Horrible end

[bittersweetmemory]

Just that really.

Hamster, 2.5, didn't look right this morning, but seemed to be pain-free, so I went to work.

When I got home, he was having a seizure. Not sure how long it had been going on for, but bitterly regret going to work.

Took him straight to the vet to be put to sleep, expecting to be able to hold/stroke him as it happened. Hamster screamed as the nurse took him to the back room and then the vet appeared and said that we couldn't be with him, as he was still convulsing and the vet deemed it would be too traumatic for us.

I waited and eventually he was brought out for us to take home for burial tomorrow.

I'm heartbroken thinking that in his last moments he was scared, in pain and alone.

I get that he was "just a hamster", but not to me.

To me he was one of my best friends.

Not sure what anyone can say or do...just needed to put it out there.

Oh no. I'm really sorry to read this. Are you ok?

Ahh rip hammie

Aww, poor lil guy.
You were a responsible and caring owner. He qas lucky to have you.

That's shit that the vet wouldn't let you be there to say goodbye. If the hamster had been biting etc and a risk to you, that would be understandable, but surely you're an adult and can decide for yourself whether it's too traumatic to see?

I understand the "best friend" thing. That he was a "small pet" doesn't make him less a companion to you.

You can't blame yourself for going to work if he seemed well enough to be left this morning. No one can see the future.

I'm sorry for your loss OP. When my dog died he also had seizures and someone told me that they are not conscious when they have seizures and he wouldn't have known or be distressed by it. That gave me some comfort and I hope it does you too 💐

I’d be pissed off and at least a bit suspicious of what happened if any of my pets ‘had’ to be euthanised without my permission or witnessing it l. How was it euthanised

Small pets ( hamsters / rats / piggies ) are often pts without the owners present presumably because it’s a different procedure to larger animals . Sorry for your loss @bittersweetmemory 💐

If he was having a generalised seizure, then he was unconscious, and wouldn't have felt anything.

So sorry 😢

I’m so sorry that’s really sad. You sound like a very loving pet owner.

Hopping back on to say thank you for your kind messages. I was really broken last night, as you could probably tell!

It still doesn't sit right with me that I couldn't be with him as he was passing, but trust that the vet had a good reason for me not being present.

Know in my heart of hearts it was his time. Spent last night making paw prints, cleaning him up as best I could, but mostly just stroking him and telling him he is loved.

Today we put him to rest with some seeds my daughter picked out, so hopefully they will grow in due course.

Thanks again for listening to a heartbroken hammy owner.

Sending hugs OP

Ah I am sorry OP. As a PP says, if he was having a general seizure, he won’t have known what was going on. The vet I think wanted you to remember him as he was.

It sounds like you have him a great life, which is all any of us - hamster or human - can ask for.

My daughters hamster had some kind of tumour on her tummy and had to be PTS - was also taken in the back to be euthanised without us. I was in a right state when they brought her out to us to take home for burial. Small doesn't mean small importance.