Old hamster

[B00]

I have had Chocolate the hamster for roughly 3 years and very painfully aware he's an old man by hamster standards.

Lately I've noticed he's gone downhill very quickly, and has now a bald head, what appears to be tumors on his body and is now blind- well his eyes don't open anyway. As sad as this may sound im quite upset as he was such an endearing little thing. He no longer appears to be eating, but does come out to drink quite alot.

Anyway- I've been thinking that as I hate to see him obviously suffering, I was wondering if vets put hamsters down if you request it? Or would it be best to leave him to die peacefully in his bed as I imagine the travelling to the vet could very well kill him off anyway?

Any advice?

[boxtops]

B00, ring the vet - they don't mind giving telephone advice, and as you say, taking him there might be traumatic for him. Poor old chap - he's done quite well, 3 years I believe is a long time for a hamster.

[Mamyalynne]

B00 that is sad and I understand your dilemma, I know what my advice would be, but dare not say it or I will be shot down in flames. As to vets yes they will euthanase hamsters at a price. Whatever decision you make will be the right one.

Mamya

[bensmum]

Sory about yur hamster Boo, they are very loveable little creatures and he is a good age. A vet should be able to put him down - the problem with leaving him is that he may suffer longer than needs be and I know you wouldn't want that. Hope he has a nice, peaceful end xxx

[poodicat]

Hi bensmum welcome backx

[B00]

I know what you'd suggest Mamya, and believe me if i wasn't such a wuss I'd do it! I don't have a problem with the cost of the vet, well, as long as it's not extortinate. I'm just worried that the journey alone will be very stressful, whilst I stroked him as much as I could, he was never handled so that alone could finish him off?

I hate to see the little man like this. A part of me is disapointed when I check on him each day and he moves- is that mean of me?

[carmalee]

your pet is on the upper limits of life expenctancy for his species - must have been really well cared for to reach this stage so my advice is do the last decent thing for him and have him peacefully put to sleep, Animals don't always just die quietly in their sleep much as we'd love them to do that. If you cover his cage and take him quietly to the vet's am sure it's for the best. As he's drinking a lot that suggests all's not well. Really know how hard it is and can appreciate how upset you are but think it all over and decide what's best for Hammy - be awful if he starved to death. Go well

[B00]

Just spoke to the hubby (sadly, i have to do this occasionally) and he suggested giving him something soft to eat as maybe his food too hard?

Chocolate in his prime was a vorocious eater and would quaff anything you put in his food dish (except mushrooms), so im going to try to tempt him with a bit of a 'nana. Hate the thought of him starving whilst I dither over what to do with him.

I'm such a soft sod :-(

[bensmum]

You're not a soft sod B00, you just love your pet and there's nothing wrong with that.

[carmalee]

choccy won't do him any good and certainly isn't a natural food - you'll just be putting off the inevitable. Obviously your choice though but hope it works out well for Hammy.

[B00]

I'm not giving him chocolate, that's his name :-)

I said 'nana as in banana. I've just sliced a bit for him and he almost snatched it out my hand and seems to eating it.

And yes, I know im putting off the inevitiable but the thought of him possibly starving to death on top of everything else really upset me.

[carmalee]

Sorry, didn't mean to upset you but you have an old animal you've cared for very well over his lifetime and now have to make hard decisions. You're obviously an animal lover and believe me, I know just how hard that is - I've worked in animal welfare for a thousand years and have recently lost a very much loved dog. Hardest thing I've ever done was booking the vet to come to the house so I really do sympathise.

[lankeela]

Perhaps he has trouble with his teeth or gums if he has happily taken the soft nana. If you are unable to find him other soft things to eat then I would take him to the vet. A quick trip would be better than prolonging his discomfort.

[B00]

I normally give him raw ends of carrots Lankeela, however tonight i've got a few sliced cooked ones left in a pan, so will give him a few of those too.

I feel such a divvy, im sat here fretting over a ruddy hamster!

I'm even reluctant to clean his cage out, as I normally gently push him from end to end as I clean along, and I don't want to disturb him as he is or make him re-arrange his bedding again. He used to get so annoyed each time i did, you'd hear him squeeking as he did, I swear he was cursing me out!

Will ring the vet tomorrow and see what they say :-(

[B00]

yeah Doc, i know he's an old 'un by hamster standards, and uptill this last week he was still fit as a fiddle. Like I said it's shocked me how very quickly he's gone from a fat furry noisy little thing to an old man who shuffles along blindly.

[lardhelmet]

He was probably swearing at you Boo cos he'd just got the place the way he liked it and then you went and cleaned & tidied it all up again!

[B00]

rofl, yeah lard, that's exactly what I imagined he was saying/doing!

He's chomping on cooked carrots as we speak. so grabbed more to put in with him later on tonight.

[caslass]

Boo, all pets are like family to the owners. I feel for you. I'm sure whatever you do will be right. Take Care. Cas

[B00]

The strange thing caslass, ive always had rodents as pets, other hamsters, mice, rats etc. But i've been fortunate (?) that when they've died they'd previously been healthyish (apart from old of course) and just died in their sleep. One mouse I found curled up in his food dish (ahhhh). So I'm new to this distressing turn of events. Why I was kinda hoping, this past week, that each time I checked up on him, he'd have gone, thus taking the decision out of my hands.

[lardhelmet]

If he's eating that's got to be positive hasn't it Boo? We had hamsters when my daughter was younger and we loved them, especially Honey, who lived till he as about 3. He was a lovely little chap and we wept buckets when he went. Had to bury him in the garden with a cross made of lollipop sticks. Ended up with several of those after a succession of rabbits & hamsters!