My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Small pets

I think my hamster might be about to shuffle off this mortal coil..

26 replies

HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/03/2013 20:27

It's an old syrian male hamster, I think it's about two. Pretty robust, it even survived a house fire!
Recently it's been drinking a lot of water and tonight I noticed its lost the fur round it's scruff and its starting squeaking :( Is there anything I can do? Or should I think about taking it to the vet?
(It was a rubbish baby substitute when we were TTC, DC1 expected in about 6 weeks).

OP posts:
Report
Mintyy · 17/03/2013 20:29

Yes, do take him to be pts if he seems distressed Sad. But perhaps he won't still be with you in the morning Sad Sad.

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/03/2013 20:30

Poor little thing. I'm more upset than I anticipated!

OP posts:
Report
fridayfreedom · 17/03/2013 20:33

Two is old for a hamster. If he looks in a bad way I would see the vet tomorrow. As prey animals they only show they are ill when they are really I'll.
May be kinder to have him pts if he is suffering : ((

Report
fridayfreedom · 17/03/2013 20:33

If it helps I always sob when ours pass away

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/03/2013 20:37

I know he's done so well really. I'm amazed he didn't die of smoke inhalation! That was 15 months ago! I'll have a look at him in the morning - I'm in work at 11.30 so might be able to whizz him up to the vets beforehand. With the hormones I am very emotional!

I cleaned him out tonight and gave what's left of his fur a groom so he will at least have a relatively comfortable night.

Thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:
Report
LaurieFairyCake · 17/03/2013 20:38

Can you keep the cage really warm, we start to get quite cold towards death.

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/03/2013 20:42

He has been pulling the sawdust into his bed so I gave him plenty of extra bedding tonight so hopefully he'll be warm enough. He's in a warm room too.

OP posts:
Report
Mintyy · 17/03/2013 21:01

I feel a wee bit teary. Bless his little soul.

Report
BonkeyMollocks · 17/03/2013 21:13

Mine old girl started losing hair and drinking loads at about 20 moths - she lasted another 5!

Imo, unless he is in obvious pain I would avoid the vet, its very stressful for the small furries and mostly they go down hill very quickly when the do go.

I think my girl had a stroke in the end , noticed she was poorly at 4pm sat - decided if she was still alive and no better by sun then i would have her pts - she died that night. Perfectly curled up in her bed asleep :(

Old hammy care tips - baby food - they love it!! Roast dinners were always a fave! Just a teaspoon maybe twice a week! Check for onions and garlic - bad for hammys!

Cucumber to avoid dehydration.

A one level cage - my girl got a retirement home :) . Lots of love!

Fingers crossed for you!

Report
Bluelightsandsirens · 17/03/2013 21:24

Oh goodness I'm upset on your behalf Sad

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/03/2013 21:32

Well I've just popped back to him and put a bit of fresh food in - he got up and has definitely taken some food that I put out when I cleaned him out. He doesn't seem to distressed so I'll just keep an eye on him.

He really is geriatric though - his fur changed colour a while ago and he's less mobile!

Bonkey I can make his cage one level easily so I'll do that tomorrow. He only goes upstairs for his food.

Thanks for the support - I know it's only a hamster but he's been around through some tough times! :)

OP posts:
Report
WhispersOfWickedness · 17/03/2013 21:33

Aww, poor little thing Sad

I kept hamsters when I was in my early twenties, so have had a few die Sad When I took the first one to be pts, I blubbed so much in the vets that they sent me a sympathy card Blush
I did harden up a bit after that, but it is still really sad every time Sad Hope it's a peaceful and pain free passing for him Sad

Report
BellaVita · 17/03/2013 21:36

Our hammy died a few weeks ago, he lived to a grand old age of 2.5 years.

He started drinking loads too. In the end, he couldn't walk Sad and we put some nice soft loo paper down in his cage which he laid on - came out of his house on the Wed night and did not go back in, he died on the Fri morning. I gave him grapes and cucumber. It was really sad to watch him so we just made him as comfortable as possible. It would have been awful for him to take him to the vets as the weather was shocking - snow and far too cold to take him out.

We still miss him. My mother cried buckets. He was supposed to be going on his third jolly to her house in a couple of weeks whilst we go on holiday. She used to put him in bed with her and my dad on a morning whilst they drank their cup of tea.

Your poor hammy Sad

Report
caughtinagiggleloop · 17/03/2013 21:48

My Siberian hamster did that last year. He lasted about a month and some days he was perky and others not so much. Then one morning he'd started weeing blood in the night and died later that day. Apparently hamsters are quite prone to kidney problems. I felt bad afterwards because he would have been in a lot of discomfort towards the end. I just sat with him for a whole day until he went to the great desert plains in the sky. Keep an eye on him but it probably won't be long and it might be worth taking him to the vet.

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 18/03/2013 08:10

Well he's still with us this morning, although perhaps a bit slower to respond than normal. He looked comfy in bed so I won't drag him to the vet unless he seems distressed.

OP posts:
Report
stewartlaura67 · 18/03/2013 12:37

Ooh this is really sad; I would suggest you to get it to the vet.

Report
landofsoapandglory · 18/03/2013 12:44

Aww, poor little hammySad. I would take him to the vet, they can and do go down hill very fast.

We have had lots of hamsters, we have a very spoilt one now.

Last year, when the last one died DS1(then 17) noticed he was not right when we were all in bed asleep, he sat up all night with him making sure he was comfy and warm. Unfortunately he died before his vet appointment that morning.

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 18/03/2013 20:33

Well he seems ok tonight. I woke him up when I got in from work (5 mins ago). Gave him some food including fresh grapes and he was straight up to nibble on them - surely he'd be off his food if he was gravely ill? I'll continue to keep a close eye on him.

OP posts:
Report
Bluelightsandsirens · 18/03/2013 22:01

I thought about your hammy today, it does sounds like he is responding well to food although I've nay had ur first hammy for a month so I know nothing!

Report
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 18/03/2013 22:05

I've no Hammy experience but I've never had any of my guinea-pigs PTS.
Yes they go downhill quickly (usually with guineas it's a matter of hours than days).
They've either died being cuddled or snuggled in their beds.

I'm not too mean to pay a vet bill, I just think most times it's less stressful for them not to be subjected to a vet trip.
They all shrugged off their mortal coils quietly, no shreiking or gnashing of teeth.

Hopefully your SuperFurryAnimal will slip away quietly FaithBaby Sad

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 18/03/2013 22:11

I was more worried last night when he squeaked - but then I had got him out in his ball to clean him out. I do wonder if taking him to the vets would distress him all the more...His food was on a higher platform so I moved it downstairs so its easier for him. I'm hoping he'll slip away peacefully.

OP posts:
Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 28/03/2013 15:49

He seems to have deteriorated and isn't sleeping today - curling up in odd places - so I'm taking him to the vet :( I don't want to see him suffer any more...

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

HavingALittleFaithBaby · 28/03/2013 17:02

RIP little Smokey. A lovely pet he was too. Had him PTS - he seemed very agitated towards the end and I felt it was kindest. Thanks for all your kind words about him Thanks

OP posts:
Report
PeachActiviaMinge · 28/03/2013 17:40

Aww RIP Smokey Flowers You absolutely did the right thing in letting him go Smile

Report
HavingALittleFaithBaby · 28/03/2013 18:17

I was happy to keep him at home while he seemed settled and was eating ok but he seemed so agitated today I knew it was kinder to take him and let him go. He lived a long life and made me smile a lot :)

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.