Hamster weeing blood

[Theresamooselooseabootthishoose]

We only got him last week from pets at home, he seems fine, eating, drinking, sand baths, exercising, playing with his toys, happy being stroked, sleeping fine etc. But last night when I got him in his play pen (we get him out for a cuddle, run around and maze play every evening) and he was weeing blood 😭 I’ve contacted the vets and they said £45 for a consultation and then x amount more for medication. We just can’t afford it right now though..

we can’t get him insured for another week (he’s under the age threshold just yet) and don’t get paid under 25th 😢 I feel awful, we’ve all fallen in love with him and it’s breaking my heart that he’s like this.

Any advice or experience in this please?

Other than seeing a vet (which you really should do; buying a pet means vet costs) as you've only had the hamster a few days I would try contacting the shop you bought it from. If it's a Pets at Home with an in-store vet I would just turn up with it and ask that it's checked over.

Thank you. I did do that and they said he’s only covered for 48 hours after purchase. I understand vet costs but I haven’t physically got the money otherwise I would be there in a heart beat. I get paid monthly and don’t get paid until the 25th April and insurance won’t cover him for another week😔

Why on earth would you purchase a living creature without any means of paying for its health care

Poor hamster. Try and contact pdsa vets and see if you qualify for low cost treatment

I’m thinking the same thing.

This, sorry

Are you sure its weeing blood and its not a period?

Take him to the vet and ask if you can pay when you get paid.

The poor wee thing needs to be seen.

Hope he's ok

@Rowthe i did wonder this myself but they said he’s definitely male. Do they menstruate heavily? It’s hard to find this out online, some say for 4 days but lightly, some say it’s rare (when they’re female obviously). The man who sexed him did check a couple of times though.

It won't be period blood.

Hamsters are very fragile and can go downhill very quickly if not treated asap when ill. Can you not borrow money from a friend or family? Your hamster needs to see the vet asap. Delaying this is cruel and very irresponsible of you.

You beat me to it!

Honestly? You should surrender it to a rescue group as you cannot afford ongoing costs. Even with insurance, vet trips aren’t free. The poor wee thing probably has a UTI and needs antibiotics. Please just contact a local group and give him to them, as no doubt he is inadequately housed in a tiny pets at home cage and this isn’t suitable either.

If it's peeing blood it won't survive until you get paid.
Rodents don't show pain or illness until they're incredibly unwell or on the brink of death.
Are you sure it's blood? Some foods - like beetroot - can colour urine.

He isn’t actually, he’s in a double barrelled hamster heaven, with a connecting specially made 100cmx100cm cage, loved, fed, watered, cleaned regularly and will from next week be insured. It’s only this week (which is unfortunate as we had an unexpected dentist bill this month) that I can’t afford the vet bill.

Please save your ignorance of working class people. I assure you we are responsible and caring people who work hard.

*Why on earth would you purchase a living creature without any means of paying for its health care

Poor hamster. Try and contact pdsa vets and see if you qualify for low cost treatment*

Please take him to a vet asap!!

Having insurance wouldn't have made a difference for the vet costs. There is always an excess of £100.
Borrow money? Up your overdraft?

Well, seen as you can't afford vets you really only have two options. Give him away or let him suffer until the 25th. That's the only options I can see here.

We didn’t get a pet incase we couldn’t afford a vets bill, you got your hamster very recently so you should’ve known. Pets at home don’t look after their pets very well

Might I add, hamsters should be in home made bin cages. Your 100x100 is still very inadequate and I doubt you did research. There are some good YouTubers who know about hamster care

Take him back to PAH and demand a vet sees him.

@OldTinHat i did, they refused 😔 they said he’s only covered for 48hrs after purchase.

Dont waste money on insurance for a hamster , just put aside money each month for vet bills . This hamster needs to see a vet now , do you really have nobody you can ask for help , if not take him back to PAH and get them to look at him .

Phone vets and explain you can't pay until the 25th but you're really concerned. Give them your passport or something to hold until then

@AreweCf i think you misunderstood. He’s got an interconnected space of 180 combined lower floor space, then higher levels too.

Your animal is clearly unwell and needs medical treatment. Time to start selling some stuff to pay for the vet. The Hamster needs to be seen

Insurance possibly won’t cover a uti unless it’s an ongoing issue- don’t blame this as a working class issue! I’m working class and my doggy is insured and I keep some money aside (yes money is very tight) incase she needs to go and isn’t covered or I need to pay an excess.
On a practical note PLEASE research this before doing anything but my vets when I used to have guinea pigs asked me to put a tiny tiny amount of no sugar cranberry juice, diluted into their water until I was able to see them the next day.