Anyone a hamster expert??

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Hello all - DD11 has an adorable black bear hamster who is about a year and a half old....all of a sudden, within about a week, she has become totally lethargic, wobbles when she tries to walk...her breathing is rapid and now we see some blood on her feet and mouth. I am not sure if she is chewing her feet or if she is bleeding from her nose or feet... If she were older I would think she is just dying from old age, but I thought they usually lived until about 3. Anyway, DD is hysterical. I feel terrible but I told her we can't take her to a vet or anything like that... does ANYONE have any experience with something like this??? We are just trying to keep her (Oreo is her name) comfy and I am trying to help DD be at peace with the situation...

 

[Sherri]

Hello all - DD11 has an adorable black bear hamster who is about a year and a half old....all of a sudden, within about a week, she has become totally lethargic, wobbles when she tries to walk...her breathing is rapid and now we see some blood on her feet and mouth. I am not sure if she is chewing her feet or if she is bleeding from her nose or feet... If she were older I would think she is just dying from old age, but I thought they usually lived until about 3. Anyway, DD is hysterical. I feel terrible but I told her we can't take her to a vet or anything like that... does ANYONE have any experience with something like this??? We are just trying to keep her (Oreo is her name) comfy and I am trying to help DD be at peace with the situation...

WoW! I am so sorry for dd. Can you call petsmart? Even if you didn't purchase him there they may be able to help since they have a lot hamsters they take care of. I remember being around that age and my hamster dying, I thought it was the end of the world.
I sure hope dd has a better outcome.

 

[Buckalew11]

No hamsters but we did have a rat.

Is she eating? Drinking?

 

[Buckalew11]

well, I am going to bed but you may try googling the blood from the nose or feet. I remember that happening to Stitch but don't remember what it was. We lost Stitch at 1 1/2 years also. She became lethargic and was not able to eat. She could not sit on her hind legs and hold her food to eat! Then, she started dragging herself on one side, scooting around the cage! It was horrible and pathetic for her. I googled it and found out she'd had a stroke!! Very common in rats! My BIL is a vet so I called him and sure enough, it was a stroke and he put her down which was so hard to watch.

All I can tell you to tell your DD is what my DD told me about owning such asmall creature with a short life expectancy: At least we can love her and give her the best life possible while she is here.
If something happens to Oreo, that is the best way to look at it. Plus we had a funeral and burial.
I hope Oreo gets better soon. For everyone's sake.

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Thank you Sherri and Brenda for your kind words and info. You know, the stroke sounds like a possibility. We see her attempting to eat (she puts food in her pouch) but I am not sure if she is actually eating. We are going to bed too - we'll see how our little hammy is doing tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[BostonTink85]

I would maybe try bringing it back to the pet store you bought it at and getting another. We had this problem when we got our last hamster, he got sick within a week and we returned him for a new one. I'm sorry about this and I'm not sure about that kind of hamster, but the ones we've had have only lasted a year or 1.5 years....we had a hamster oreo too...he was black with a white stripe around his tummy. Good luck.

ETA: sometimes pet stores get batches of hamsters that are not healthy, so this could be a cause, which is what they told us when we called about our sick hamster.

ooops, I thought you meant you had only had it a week, not that it had been sick for a week....so ignore my advice about bringing it back

 

[poohandwendy]

I am so sorry to hear that Oreo is sick. I don't have any good advice, but I can tell you a year and a half is not an unheard of time for their passing. Unfortunately, three years life expectancy is really an unusually long life for them.

I think I would just call the vet and see if they can offer some advice over the phone, at least.

 

[poohandwendy]

I know this doesn't specifically address your situation, but thought it was noteworthy:

Geriatric Conditions (Old Age Diseases)

Hamsters tend to have relatively short life spans when compared with other species.

The average life expectancy of a hamster is between two and three years of age. For this reason, spontaneous ageing diseases are not uncommon in these animals, typically after the age of one year. Two of the most common serious diseases of hamsters are amyloidosis (protein deposition in various organs) and cardiac thrombosis (blood clots in the heart). Treatment of these conditions involves managing clinical signs since cures are not possible. A diagnosis of virtually any geriatric disease carries with it a poor prognosis.

