My hamster has an arched back. Is this a sign of pain or illness?

I am so sorry to hear that tour Syrian hamster is not well. It sounds like he is possibly in pain and may have an infection. Unfortunately with prey animal species like hamsters, they do not tend to show signs of being unwell until they are actually very sick. They tend to hide signs their body is not well longer, then other species. For this reason I would advise taking your hamster to your veterinarian. It is very likely they will be able to provide medication, such as antibiotics to try to help him recover. The vet will also be able to provide medication for pain relief and healing. Best of luck to you both and please feel free to ask as many questions as you may have here on the forum. We want to support you through this time.

Thanks for reaching out about Hattie. The suggestion would be to have some diagnostic test performed, such as radiographs and blood work. Spondylosis or back problems are common in aging hamster, and could be managed by anti-inflammatory medications. Kidney problems, intestinal infections or parasites can also be investigated. Dental disease can reduce appetite. Uterine neoplasia is not uncommon in female hamsters. So a diagnosis is needed prior to recommending a treatment plan. Good luck.

It looks like roddy has a small scratch on the back. At this time I would recommend monitoring it from home. If you notice any discharge, smell or redness I would recommend taking him to a vet to have it examined. I hope that helps

Poor chip. It is hard to say what is causing the abnormal activity with out examining him. I would recommend taking him to a vet for a good exam to determine if he has a fracture or soft tissue injury. The vet can provide pain control which will keep him more comfortable. hope that helps

Thanks for reaching out about Greg. If you are referring to he was dropped from a distance, and then tried to bite, he could be painful. If you mean he is falling over on his own, it could be he is neurologic. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit is needed. Monitor for appetite and activity. Good luck.

Poor Baby! If he was having a seizure, they can have a "post-ictal" phase where they are no longer convulsing but are still disoriented. If this is the first time he has ever had a seizure, I would recommend having a vet take a look at him to ensure there isn't a medical reason for why he could have started seizuring. I hope this helps and hopefully he never has another one.

Spinal injury is possible especially if Nefarix cannot move his hindlimbs. Hopefully, he is experiencing weakness and not paralysis. Take the wheel out of his cage so he can rest. Monitor his ability to urinate and defecate. If he cannot urinate or defecate, you must get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.