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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for hamster advice?

82 replies

Ivekilledthehamster · 10/06/2019 19:55

Fuck I think I’ve killed it although I’m not sure how...
we got it yesterday, I’ve had hamsters growing up and had no issues. We got him from pets at home. He seemed lively enough and friendly in the pet shop.
We got him home and he ran round his cage for a bit and then went to bed... and didn’t get back up. They said to leave him alone but I’ve just checked on him as I was worried and he’s cold and won’t come round properly? Is that it? Have I killed him after 24 hours? He’s really cold. That’s what’s worrying me. Yesterday when they woke him up so we could buy him he came round really quickly and was running around but he won’t wake up properly and it’s 8pm so you’d think he’d be coming round a bit. I don’t think he’s eaten or had anything to drink either since we had him.

OP posts:
Meowington · 11/06/2019 00:02

@Ivekilledthehamster I have rescued and raised many hamsters so know an awful lot about them.

Do you have a vet in your local area that specialises in exotic animals? If so that’s the vet they must see. You can probably find the number for an emergency vet online and just call for advice. That won’t cost a thing.

Shredded toilet paper is the best bedding for hamsters. Ensure an adequate supply. How ever much seems enough they probably need more. They’re not to be near a heat source or draught. If the room is warm enough for you it’s warm enough for them. Ensure the area is super quiet where they won’t be disturbed and water is flowing from the bottle (spouts easily seize up). It’s OK to interact with them if you fear for their health, but handle close to the ground, they like to ping off hands at a moments notice.

Hopefully this little one is just stressed with the change, they’re very complex and sensitive animals but calling for advice would be a good step!

Keep us in the loop!

Isithometimeyet0987 · 11/06/2019 00:13

Hay is not good bedding shredded kitchen or toilet roll (non scented and not dyed). Ensure he is in the warmest place in your house near a radiator no drafts and up off the floor. If his food is on another level to him as you said his cage is multi levels put it down in the same level as him as he may not adventure as far as other levels until he feels safe enough. Make sure the water bottle is working by tapping where he drinks from with our finger to see if water is coming out. And really you should consult a vet (out of hours vet) as you’ve bought the hamster, it’s your responsibility to look after it. It annoys me about hamsters as people wouldn’t leave a dog all night in a similar condition but so many feel it’s ok to leave a hamster all night like this.

Honeyroar · 11/06/2019 00:21

Poor little thing.

It's always a good plan to find a vet that will deal with the animal you've got before you get it, and know where the out of hours vet is. Sorry, but in my opinion saying "a vet probably won't do anything anyway" when an animal is possibly dying slowly is not good enough.

Honeyroar · 11/06/2019 00:22

Ps, even ringing the out of hours vet for advice is a good start.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 11/06/2019 00:35

Pets at home have a return refund option on their system for "pet death", found that out a few weeks ago when a hammy i'd had a month went to bed, and never woke up again. They admit themselves their hamsters are massively inbred so have all sorts of health issues, they can be fine one minute and dead the next.
They will refund you the £10 you paid or give you a replacement hamster, i chose neither, donated the refund to an animal charity.

RamblingFar · 11/06/2019 00:41

Mine went downhill rapidly at the weekend. Got an emergency vet appointment straight away no problems. As soon as I phoned and described symptoms I was told to bring her down straight away. There was no issue with her being an elderly rodent and not a dog or cat. She was too poorly and had to be put down, but I couldn't knowingly have let her suffer until Monday evening for a vet appointment. Didn't cost an extortionate amount either.

I hope your hamster recovers. If they are still alive tomorrow, then I'd phone an exotics vet ASAP (or at least look for a vet practice that mentions rodents fairly obviously on their webpage - not all vets treat hamsters and lots are not confident with them sizewise).

Other than that, make sure they have very easy access to food and water. You can leave a bottle lid full of water near them if they aren't moving much, keep them warm and draft free, a small dish of baby food (again bottle lids are ideal) is easy digested - hamsters are omnivorous and eat most flavours.

FenellaVelour · 11/06/2019 00:43

With wet tail even in early stages you’d get squidgy poop and a horrible smell.
Vet ASAP I’d say, try to keep him warm and dry in the meantime.
I used to breed and show hamsters and am a qualified hamster judge, so have come across all manner of things (mind, my hamsters never had the health issues pet shop hamsters have) - message me if you need to.

FenellaVelour · 11/06/2019 00:44

Oh, and try a little unsweetened porridge if you have any, easy to eat

joyfullittlehippo · 11/06/2019 01:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 11/06/2019 01:56

Are you sure he isn't a she and pregnant?

ThunderOnlyHappens · 11/06/2019 04:17

Hoping for the best op

Original poster
Ivekilledthehamster · 11/06/2019 07:00

He is sadly no more.
Definitely not wet tail then... he just suddenly went really sleepy and died basically. He had no outwards signs of any issues, no upset stomach, no smell - nothing. I don’t want another from pets at home.
If I disinfect the cage well should it be ok for another one to go in? Poor little hamster.

