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Original poster

I have to go to school soon and am sobbing over my hamster

56 replies

thritbies · 04/12/2008 14:44

I think we are going to have to let him be put to sleep

He is 7mo, had wet tail when we got him for a few weeks, culminating in a 3 night stay at the vets. Mid-Nov he started with it again but obviously much worse. He's still no better. We've taken him to our vet 3 times and today a specialist, who I have just howled down the phone at.

He's lost weight- from 80g last week to 60 yesterday, and 56 today. His bones are visible around his neck, and he has no interest in eating ANYTHING, v unusual for him.

He might get better, but the chances are he will keep getting this over and over. Vet says she suspects he will have gut damage. Treatment would be over £100 for hospitalisation, and tests which he might not wake up from. In the time since the vet saw him today, he is now once again covered in poo, and I have just bathed his bottom which made him flinch.

I dont want him to be suffering, but I dont want to feel like I have taken the easy option, not given him every chance. DH is being horrid, focusing on the £ aspect (sensible, admittedly) and saying "It's a hamster, these things happen"

I am so attached to him, he has really become a tame and sociable little thing through handling and playing with him. I dont know what to do.

No idea why I am writing this, but have run out of people to phone and sniffle at.

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2008 15:00

awww ((HUGE HUGS))

wet tail is awful and tbh there isnt really much of a cure if your hammie isnt responding to antib's and he keeps gtting it

of course you are gutted&are very attached to him - hammies are so sweet and and if played with lots are very handable and sociable

dh and i paid out over £100 a few years ago for our hamster - he had a tumour on his leg and had swelled up and couldnt walk - we paid the money, had the op, all was fine and then he died a week later - not sure if his time was up, or op killed him - but his last 7days were painfree and happier than what he had been

I would listen to the vet and his opinion - does he think £100 would be a waste of money?

personally dh and i would pay for the treatment and tests, yes it is a lot of money but he is your pet and therefore is part of your family/responsibilty - but only you can decide what to do xx

£100 is a lot of money (esp when friends said we were mad, as a new one costs about £7) but he was part of out family

we would do it again,over the years prob have spent a fortune on antibs, mite treatment, tumours etc - but they are worth it

PrimulaVeris · 04/12/2008 15:02

Oh I am sorry

Wet tail is usually fatal so your pet did very well to actually make a recovery. I'm really anti- the idea of putting pets to sleep except as a very last resort but tbh even if he recovers again he's not going to have a very happy life.
If he's not eating I don't think he'll last much longer ...

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 04/12/2008 15:08

So sorry i have no idea what wet tail is but agree with the others what was the vet reccomendation ? We paid £300 for our rabbit to have treatment and she lived for another year and was only put to sleep last week.
It really is a personal decision when it comes to money and pets.

Original poster

thritbies · 04/12/2008 16:38

For me it so isn't about the money, even though we blatantly havent got it and would have to put it on the credit card. Which in our current situation would be stupid but I would definitely do it.

I'm no expert,but looking at him my gut instinct is that he is getting worse and worse. I dont want his last few days to be painful, which I think they are atm.

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LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 04/12/2008 16:42

thritbies was the same for me with our rabbit. I knew she wasn't right and went to vet to borrow a carrier. She said i could keep it up but i told her i didn't think she would be coming back with us. I was right Sometimes you just know it's the fairest thing to do!

OrmIrian · 04/12/2008 16:47

Been there very recently. I was bawling my eyes out too. Thinking of you.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2008 17:01

then i would advise putting him to sleep tomorrow

you dont want your pet in more pain then they need to be

wet tail is awful, and tbh even if you did have the op,as he is so poorly,he prob wouldnt survive

LynetteScavo · 04/12/2008 17:07

I agree with Blondeshavemorefun - it's really not fair for the poor little chap suffer any longer.

Although it sounds as if he may fade away soon anyway.

thenewme · 04/12/2008 17:10

I am so sorry. I cried all day when I lost my first hamster and we have lost 2 this year.

If you feel in your heart he is suffering and he can not be kept pain free then it might be time to say goodbye.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2008 17:15

it is HEARTBREAKING when hammies die, you find a stiff cold body in cage etc but must be worse to actually have to put one/any pet to sleep

DH and I have sobbed many times - we always have 2, and when one goes, we say we arent going to get another BUT we always do, and last time dh went to the petshop a few days later and brought an ickle baby hammie that was 6weeks old

it does help having another, though obv not replacing them iykwim

as we normally have 2, although in seperate cages, one left behind, does seem to go downhill,1st one went bald, and vet said our hammy was depressed and lonely and to get a 2nd - sure they miss them at night/have little chats etc

thats what i like to think

Joolyjoolyjoo · 04/12/2008 17:22

Hi- wet tail is a particularly nasty disease, and even if they recover from the infection itself, the gut mucosa can be badly damaged, meaning it can't function properly to digest food/ reabsorb water, hence the reason you are getting diarrhoea again. If the gut is this badly damaged after this long, my guess would be it won't recover, I'm sorry to say

It is so hard to part with them, but far harder to watch them suffer and slowly waste away, so I think you are probably doing the right thing. These wee guys don't have a lot of resources, so tend to go downhill pretty quickly, and once on that downhill slide it's very hard to get them to pick up again. I'm sorry.

