My hamster died for no reason

[Aseel3]

I had my hamster for 55 days. He was young, active, eating and drinking well, every thing was fine except that he was sneezing. One day, I checked on him at 11am and he was sleeping, at nearly 12 I went to the room where he was still sleeping, after a while I heard him screaming, at first I didn't know what was that noise and ignored it. But a few hours later when I went again to check on him, he was in his corner dead. What could possibly be the reason for his death?!!

Are you sure he was dead? They often go into hibernation mode at this time of year. My Syrian hamster seemed genuinely dead at least twice but when warmed up started moving. Er, have you buried him yet??

Yes I buried him, im don't think he was dead. I read a lot about hibernation in hamsters, he was not moving or breathing at all, he was so cold and stiff, hibernating hamsters don't get stiff. And also why would he scream if he was hibernating?

You didn't think to take him to the vets if he was sneezing?

Also the room temperature was never low enough to reach the hibernating temperature.

No I didn't take him to a vet, because he didn't look sick, as I said before he was active and eating well.

Did you not check to see why he was screaming?

What an odd set of circumstances.

Nobody can tell you why, or what was wrong. Perhaps a vet would have given you the answers even if they couldn't save the ham.

Where did you get him from? Do you know for a fact he was young? They only live a couple of years anyway, maybe he was older than you thought and the cold finished him off? 😰

My rescue hamster did this minus the screaming she had been kept in a car in a cold cage. I had her here for 2 weeks. Perfectly happy, eating, drinking, running about in her ball. Then she died. Never know why.
My male hamster was a screamer. Had the vet check him. He was in good health. They make screaming noises when distressed in pain or in Boris case, just for the hell of it. He died aged nearly 3 of cancer.
The problem with little pets is it's hard to know when they are in pain as they carry on as normal. Their littles lives are eat, sleep, repeat. I only noticed mine was ill when he only slept and stopped eating. Did you have saw dust? My rats sneezed because I had used saw dust , changed it to pellets and they were fine. I'm sorry your pet has died.

I'm sorry too but how can you expect any random on the internet to tell you how your hamster died? I can guarantee it wasn't for no reason though. Presumably he had a cold or something? They are tiny frial animals and sadly it doesn't take much to kill them.

@Lightsong i didn't know that the noise I heard was him screaming, until I found him dead.

@KittensAndCake an old Syrian hamster size is 5-7 inches, but he was only 4 inches. Also old hamsters won't be so active, he was super active untill his last day.

@drinkswineoutofamug I never heard my hamster screaming before. And I don't use saw dust I use wood chips.

Boris screamed when my son spoke to him! Think it was my lads deep voice?
Get a rat next time they are more hardy & lively than a hamster cable covers are your friend easy to train and very loving and intelligent

Thanks everyone I am just trying to find a reason for his death but I still didn't. I thought that the sneezing might have been an allergic reaction because of his sand box, so I removed it for a week, but he still sneezed.

Sometimes he would wake up and run to the spot where his bathroom is, and then after he finishes he would go back to sleep. Is that a sign of diarrhea?!

Poor guy

Sometimes he would wake up and run to the spot where his bathroom is, and then after he finishes he would go back to sleep. Is that a sign of diarrhea?! I wouldn't have said so, ours used to do that, one with his eyes closed. Probably like us having to get up in the night for the toilet half asleep.

Sorry about your hamster. He's at peace now. Personally now I'd never get another one, I feel too sorry for them.

Thanks everyone I really appreciate all your help.

I think it is common for little pets like hamsters and guinea pigs to appear well until they die. They are prey so it is not a good idea for them to show ill health and they are masters at hiding it. I don't think I would have realised he needed the vets either. I've heard a lot of people say there are nothing wrong with their hamster and then they just died.

@Berniethefastestmilkwoman thank you alot.

Although unlikely, it is possible that your hamster had a cold. If a hamster is sneezing or shows any symptoms of a cold then you must take them to the vets. Due to a hamsters small size anything from a simple cold can kill them which is because of their weak immune systems. However there is something else which could've happened. Your hamster could've been allergic to something in the cage, surprisingly enough some hamsters are allergic to sawdust due to oils that is in the wood. Your hamster also could've been allergic to the bedding, it's best to check what contents are safe for hamster before using it