OP posts:
FenellaVelour · 11/06/2019 07:28

Yes, disinfect it.
The majority of pet shops will get their hamsters from breeding mills, not just Pets at Home.
If you saw the conditions, you’d be horrified. Hamsters in cages the size of shoe boxes, breeding litters back to back until they don’t produce, at which point they go for snake food.
Contact your regional hamster club who may know a local reputable breeder.

musicposy · 11/06/2019 07:57

Disinfect using a pet safe disinfectant, not your standard stuff. Normal disinfectants can be dangerous to pets.

We had a pet shop hamster that died almost immediately; i made a fuss and got my money back. Of course, that didn't bring the hamster back Sad

After that, we always went to private breeders. We got our most recent 3 gerbils from a lady who bred them occasionally as a hobby. We went round to collect them and the difference between that and the pet shop really hit home to us how bad the pet shops are. They were clearly very well cared for and the breeder told us their exact age and birthdate, showed us both parents etc. They lived to a really good age and were the strongest, fittest, loveliest pets ever.

I'm sorry it happened this way, OP. But don't buy from a pet shop again. Like you, I learnt the hard way.

Thehokeycokeyiswhatsitsabout · 11/06/2019 08:32

Bizarrely the best hamsters I ever had were won by my brother in a silent auction at primary school.

They were 2 Russian dwarves and were amazing little things. Even when the cat managed to get one (no idea how as they were in a glass fish tank cage) he turned white but lived for a long time after.

I dont know where they came from. I can only assume a private breeder.

All the hamsters I got from pet shops haven't survived very long. I would find someone who has bred them in a humane way

DifficultSituation19 · 11/06/2019 09:49

Definitely find a reputable breeder rather than a pet shop. It’s just supporting the hamster mills by buying from a pet shop.

DifficultSituation19 · 11/06/2019 09:50

If you struggle to find one ask on the hamsters U.K. Facebook group.

Meowington · 11/06/2019 10:04

@Ivekilledthehamster I'm really sorry to hear that!

Poor little mite! Sad

In terms of getting another hammy most people vastly underestimate how complex they are and how expensive they can be to have. I've spent thousands and thousands of pounds on my rescues' medical bills including a £750 spay to save one of my girls lives. It can be that expensive. I've dealt with chronic respiratory infections, conjunctivitis, mites, numerous surgeries! An emergency call out charge at our vet is £120 just for walking through the door.

There is no hamster home for sale in the average pet store that will meet the minimum size requirements for a hamster, I've had to have all of ours custom built.

I'm not trying to put people off of rescuing but there is so much more to it than people think. Not cheap and easy pets by a LONG shot and certainly not an appropriate pet for children. The two just don't mix well.

Hearthside · 11/06/2019 12:23

This happened to one of our hamsters years ago we were convinced he had died .My mum held him in her hands in front of the fire and he came back round and bit her .He had got to cold and gone into hibernation. Our house then was cold in the winter .Hope it all works out ok op .

Original poster
Ivekilledthehamster · 11/06/2019 12:43

He’s definitely dead. Rigor Mortis has set in.
I’ve cleared out the cage - there were no hamster droppings or wee - that’s weird isn’t it? For him to be in it a day and nothing. He basically went downhill so quickly, within three hours I’d say. I cannot imagine what could have killed him. I feel like it must have been something genetic or a heart problem or something? He just got really tired and went to sleep and wouldn’t wake.

I’ve disinfected all the cage with cage disinfectant and washed it all in hot soapy water. That should be ok once it’s all dried out shouldn’t it?

OP posts:
FenellaVelour · 11/06/2019 18:46

Yes it’ll be OK. Though I would echo what Meowington has said about hamster cages, at one point I had 26 cages in my house and they were mainly custom built from a very large Really Useful box. Most pet shop cages are too small.

Did he have a swollen belly at all, did you notice?

Otherwise I’d suspect it might have been stress. Stress can be fatal to little creatures, especially if they’re not used to being handled and moved about.

tumpymummy · 12/06/2019 00:22

Sorry to hear he didn't make it. There was obviously something wrong with him. Definitely take him back to petsathome and get your money back. Then buy another from somewhere else.

PotatoesDieInHotCars · 12/06/2019 06:15

I really can't believe you let him suffer all night like that.

My advice is if you are not willing to get help for an animal you believe is DYING then do not get another pet. Yes, even at 11pm.

goodluckandgodspeed · 12/06/2019 06:57

potatoes he’d already died. He seemed off at 7pm and by 11pm he was dead - I didn’t keep getting him out to check because I didn’t want to make him stressed but I’m sure he was dead well mbefore yesterday morning.
He just went to sleep. In this instance I’m not convinced a vet trip / call out would have been any better for him? They’d have put him down - which given he died anyway within about three hours I don’t think it would have sped the process up much.
Definitely there was something wrong when we had him. I wonder now if maybe he hadn’t eaten / had a drink for a number of days before we had him.

Pringlefan · 12/06/2019 07:07

Sorry to hear the sad news Sad

@potatoes quite apart from the vets being closed, what would be gained from taking a sleeping hamster in a journey to the surgery? Massively stressful even for a well animal, let alone a poorly, dying one. The OP did the best thing and he died in is sleep.