What's up with our hamster?

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

I love this hamster. We got her last year as a baby. She is 13 months old.

The room she is in is very cold, so I've been using hot water bottles under her sleeping corner and putting a blanket over it in the evenings. In the last day or so her activity level has gone down and I've noticed she is wobbly and shaking, can't walk properly.

Last 24 hours she's been sleeping on my chest wrapped in a scarf. Still eating and drinking but barely opening eyes and breathing very, very fast. I think she may have had a stroke, in which case is euthanasia the right option? I spoke with the vet this morning who said it would be, but if she's still eating it is a good sign. What could be wrong with her and if it is the end how can I make it as comfortable as possible for her?

Honest to God I bought this hamster for my daughter and now I love her more than anything in the world (aside from my cat who is reading over my shoulder)

Take her to the vet for them to see what the problem is, we can't guess for you! Hamsters don't live long, sadly, and although 13 months would be very short, it happens. Our shortest lived one was 20 months.

Hamsters hibernate I think. Yours might be trying to do this.
Can you move the cage to a room with a more regular heat?

Yes, I'm going to move the cage into the living room tonight. Have vets appointment booked for Monday - vet said to bring in beforehand if she nosedives but they are closed today and tomorrow.

She's freezing, I can't seem to heat her up. Currently she's lying in a scarf on my chest. Last night I had her on top of a blanket wrapped hot water bottle for two hours and there was no change. Maybe she's struggling not to go into hibernation? She's very difficult to rouse but just ate some avocado with her eyes closed.

Her breathing is too fast for hibernation I think

She might have picked up an infection, which could be treatable. Without actually examining it's impossible to guess.

Yeah, I'm going to call the emergency vet I think. I was hoping it was just the temperature of her cage which is easy to solve. Never had a hamster before so this is all new to me.