Amyloidosis is a condition whereby proteins produced by the body are deposited in various organs, primarily the liver and kidneys. Kidney and liver failure often occurs as a result of this protein deposit. Many other organs are also affected, and the changes are irreversible. Signs of this condition include swollen abdomen, urinary problems, dehydration, poor appetite and rough hair coat. Supportive care is the only treatment since this condition is eventually terminal.

Blood clots within the heart occur at a relatively high frequency in older hamsters. This condition is known as cardiac thrombosis, and typically occurs in the left side of the heart. Many factors are involved in the formation of these clots including clotting disorders, heart failure, circulating bacterial infection and amyloidosis.

Many other old age diseases occur in hamsters over the age of one year. Liver and kidney disease is not uncommon in middle age to old hamsters. Other conditions commonly encountered are gastric ulcers, tumours and dental diseases

*Special Thanks to Drs Harkness & Wagner, Drs Roskopf & Woerpel, Dr August H. Battles and Dr Bobby R.Collins whose published information on this subject was compiled to produce his paper

So, it really could be an old age thing, you know?

They tak about 2-3, but almost every hamster we and friends have owned died before two. Maybe that is because they start their lives in less than optimal circumstances (pet store)? I dunno.

I hope Oreo gets better and if not, that she can be comfortable.

 

[lesroi]

Anyway, DD is hysterical. I feel terrible but I told her we can't take her to a vet or anything like that...

Sorry I am not a hamster expert, my sis has guinea pigs,though. Is there some reason you can't take a hamster to a vet? My sister takes her pigs all the time.

I am sorry for your hamster and your DD if it is a "choice" to let the hammie suffer and not some other reason I am just ignorant of. I had no idea people didn't take hamsters to the vet.

Hugs to your DD and poor little Oreo.


Tracy

 

[Sherri]

Just want to tell you that I said a prayer, for your dd, oreo and you.
Hoping for the best.

 

[donnajon]

We had a gerbil and she had very similar symptoms that you described when she was two. She stopped climbing in the tubes and she would just lay in the bottom of the cage. She was bleeding from her eye. It almost seemed as if she couldn't walk on one side of her body. I was convinced she was going to die. I would take her out of her cage and put her on the floor. She would walk then for a little bit. I figured it was at least some exercise to get her moving. She would only drink if I put the water bottle up to her mouth. It was as if it was too much trouble to walk over to the bottle to get it. She would eat very little and only if I gave it to her. It seems like she was like this for a week or two. The she just got over it and seemed fine. She never played in the wheel anymore but she would climb in the tubes to her nest. She ended up living another year and a half so she actually lived almost 31/2 years. She died last May. I knew she was getting old and you could see her fur thinning out so I know she died of old age. I hope you can nurse your's back to health!

 

[Andrea_loves_Disney]

Thanks again to everyone for your kind words and encouragement!!

Back to the going to the vet issue....I know that we could take her to a vet...and forgive me if this sounds harsh but I am just thinking that it would be a $30 vet visit for them to tell us there is nothing they can do. Of course I don't know that is the case, but I don't want to get DD's hopes up... I hope some of you out there can relate to this! Of course if this goes on for much longer, I will take her to a vet because I don't want her to suffer. Please don't think I am heartless! I have cried all evening along with DD.

 

[luvmyboys]

I learned a lot about hamsters mortality from a friend of mine, whose kids had hamsters that dies from something called "wet-tail." I don't think it actually had anything to do with a wet tail, but she was told by the vet it is a common disease found in hamsters & gerbils & is often fatal.

Hope that isn't what your little furry friend has, but thought you may want to look it up.

 

[ZPT1022]

I hope your hammy gets better. We've had them run the gamut on how long they live, and unfortunately with the tiny animals like that things can turn from everything's fine to OMG my hamster died in record time. That happened to us last year. We are just now getting another one. Dh is still leery since I cried so much when the last one died (I felt responsible) but the kids really want one. I hope yours gets better and you could always try calling the vet or the humane society without going in. Or an animal rescue or someplace that takes in animals. Good luck!

