Falls from Height

One hamster guide that you should know is that a hamster shouldn't FALL from any distance. 2 ft is very high and he could twist something and/or even die. They do not sense height well at all. they are very poor at judging distance and don't see well. If he's bored in his cage either get him a hamster playpen which is a gated rectangle you put on the FLOOR or buy him a hamster ball & let him SAFELY run around the room in that. they can JUMP about 8 inches safely. beyond that there is risk for injury.

SAFETY FIRST LITTLE HAMMY

       Many injuries that result from hamster falls and dropped hamsters are very serious. A hamster dropped from a height of several feet can sustain internal injuries and internal bleeding. For a case like this, death usually follows within a matter of hours and no amount of veterinary care can help a hamster with such serious injuries from a fall or drop.
       Fractures and broken bones are also fairly common in hamsters who fall from a height or hamsters who are accidentally dropped. In some cases - particularly in the case of broken legs - euthanasia is the most practical and humane option.

In other cases when a hamster is dropped or if a hamster catches a leg, toe or foot in a hamster wheel or hamster ball, the pocket pet may sustain a sprain, bruise, a broken leg, or even a fractured rib in the case of a drop or fall. These hamster injuries are often survivable, but the hamster must be provided with supportive care like hand-feeding, pain medication and ice compresses.

"A hamster with a more minor rib fracture, for instance, can survive with supportive care. But pain medication is a must, so therefore, you will need to visit the vet," explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM. He added, "Often, a hamster will stop eating and drinking due to pain, and it's dehydration and malnutrition that ultimately lead to the hamster's death. Pain medication will make the hamster comfortable during the healing process."

Applying ice compresses to the hamster's injured limb can also help to reduce pain, though caution should be taken to keep the rest of the hamster's body warm during and after the cold compress is applied to prevent hypothermia.

Owners of an injured hamster should avoid handling their hamster unless it's absolutely necessary; this helps to reduce stress and discomfort. it's also important to keep the injured hamster in a clean cage, located in a warm, quiet location that's conducive to rest and recovery.

In some cases, a hamster who is being treated with pain medication will eat and drink, but less than normal. In these instances, hand feeding and subcutaneous fluid injections may be necessary to help sustain the hamster until his injuries begin to heal.