Our elderly hamster seems to be gently dying <sob>

[BoffinMum]

Hasn't been eating or drinking today, not even tempted by a couple of choice almonds and the top of a bit of celery (usual favourites). Wedged himself behind the hamster wheel and is panting away and not really opening his eyes.

[JuliaScurr]

Aaaawww...
so sad when little animals die
He had a great life compared to in the wild
Your happy memories of the good life you gave him will be some comfort

[mignonette]

We still miss Rocky who died eight years ago. Bags of character and lovable too.

Can you get him to the Vet Boffin? I know he is only a little creature but the vet may be able to ease things for him.

So sorry.

[BoffinMum]

TBH I think he is just dying a companionable natural death and getting him to the vet will make it stressful and horrid for him. It's me that's having the problems. He was my little chum pootling around the cage while I pottered around the kitchen. We were good friends. He did have a great life. He loved his cage. Even after his little escapes into the house he always went back there happily.

[BoffinMum]

I was as bad as this when the bloody rabbit died.

[BoffinMum]

DS1 has offered to deal with the body when the time comes.

[mignonette]

Yes in that case then good for you. Hamsters make wonderful bumbling companions and give endless entertainment for little more than a few treats. I used to love devising treat 'menu's for Rocky.

He is buried in our garden w/ a little (now falling apart) cross under the Heuchera. The others are on the allotment.

I'm really sorry and hope it will be quick for him.

[Sawdust]

So sorry to hear this - it's very hard

[BoffinMum]

He's still there, breathing quietly away, and he lifted his head up a bit a minute ago.

[BoffinMum]

He is very very wobbly on his legs and is very shaky, he is trying to move around.

[mignonette]

Bless him. Brave little things they are. Could he possibly have low blood sugar? Is there any chance of that? If he continues to try to move about maybe putting him somewhere covered over and dripping some sugar water /dab of honey into his mouth (if this is what you do w/ hamsters?) might help.

[BoffinMum]

He wouldn't take any water. He is squeaking as he is breathing now. Labouring for breath, I think. Stuck half in and half out one of the tubes.

[BoffinMum]

Head is now out of tube, he is curled up near food bowl, I think he is exhausted.

[BoffinMum]

Violent shaking from side to side when he tries to move.

[RippingYarns]

sounds like a blood sugar type thing, my best furry buddy hamster died of this earlier this year - my vet said the trauma of tests etc would probably do for her so he advised to give her as much fluids as we could get into her and make her comfortable

sorry to hear yours is going through the same thing - its fairly common unfortunately

[mignonette]

Smear a little honey on his mouth. Maybe it'll help but it can't hurt?

How awful for you Boffin.

[RoastedCouchPotatoes]

Poor thing I love our hamster. He had a good life, at least (I think they're extinct in the wild now?). They're great little creatures. Friendly and just there when you get home, very comforting in that way. And staring at you with big eyes and posing like a meerkat when you come close.

[Weegiemum]

Our "last" hammy died a week ago, poor Willow. I'm not allowing any more, it's too traumatic all round (so we now "just" have a rabbit and 6 guinea pigs!).

[mignonette]

DS works w/ animals and wonders if it could be wet tail although says you'd probably have noticed it before?

He says to ask you -

Are the ears down? Eyes closed? Unable to walk? Can you see his bottom? If it is damp/wet or messy then it is wet tail and he needs to be taken to the Vet as V painful for Hamsters. Is there anyway you can look at his bottom?

Sorry to keep asking you all these things Boffin...

[BoffinMum]

No, doesn't have wet tail I think, just old (he's over 2).

[BoffinMum]

He has all the signs of ageing - slightly grey, bit thin, that kind of thing. However has only been doddery today - yesterday was slower than usual and did not do his daily grinding teeth down thing on the bars.

[BoffinMum]

His urine was also more concentrated that usual over the last week even though he has had plenty of access to water - he has not been drinking as much as usual - we could tell as we didn't have to top it up as often.

[yellowballoons]

It is sad isnt it?
I have had the dilemma before of taking a guinea pig to a vet[it would probably have not made it to the vet's] and not taking it to the vets [and died].
Horrible choice. To this day, dont know if I necessarily made the right one. On balance, if I had my time over again, I think I would have taken it.
But chances are it would have died, and I would have ended up thinking it best to have left it be.

Sounds like he is near his end. Glad you have enjoyed him.

[BoffinMum]

I am confident that a trip to the vet would in fact be cruel. But I will miss the little chap and his adventures.

He is very, very quiet and still now, barely breathing.

[Sawdust]

At least he's peaceful

[BoffinMum]

DS2 keeping a tearful vigil by the cage.

This is taking quite a long time. I am emotionally drained.