 

[mamacatnv]

Back to the going to the vet issue....I know that we could take her to a vet...and forgive me if this sounds harsh but I am just thinking that it would be a $30 vet visit for them to tell us there is nothing they can do. Of course I don't know that is the case, but I don't want to get DD's hopes up... I hope some of you out there can relate to this!

I don't blame you on this one.
My vet won't even see them. Maybe you could call your vet tomorrow and inquire to set your mind at ease.

Hugs to you and your daughter, it is awful to lose a pet regardless of what kind or how long you have had it.

 

[Beca]

I learned a lot about hamsters mortality from a friend of mine, whose kids had hamsters that dies from something called "wet-tail." I don't think it actually had anything to do with a wet tail, but she was told by the vet it is a common disease found in hamsters & gerbils & is often fatal.

Hope that isn't what your little furry friend has, but thought you may want to look it up.

Wet tail is actually a bacterial infection that spreads like crazy between hamsters. However, the bacteria is so common that even hamsters living alone can suddenly "contract" this if they become stressed. Wet tail can also "appear" if a hamster cage is under a draft (such as heat or air vent), or is given too many "juicy" fruits or veggies to eat. Dwarf hamsters are especially susceptible to wet tail. It is VERY often fatal, but a hamster has a good "possibility" of surviving if antibiotics and re-hydration treatment are started early enough. Hamsters who die of wet tail most often do not die from the bacteria, but from the symptomatic dehydration that occurs as a result of the bacterial infection. Hamsters get the typical "wet tail" because they have constant diaharrea, although some dwarfs never show this characteristic symptom as they are so small they become severely dehydrated quickly and have no more fluids to lose.

Honestly, I think a stroke sounds much more likely than wet tail. I hope your hamster makes a speedy recovery.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

Please do the right thing by this animal. I am not trying to hurt your feelings, make you feel bad or flame you in any way . This animal that you bought and brought into your household is sick. It needs medical attention. I have had hamsters, gerbils and g. piggies, so i have had some experience with little "pocket pets". Your little hamster is very very unwell. Small prey animals tend to mask their sickness, so usually by the time you notice they are sick (especially the little ones) it is usually too late...not all the time, but the bleeding and other symptoms don't sound good.

Please find a vet who does exotics (not all vets do) or a 24-hour clinic that has a trained vet who will work on a hamster, have him looked over and then decide what the "humane" thing to do is. My guess (and I am just guessing here) is that this little guy is suffering and needs medical attention imediately or might suffer a painful death....or needs to be put out of his misery, which a vet can do painlessly.

Good luck to you and your daughter and the little guy .

 

[Sherri]

Good morning, I am hoping that when you woke up today that oreo showed some signs of improving. Please update us.

 

[lesroi]

Thanks again to everyone for your kind words and encouragement!!

Back to the going to the vet issue....I know that we could take her to a vet...and forgive me if this sounds harsh but I am just thinking that it would be a $30 vet visit for them to tell us there is nothing they can do. Of course I don't know that is the case, but I don't want to get DD's hopes up... I hope some of you out there can relate to this! Of course if this goes on for much longer, I will take her to a vet because I don't want her to suffer. Please don't think I am heartless! I have cried all evening along with DD.

Sorry but if the hamster is suffering, I think $30 would be well spent to show and teach your daughter about compassionately ending a pet's suffering. I am not sure what message you are teaching by allowing your daughter to see her pet suffer needlessly and die? Is it the message that because we are human we have power over the smaller of God's creatures? Sorry but I just don't understand this choice.

I really do apologize if you took offense to my questions. I just think it's nice to do what is right by a pet that you chose to buy for your child.

Hugs to little Oreo and your DD. Hope that things work out well for both.



Tracy

 

[va32h]

We have two small pets in our house, gerbil and a dwarf hamster. I have spent well over $30 in one month on food, bedding, toys, etc.

A $30 vet bill is just another expense one incurs when you have a pet.