Original poster

thritbies · 04/12/2008 18:27

Thank you all, my face hurts from crying all day!

Had decided to take him in the morning, assuming he makes it to then. However, have just head a scurry and he has carried his food (one of those honey coated balls of seeds) down to his house and had a nibble. Am I having false hope or is that good?

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Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2008 18:32

that sounds good

but just incase it is his last night, maybe give him a specail treat - ours love chinese fortune cookies

maybe make a little bowl of porrideg - ours LOVE this - might be asy to him to eat/digest and you aremeanto to give it to baby hammies to fatten them up when small

paws crossed for you both tonight - problem is,IF he makes another night - then what to do?

what did your vet say about op/recovery/his life span left?

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 04/12/2008 21:15

Hope you have a special night with hammy.
I won't forget watching our bunny eat her last carrot (her fave) and she hadn't eaten for a few days and she wolfed it!

OrmIrian · 04/12/2008 21:17

Oh thritbies.

I am aching on your behalf. We lost both our lovely girl rats last week. It was unbeleivable painful. I shocked myself at how much it hurt me. So sorry.

TheInvisibleManDidItWithSanta · 04/12/2008 21:43

Aw Thritbies. Hope he has a good night. Thoughts with you tomorrow whatever happens

ClutterJunkie · 04/12/2008 21:48

we were in your position a few weeks back...i was about to take one of ours to the vet- but she died whilst i was cuddling her...in my hands.

i cried all afternoon.

and now her cagemate- has a lump above her eye- which she has scratched- made bleed...and i just feel sure this is not a good sign.

so huge hugs to you....they are such gorgeous little darlings...and for something so small - are a huge part of our lives.

Original poster

thritbies · 04/12/2008 23:20

Thanks everyone, your words are very kind and much needed atm, especially as (D)H is being an utter arse about it all. Indy has perked up a little, so I am now wondering what to do. H thinks we should wait and see for a day or two. We are away overnight on Sat. Had planned to leave him as we'll be gone just over 24 hrs, then decided must do the deed before we go as can't leave him poorly. Now wondering if we should leave him here and let him have some peace, see if it helps at all. Someone please tell me what to do!

OP posts:

themildmanneredjanitor · 04/12/2008 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 04/12/2008 23:25

If he has perked up and is eating, might be worth giving him 24 hrs grace. I'd make another appt at your vet for friday, see how he is then, so you'll feel better one way or another before you go away.

Original poster

thritbies · 04/12/2008 23:37

Thanks. Can't help feeling ridiculous, am constantly bursting into tears when I try to tell people. H is apparently "sick of the whole thing" and, when I announced that I had decided to take him to be put to sleep, annoyed that we hadn't done it today and will have to pay again. FFS!

If I had to make a choice between H and hammy, well you know which I would be picking right now!

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/12/2008 09:04

how is indy this morning? did she have a better night?

if she have perked up, part of me says leave for a day or two - but maybe see a vet today/tom am, for a quick check up - think our vet charges £13 for a check

could hammy stay with anyone tomorrow night while you are away?

Or are you hoping they will sleep away peacefully in their sleep while you are away?

as said before wet tail cant really be cured BUT see how they are

georgiemum · 05/12/2008 09:14

Cant the Blue Cross help out? I thought they were free.

thenewme · 05/12/2008 12:47

How are you and hammy today?

TBH I wouldn't leave him overnight it you are away. Can someone look after him for you? I am just thinking if you come home and he has died while you were away you will be very upset. Can he spend the time at the vets while you are away?

If you are near me, I would babysit him.

Original poster

thritbies · 05/12/2008 12:47

Morning all.

All quite on the Indy front. Have made him some porridge but when I peeked at him he was sound asleep, all curled up- not dead, he moved, I checked!- so am saving it for a bit later.

Blonde I am thinking would he be ok left alone overnight or is it cruel? It's not like he can be cuddled, and H thinks I am mithering/mothering him too much.

Things may change later.Will keep updated. georgiemum I will look into that, thanks.

Feel like shit, and am currently not talking to H

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