Hamster died or hibernating???

[almostn9ne]

Bought hamster as Xmas pressie this year so not old.

It's currently curled up snuggly in its bed but usually at this time of night it's usually awake so I put my hand on it and it doesn't seem to be breathing and feels cold.

I've read on here about hamsters hibernating - please tell me it's doing that and not dead!! I'm not ready to cope with a dead one yet, let alone DD, whose pet it is.

They shouldn't hibernate if your house is warm, I'd have thought.

Don’t critters hibernate in the winter?

Bring it out and warm it in your hands.
If that doesn't help, it's gone, sorry.

Google says that, 'Whilst in hibernation mode if you stroke or try to move your hamster, they will show small signs of life.'

Oh god, I daren't touch it if its dead. I'm a right wuss aren't I. I have two other hamsters (both older than this one by about a year) so I knew I would have to face this at some point but not yet!! :( :( :(

I have found this [https://veterinary-practice.com/article/is-my-hamster-hibernating-or-dead] and am convinced it must be dead since the weather has been really warm recently. :(

Can one of you come here and help please.

Also, if you pick it up and rigour mortis has set in, it's very dead.

veterinary-practice.com/article/is-my-hamster-hibernating-or-dead

I'm not laughing at the hamster, at me being a bloody wuss, by the way

Crosspost. I reckon it's dead, OP.

Noooooooooooooo

When mine died I took it to the vets and they checked for me and disposed of the body.

I am going to hide here in the kitchen and gather myself

Could you keep the room warm just in case and take it to the vets tomorrow? If would save you touching it if you're really bothered by it.

Hamsters don't hibernate, but they can go into a state of torpor which can be mistaken for death if it's too cold. As the saying goes, a hamster isn't dead until it's warm and dead.

Try warming the hamster gently by putting it next to a hot water bottle and see if things improve. Months back I thought the hamster was dying and that revived her. She's still with us.

Unfortunately it's not uncommon for hamsters to drop dead for no apparent reason (strokes are a common cause), especially those bought from pet shops (especially chains) as they're poorly bred with little attention paid to the health of the species.

Sorry OP, I don't think hamsters hibernate... 🙈

My hamster did this at least five times before she finally died age 3.

Each time I warmed her up in my hands and then wrapped her in a towel and put her on top of a hot water bottle until she came back to life.

Pick it up and see if there are any signs of life.

Thank you avocado I'm going to try the hot water bottle advice.

IT MIGHT BE THIS!!! PLEASE LET IT BE THIS!!!

Torpor

Oh and thank you everyone else for the warming up idea too. And thanks to everyone generally, who's replied on here. I'm a single mum and alone in the house with a potentially dead hamster so all comments greatly received as I don't feel quite so on my own. Even though I am. Oh good god. Right, here we go.

This happened to my mum when she was looking after her friends hamsters, alas one did die, hamsters are great pets for learning about death.

Oh bless you OP
Try the airing cupboard

Hope your wee hamster is okay

Also this will sound gross but inspect the eyeballs they go milky when its expired

You can tell I’ve been in this situation before

I was convinced mine was dead as it was stone cold and not moving. I didn't have a hot water bottle so I filled up a latex glove with hot water and to my surprise it was actually alive!