude that sucks. It's easy to be upset thinking you could have done this or that better, but it sounds like you did all you could for the little guy. May he RIP.
x 2
April fools!
Damn.. at least it wasnt his grandma pengy.. you would have looked really cruel then
Thanks for the comments guys!
Good luck in the future.
~Chris