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Pebbles82 · 08-14-2019, 02:18 PM

Today I made the difficult decision to help Nugget on his way, during a vet visit. I had a vet visit because the Metacam was running out, and it was an uncertain time next. He was looking thinner, but still fairly active and eating. His lumps seemed a bit bigger and he had scratched one. On examination underneath it was quite nasty and vet said he would be suffering. I had wanted to just keep him pain free to the end but it seemed that wasn't going to be possible and she said Metacam wouldn't do that plus it was now toxic to him. It was difficult because he came out like clockwork for his food and was still quite fast. Vet explained that it is an urge to eat when they have cancer, to feed the cancer, which is why he lost weight while eating well. She said she knows it was cancer by his look and a few other things. So we really had to decide to say goodbye to him to prevent him suffering terribly near the end.

So hard and I miss him already. I think OH and I knew this was the next thing because in the last week or so Nugget did look thinner. But his activity and appetite made me think he wanted to keep carrying on. I am sure we made the right decision today but I wish we had hamster hospices instead. I tried my best to give him hamster hospice care as long as I could - he just kept going, three wheels on his wagon.

It is almost a relief in some ways after months of knowing he was probably dying of cancer slowly and months of measuring out tiny doses of medicine and not seeing much of him except at feeding time. But I do miss him terribly. He is having an individual cremation and coming back in a biodegradable urn/tube which I will bury.

Play well Darling Nuggety. And thank you for all the the joy and happiness you brought to us - a gift to be cherished forever. Thank you and we will never forget you.

This is one of the few photos I have, when he was young. He was looking very different when older and I would like to remember him before he got the lumps. My sweet little boy who would listen and have conversations for ages but very much had a boundary at his door - talk but don't touch.

Attachment 48863

08-14-2019, 02:18 PM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Run Free Little Nugget Today I made the difficult decision to help Nugget on his way, during a vet visit. I had a vet visit because the Metacam was running out, and it was an uncertain time next. He was looking thinner, but still fairly active and eating. His lumps seemed a bit bigger and he had scratched one. On examination underneath it was quite nasty and vet said he would be suffering. I had wanted to just keep him pain free to the end but it seemed that wasn't going to be possible and she said Metacam wouldn't do that plus it was now toxic to him. It was difficult because he came out like clockwork for his food and was still quite fast. Vet explained that it is an urge to eat when they have cancer, to feed the cancer, which is why he lost weight while eating well. She said she knows it was cancer by his look and a few other things. So we really had to decide to say goodbye to him to prevent him suffering terribly near the end. So hard and I miss him already. I think OH and I knew this was the next thing because in the last week or so Nugget did look thinner. But his activity and appetite made me think he wanted to keep carrying on. I am sure we made the right decision today but I wish we had hamster hospices instead. I tried my best to give him hamster hospice care as long as I could - he just kept going, three wheels on his wagon. It is almost a relief in some ways after months of knowing he was probably dying of cancer slowly and months of measuring out tiny doses of medicine and not seeing much of him except at feeding time. But I do miss him terribly. He is having an individual cremation and coming back in a biodegradable urn/tube which I will bury. Play well Darling Nuggety. And thank you for all the the joy and happiness you brought to us - a gift to be cherished forever. Thank you and we will never forget you. This is one of the few photos I have, when he was young. He was looking very different when older and I would like to remember him before he got the lumps. My sweet little boy who would listen and have conversations for ages but very much had a boundary at his door - talk but don't touch. Attachment 48863 Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-27-2022 at 06:46 PM.