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Small pets

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Original poster

our hamsters keep dying

25 replies

timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 09:27

and it's very sad for all concerned, not least the hamster!

The first one - which was purchased around the end of May 2 years ago - did okay, as he lived for 18 months.

Second one was purchased in November - and died around 8 weeks later. We wondered if it was because she was too cold.

The third one, was about around a week and a half ago, and has died on Sat. Sad We had provided clean water/food etc, and kept this one in a warmer spot (although our house is colder than the pet shop).

These have all been Syrian hamsters. The cage had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Any hamster experts out there? I'm reluctant to get another one, but DD is crazy about hamsters, and is caring and gentle with them - trying so hard to do everything right.

Should you byu a completely new cage for a new hamster? Or maybe our house is too cold generally?

OP posts:
InfinitySeven · 23/02/2015 09:30

Do you know what the hamsters are dying of? Have you taken them to see a vet? Post mortems for hamsters usually cost around £80.

Do they show any signs of illness?

If your house is too cold, I'd expect them to try to hibernate, rather than drop dead.

How old is DD? Is there any chance that she might be getting them out unsupervised and dropping them? That was the most common cause of death when I was in practice - internal bleeding from drops and falls that nobody knew about.

We probably need more information to really help.

FlatCapAndNoKnickers · 23/02/2015 09:30

Are you sure they weren't just asleep?

InfinitySeven · 23/02/2015 09:33

I came back to say just what FlatCap has said - you did check that they weren't hibernating, if your house is very cold, right?

That would be a really, really easy mistake to make.

Original poster
timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 09:53

Hi there - thank you for replying. No, they don't show any signs of illness. My DD handles them very carefully (she's 9 and sensible), and as far as I know hasn't dropped them - but I guess it's hard to be 100 per cent sure.

When you say 'they weren't hibernating' - we have waited 3 to 4 days to see if it will 'wake up' as it were, keeping the cage in the warmest room. But these guys look stiff and dead.

Unfortunately we are extremely strapped for cash at the moment, and couldn't stretch to £80 for a post mortem - although that is good to know that is possible. How long could a hamster hibernate for?

OP posts:
InfinitySeven · 23/02/2015 09:58

I don't suppose you still have the hamster from Saturday?

You'd need to wake them up, as it were - if they've gone into hibernation, they'd likely stay there for a few months unless you wake them up, and they do appear to be dead - cold and stiff, because they shut down all non-essential functions.

Original poster
timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 10:00

Bloody hell I hadn't realised that! I do still have the hamster from Sat, I just went to look at it and it looks completely dead.

OP posts:
Original poster
timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 10:06

How do you 'wake them up'?

OP posts:
FlatCapAndNoKnickers · 23/02/2015 10:13

Stroke it, rub it, warm it up. Worst case scenario, you're fondling a dead hamster.

judydoes · 23/02/2015 10:13

Hairdryer on a very low setting or a warm (not hot!Be very careful!!!!) towel. They're delicate little things. Or sit them on your lap with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel underneath them, warm them in your hands. A lot of people make this mistake-I've known someone who cremated their 'dead' hamster :( :(

They're over-bred for the pet industry as well,so if they really are dying, It's not your fault.

Original poster
timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 13:00

Thanks for further replies. I've put the hamster on a couple of layers of towel on a radiator and gently stroked it etc., but no signs of life after 1 1/2 hours. I think we'll have to face up to facts that the poor little thing is dead after all.

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 23/02/2015 13:04

"Worst case scenario, you're fondling a dead hamster"
genuine LOL

catsrus · 23/02/2015 13:11

don't do what I did after dealing with traumtised dd1 and the dead hamsters saga.. "bloody hamsters I thought, don't live 2 minutes, can't go through this every year - I know lets get dd something that lives a bit longer!" off to local friendly pet shop owner who happens to breed chinchillas, "lovely pets, she said, friendly and cute, bigger than a hamster and lives about 8 yrs". "That sounds like a great idea" I thought to myself.... (this was pre google days and I relied on her 'expertise' Hmm)

chinchilla was dd's 5th birthday present. It finally keeled over and died when she was 23 and it had been many a year since she showed any interest in small furry creatures .....

goodasitgets · 23/02/2015 13:15

Are you buying from the same place? My pets at home hamsters kept dying of the same thing Sad
I went to a local breeder in the end

Wolfiefan · 23/02/2015 13:18

What are you feeding them?

Wolfiefan · 23/02/2015 13:18

Sorry posted too soon.
Bedding?
How do you clean their space?

loopsyloup · 23/02/2015 13:25

I second what goodasitgets said - there are a horrible amount of diseases in pet shops and of course they're not going to warn you they might have caught something... Almost certainly not your fault but try getting one from somewhere else!

judydoes · 23/02/2015 14:22

Pets at home are bad for this.

I would go to a rescue centre. At least you know the hammy has made it to adulthood, and you'd be doing a good turn. :)

goodasitgets · 23/02/2015 14:42

I ended up with three from p@h with twisted bowels. And one with a womb infection
Last one from a breeder lived until 2, and was also bloody massive!

Original poster
timeforabrewnow · 23/02/2015 16:16

Interestingly - the 2 latest hamsters that have died, came from the same Pets at Home shop, whereas the previous one came from a different Pets at Home. Possibly coincidence, but maybe not.

Will look into the rescue centre idea as well.

We were feeding them pets at home muesli mix and the bedding was 'care-fresh' and toilet paper for inside the little bedding 'house'.

OP posts:
cosmicglittergirl · 23/02/2015 16:19

Agree with goodasitgets and other PP. I bought a couple of hamsters from one partucular pet shop and they both died young. Vet said they can often have something from being young that they likely picked up in the shop.

goodasitgets · 23/02/2015 17:00

That bedding is fine Smile
It's because they're from p@h, they effectively come from a massive warehouse and inbreeding is rife so they get diseases and things. If you can't find a breeder ask a local pet shop where they get theirs from, mine use a local breeder so best of both worlds

Bestmummybunny · 28/01/2020 11:41

Pets at home often inbreed Thier hamsters to produce more as the demand is high so it gives them genetic problems and they often die early. Also before they go to a shop they are crammed into tiny cages with lots of hamsters in there which causes stress which can kill them.

bunnygeek · 28/01/2020 12:55

Most of the PAH shops near you will get their Hammies from the same rodent farm (just as awful as it sounds).

100% find a local breeder or go to a rescue instead!!

Try the National Hamster Council (yep it exists!)
hamsters-uk.org/

Nat6999 · 05/02/2020 05:55

We have had 5 hamsters all from pets at home, first one lived 18 months, second one two & a half years, third one a year, fourth one only 4 months fifth one less than 10 weeks. Would love another one but would never go to pets at home again.

youvegottobekidding · 25/06/2020 13:28

We’ve had two hamsters from p@h, first one was with us 18months, the last was until very recently, bang on 2 yrs. We’d like another, they are no local breeders that I can find near us as we’d really like a black one.

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