In article <[log in to unmask]>, Katie Law <katie@utu-
mno.demon.co.uk> writes
>Can anyone advise me on how to deal with major trauma in a Russian Dwarf
>hamster please?
>My son's hamster has had it's leg bitten off by it's mate :-(

..and most of us dream of a love bite on the thigh ;-)

>What I really am looking for is a humane way to put it down without
>incurring horrendous out-of-hours vet fees.
>It is tachypnoeic, shocked, and very bloody, limping around the cage,
>but quiet and able to drink.
>I do not think it will survive the night, and have prepared the children
>for this.
>In the past we used a lump hammer, but neither of us can bring ourselves
>to do that again.
>:-( :-( :-( :-(:-(


I have used the Sainsburys carrier back and lump hammer to good effect
in the past (well how could it fail  ;-)


Actually when I was a student one of my house mates stood on her gerbil
- it lay there twitching and fitting and I suggested the judicious
applicaion of the 14lb hammer - she couldnt face it and neither could
the others - so I let it suffer :-(

Next day it was up and running about happy as anything !


Anyway - back to poor Hammy...

Go for crystalloid rather than colloid (I know it was a bit of a dodgy
meta-analyis but opinion is moving this way)  - infuse just so he has a
palpable radial pulse (hypotensive resuscitation is all the rage).
Analgesia should be IV if possible.  Go for oxygen at 10-15 l/min with
the mandatory reservoir mask.  Watch our for his spine - use an
improvised spinal board (I would suggest a bent spoon with sellotape to
immobilise (lets face it, if you have a hamster you're bound to have
some sellotape - eh Hotch?).   Transportation is the priority here -
this hamster needs surgery now - so when you have done the above rush it
out into the car (leaving the kids behind) drive around the block (via
kebab shop if you are looking for a return on all that money invested in
sunflower seeds) - or then see if Hammy responds to Positive Pressure
Ventilation - this is best applied with a 14 inch Michelin or Goodyear.
Return home to announce to kids that mission was in vain and poor Hammy
died in a coma with no suffering.


(Actually I cried when my hamster died :-(


Cheers - all methods are traumatic, nature usually sorts it but she can
be cruel.  I v much doubt it will survive - the hammer would be quickest
and kindest but I can understand your reluctance :-(

Kind thoughts
-- 
Jelly Bean

                        'When you get fed up surfing....
                                        .....go find some waves'


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