Russian dwarf hamster passed away yesterday advice please

[Moondust1973]

On Tuesday night I knew something was wrong with him as he was randomly sitting on shelf which he doesn't do I went over to check on him and he started making an effort to walk but his whole body was jerky I tried giving him something to eat but he tried but seemed to takes ages trying to eat one small piece of food I didn't think he'd make it during the night but come the morning he had perked up and running about I assumed he was OK I then went to work returned him and he was lying on top of his bedding which is weird for him he prefers being under it I thought he was gone but he was struggling for breath taking shallow breaths every so often he'd try to perk up but couldn't he had no strength he passed away shortly after but haven't a clue what was wrong he also had a thing for the last two or three weeks which I don't know is relevant where he'd run round his cage in circles which he never did before I just put it down to him being hper but now don't know if this was a health issue does anybody know what was wrong I now feel guilty about not taking him to vet yesterday morning maybe if I had done he could have been ok

Back to the pet... no idea regarding the unusual behaviour, but you may find it useful to call the vet for their advice.

that was completely unnecessary!

Quite. Just so nasty.

OP I agree that there was most likely nothing a vet could have done to save your hamster.

Sounds like a fairly typical end of life for a hamster.
They don't live long lives and generally when their time is up they go downhill fast. It's unlikely a vet could do much.

Hamsters only have a short lifespan, my dd had about 5 throughout her time at primary school! They are such small creatures that it’s almost impossible to treat them.

he was 20 months its just one of those things where u always think should done this or that im glad that i was there with him at end but felt so useless not being able to help

Hamsters don't live very long. With small prey animals taking them to the vet can often be extremely stressful for them, so it's difficult to know what to do for the best.

20 months is actually pretty good going. Russian ones life span I between 18-24 months.
They died of old age and there isn't anything else you could have done. Don't feel too bad.

Aw OP don't beat yourself up as likely nothing you could have done. I'm sure he had a lovely life with you.

As for the punctuation comment - I've been on MN for years and this is up there with some of the most shitty responses I've ever seen.

thank u he helped get me through some difficuilt times he will be missed but have good memories with him just going to take time to get used to him not being here

Aww im sorry about your little Hammy.

Sorry about your hamster.
Dd had 2 dwarf hamsters. The brown one died suddenly at 18months and the white one lived another year or so. Oddly enough her friend got a brown and a white from the same shop a few weeks later and they died at exactly the same ages. I imagine they’re genetically programmed to have a short life.
There is nothing the vet could have done.

did u ever get another one mis

OP I understand where you’re coming from.

Our hamster seemed a bit off. I went to work and that evening she had worsened. I held her and deliberated going to the vet. While deliberating, she died in my hands and I felt awful wondering if quicker action would have saved her. I realised afterwards that taking her out at 6pm on a cold, wet winter night would not have helped at all. They don’t live very long sadly.

If you’re looking for another pet, guinea pigs are great. Really sociable, not bitey and altogether lovely. They do wee a lot and the cage needs cleaning out often.

We just have a cat now - he loves to play but apart from feeding and changing the litter tray is low maintenance.

I had Russian hamsters quite a few years ago. Since then we've had Syrian ones, gerbils (several pairs) guinea pigs, cats and dogs
Have a bit of a soft spot for gerbils, they're very interactive. Just the one elderly guinea pig now from a bigger group. She's very sweet and loves a stroke.
DH would like rats but I think the dust would set off my asthma. I secretly would like a parrot but think it unwise with also having cats.
Hope you get another furry friend OP.

20 months is a good age. It sounds like something neurological, maybe a stroke. There probably wasn't really anything a vet could have done for him.

i looked up signs of a hamster having a stroke it makes now i think thats what happened

Do something to remember your pet over the weekend. Youve done nothing wrong and there is little the vet could do. RIP hammy

At 20 months he would have been nearing the end of his life. It sounds very similar to a stroke or neurological condition, when coupled with the running in circles.
I'm guessing (as you called him russian) that he was a hybrid from a store. Unfortunately their genetics are compromised, as they aren't bred for health and temperament. 20 months is a great life for a little one.
We lost two of our little rodents (a mouse and a multimammate) in the space of a couple of days. As prey animals, they hide their symptoms until very late in the day when it's usually too late to help them. Both of ours passed within an hour of finding them unwell on our way to the vet.
It doesn't get easier. Just remember the good times and the grieving will help create space in your heart for another love when the time is right.