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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.

Original poster

Ailing hamster...

18 replies

BlackInk · 19/03/2019 11:56

Our much-loved Syrian hamster Siri isn't himself :(

He's about 2-and-a-half years old. He's drinking more, eating less, has gone really skinny and has a few patches of sparse fur. He's also behaving differently - constantly awake chomping on the bars of his cage and is storing his food in funny places, mainly in his wee corner.
He's the sweetest, tamest loveliest little thing ever. DD adores him and spends time with him every single day.

Am I right in thinking that he's just elderly, probably coming to the end of his life and that a vet wouldn't be able to help?

I would take him in a heartbeat if I thought it would help.

Thank you x

OP posts:
notsurewhatshappening · 19/03/2019 12:00

I don't know tbh - they rarely live longer than that usually. I had a hamster in my early 20s and was devastated when she died. Just because a pet is small doesn't make it any less part of the family. Not sure what a vet could do to help- could be very traumatic for the poor thing. I understand your dilemma though.

Original poster
BlackInk · 19/03/2019 12:06

I know, we all love the little fella far more than we ever imagined possible :(

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 19/03/2019 12:07

Hiya, I'm a Veterinary Nurse. It does sound like he has got something going on, it is usually cancer in these little guys (sorry to be so blunt) or it could be kidney problems etc.
How are his teeth???
I would advise getting him checked over (just a consult, nothing invasive) just to see if the vet can feel any abnormalities in the abdomen and do a general health check.
Then you can go from there, may help with explaining to your DD how little Siri is poorly etc.

Sorry that he is unwell x

Elmo311 · 19/03/2019 12:10

P.s it will also be nicer to him if he gets put to sleep rather than suffer in his last days from dehydration and other things.
You wouldn't be able to be present when the PTS takes place as we have to use anaesthetic gas to gas these little guys down before the injection is given by the vet.
You could definitely see him afterwards though x
Sorry again, argh! I just wanna help x

Original poster
BlackInk · 19/03/2019 12:17

Ah, thanks Elmo. I'll have a look at his teeth tonight, but I don't think they're too long.

In your experience is there ever anything a vet can do with hamsters? Except of course put them to sleep if they're suffering. As far as I can tell he's not suffering at the moment. He's still very friendly and eager to come out to play, happy to be held etc.

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 19/03/2019 12:28

I've had lots of hamsters BlackInk. It sounds to me that he's just getting old, all ours have done similar at the same age. We've always taken them to the vets when they've showed signs of illness eg diarrhoea, though and the vet has given us medicine and injections but it didn't work and he did have a tumour. I'd keep an eye on him if you're sure he's not suffering. Bar chewing can be a sign of boredom,as well as long teeth.

Give him lots of treats like pieces of cheese, apple (not the seeds) banana, little bits of scrambled egg, and fresh veg. Check his cage daily though so the fresh food isn't rotting in there.

Good luck.

Original poster
BlackInk · 19/03/2019 12:59

I will definitely take him to the vet if I think he's in pain or miserable. We're offering him plenty of tasty treats and he is eating something, just not as much as usual. We'll keep a close eye.

TheFairyCaravan How long did your hamsters carry on for once they got like this?

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 19/03/2019 18:58

@BlackInk There are things we can do but it is very limited. I personally found smaller things like teeth problem, eye problem or gut issue that needed antibiotics a bit easier to cure. But other than supportive care, i don't think we can do much for these little guys. Even anaesthetics are a high risk for them.
Honestly, i also find that the cost of treatment is more than the purchase price of the hamster, so a lot of owners aren't keen to spend much because of this (which is fair enough).
He is a good age, so you have done well with him and he sounds so lovely!

  • if he is struggling to eat you can also ask the vets for a liquid syringe food which you can give him to help keep him happy in the meantime.

Good luck!

Afternoonteaandicecream · 19/03/2019 21:38

As a Veterinary nurse, I find it sad that a fellow Veterinary nurse is saying that she thinks it's fair enough not to spend money on a hamster for treatment because the treatment will end up costing more than the price of the hamster. You could easily say that about cats/ dogs/ rabbits etc. I would echo what has been said above about the age of hamster and am glad that the op is keeping the little one happy and will take to the vets if they think he is no longer a happy hamster.

Elmo311 · 20/03/2019 10:14

@Afternoonteaandicecream
I have experienced it a lot in my 15yrs of nursing...have you not? I say it's 'fair enough' because i do not want to be judgemental about people's choices in paying for their hamsters veterinary treatment. Surely you understand that? Also, it is not my own personal view on hamsters or other small furries, it is just what i have witnessed and is very common in general practice.

I have tried to give advice here and if you feel differently that's fine.

Original poster
BlackInk · 20/03/2019 10:45

Thank you both for replying Afternoonteaandicecream and Elmo311 - all opinions welcome. Siri had a little borner of peanut buttery toast this morning - not sure whether it was eaten or just pouched :)

I have to say it's just a fact of life that the vast majority of owners won't pay £100s to treat little pets like hamsters. The range of treatment for nasty illnesses like cancer just aren't practical or available.

His teeth look ok and I can't feel any lumps or bumps. I think it must be age catching up with him.

Thanks again everyone x

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 20/03/2019 11:46

You're welcome. :)
Continue to throw lots of love at him :)

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 27/03/2019 23:29

Try giving the hamster a bit of baby food (no onions, garlic or other unsafe ingredients).

My elderly hamster has perked up significantly since I started giving it to her, and has put some weight back on.

chocatoo · 27/03/2019 23:45

I was very conscious of not PTS our adored little dwarf hamster whilst he still had some quality of life as they have such short lives - I felt that a week to us was like a year to him IYKWIM. On the other hand of course we didn’t want him to suffer. It’s such a responsibility being a pet owner and IMO how much the pet cost is immaterial. If you take on the responsibility of a pet, you have to accept that there will be vets bills, etc.

Original poster
BlackInk · 16/04/2019 11:18

He's gone :(

He hadn't been up and about during the evening as he usually is, so I peeped in on him before I went to bed and he had died, all snuggled up in his bed. We left him there so that DD could say goodbye this morning. She's heartbroken. She loved him so hard every single day we had him.

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 16/04/2019 17:19

So sorry for your loss of such a sweet hamster. :( He was very lucky to have you all x

BettyBooper · 19/04/2019 22:13

Hey Blackink. Really sorry to hear that, poor little fella. My hamster is going through similar at the moment, I don't think he has long left. Really sad Sad they are such characters.

Original poster
BlackInk · 23/04/2019 09:16

Ah, thank you both. DD is heartbroken and misses him so much. He was a lovely old boy :)

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