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Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

New hamster yesterday is he ill?????

27 replies

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 09:57

We brought our new hamster home at 2.30 yesterday.we put the Cardboard box in the cage open and followed the advice in our hamster books to leave well alone.i expected to see some food or water gone,or poo / wee in the cage this morning .but it's clear he's not moved.ive measured the water and he's not had a drink....it says in my books to leave him alone for around 3 days....but it dosnt say anything about not moving to eat or drink...is this normal...he's 9 weeks old and a good size .plenty of meat on him,so I don't think he's going to starve,it's just the water I suppose I'm stressing over..

OP posts:

brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 09:59

Can you move his box so he is by the water and put food in the box?
Remember they are nocturnal so he could have gone and eaten when you were in bed. If in doubt, call the pet shop for advice.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 10:01

I've done that already ,,he's turned round in his box and looked at us then gone back to sleep..

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WiseUpJanetWeiss · 03/02/2019 10:04

How warm is it where you have him? He may be hibernating, especially if he got cold during the journey home.

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 03/02/2019 10:06

Did you get him from Pets at Home? We had a hamster that keeled over in less than 24 hours from there. Same with a fish we got there too. I think they’re notorious for selling less than healthy animals unfortunately

GenericHamster · 03/02/2019 10:09

Still in the box? I’d be concerned. Could be in shock? Or asleep after being awake in the night??

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 10:15

Yes still in the box ,no wee or poo in the cage anywhere

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Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 10:18

Obviously the shop handled him yesterday ,other people bought hamsters ,so I'm guessing he was handled a lot yesterday.i gently moved the box to make sure he was alive ,and he turned round to look at me ,then curled back up in to a ball.

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reservoircats · 03/02/2019 11:40

He may just need some time to settle in and get used to the new smells and sounds of your house. I would try and make sure he is warm and somewhere quiet and eventually he will feel comfortable enough to get out. I remember bringing one home from pets at home and he sat in his tube for two days before he moved!

brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 12:31

We've never had any problems with Pets at Home; we've had three pets from their adoption section before.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 12:47

Just got home from the vets,emergency całl out,they think he's dying but are are keeping him in to warm him and give him glucose.its not looking good..poor hamster ,and my poor son hasn't even held him yet..never again will I buy from pets at home

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Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 03/02/2019 12:54

Ah poor hamster, and your poor ds having such a bad experience.
Pets at home hold horror stories for me - told by an ex worker which I won't repeat.
We get bedding from there but no pets.
Maybe a rescue pet next time?.
Did you get any photos you could have framed for ds?

wigglypiggly · 03/02/2019 12:56

Oh no poor little hammy, so sad, I hope pet shops are banned from selling animals. If you do get another hammy there are rescue sites, our local shelters always have a few.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 12:57

Shit .no didn't get a photo as he never came out of the carry box.we placed in the cage.he just never moved.

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brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 13:18

Poor little hamster.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 13:27

The pet shop has a vets upstairs,stupidly that made me think we were being responsible

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brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 13:37

You were, it's reasonable to assume that they are looking after the pets that they sell. Sometimes hamsters have cardiomyopathy and can die suddenly from it, we had this with one of ours (not from a pet shop) years ago. You chose a pet shop with a vet attached to it for good reasons and rescue pets can be passed on without accurate information - we had a rescue pet who died after a year, he was a lot older than we'd been told (guinea pig, they are easier to age) and so we didn't have him for long.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 13:50

First hamster as well.we did everything by the book ,bought a huge cage ,fitted it out with everything he could possibly need ,and took the cage in to pets at home to check we hadn't missed anything.its cost us a fortune,and my son now never wants a A hamster again...he has autism...I know it's just one of those things.

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brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 14:05

We've been through hamsters, fish, gerbils, cats and now have guinea pigs. I'd recommend a (rescue) guinea pig if he wants to get a pet in future, they are much more people friendly than hamsters.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 14:36

Drizzle ,bizarrely that's exactly what the vets said when we took him in ...the vets just phoned ,he's died.she said he had clearly been ill for some time.

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PloddingOnwards · 03/02/2019 15:11

I wouldn't recommend a hamster as a pet they don't have a very long life span at all and if your sons to bond with it and it dies I can imagine it being such a heartbreaking experience:(

Veterinari · 03/02/2019 15:19

It might be too soon but consider a pair of rats - wonderful pets and much friendlier and interactive than a hamster - you can probably use a lot of the same kit.

Alternatively take it all back to PAH and explain why!

brizzledrizzle · 03/02/2019 15:44

Guinea pigs are lovely. Do make sure you tell PAH about the hamster, they will need to get a vet to look at the others.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 03/02/2019 15:59

That's a shame - sorry for the hamster and your little boy.
You need to go back to Pets at Home and inform them.
Hamsters can be difficult to handle, their bite is very painful, they're escape artistes - very destructive if they get out unofficially, and they have a short lifespan. Their one, redeeming quality is that they are very cute!
Other posters have said about guinea pigs or rats. Think that may be a better option for your son.

Original poster

gotanysalmonsortedhahahahaha · 03/02/2019 16:23

Just got back from pets at home.
Stupid me thinking that the animals would be checked by vets upstairs.the manager told me the animals are never checked by the vets upstairs,because it's twenty pounds a check per animal.while I was there a family were buying the brother of our hamster..I said why are you still selling them after our one died .(they didn't care ),and they need checking.i said I spent £70 in here yesterday ,I've nothing to show for it except an upset child...
They gave me the £10 back I paid for the hamster.
You live and learn

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Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 04/02/2019 10:21

Can you report them? The dB of your hamster may be ill - another sad family.
I once reported a pet shop for mixed sex Guinea pigs kept together. They changed that soon after. Poor things being gang raped.

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