Old little man symptoms - advice needed

[Thin Lizzy]

This has made me smile reading about your little trooper. You're the perfect nurse.

[Sazzle]

Hello again.

Thank you all for your lovely support and updates. The situation now isn’t great. I’ve been poorly myself this week & in bed with flu, but have managed to continue nursing duties. My little boy only gets up about once a day now, but he’s still taking the apple & cucumber I’m putting for him, and I can hear the odd nibble on his dried food. Bless him. I saw him drinking from his water bottle last night and he looks so frail and different now.

I just hope I’m doing the right thing by just letting him carry on. It’s not much quality of life but I feel that he hasn’t given up so I can’t give up on him yet. He’s such a fighter!

It’s been so nice to read through this post. Thank you all again. X

[Pebbles82]

So sorry you've had flu. It would be a good idea do hand washing before handling him and turn your face away. It must be so hard seeing him so frail but it sounds like he is still keeping going and if he is eating and drinking and getting up a bit then he has some quality of life.

[cypher]

Sorry to hear you haven't been well.
It does seem as though they have little quality of life when they're old if you compare them to the way they were but I think they are usually quite content to sleep a lot & just get up for a little food now & then.
It sounds as though it's still the right thing for him to carry on as he is.

[Sazzle]

Thank you.

I haven’t handled him at all, and have been very careful not to touch any food I’ve given him. He’s just eaten a bit of cucumber and tried to remake his bed, even though he kept toppling over. Poor little thing. X

[Pebbles82]

I'm not quite sure why he needs to keep remaking his bed Usually their nest sort of stays put doesn't it? Or does he just like getting everything just so?

[cypher]

I'm not at all sure about syrians as I'm only used to dwarf hams who do like to rearrange their beds quite a bit, maybe he's having a little trouble getting really comfy in there.

[AlbysMum]

Ohh Sazzle, I'm so sorry to hear you've been sick! Make sure you get plenty of rest and fluids. The flu is really nasty. Get your flu jab in the next few weeks if you can. We are due a nasty type of the flu next year. I hope you're feeling better soon!

I'm sorry to hear about your little guy. If it's anything to go by, it's good that he's willing to get up to eat and drink. There's still a bit of fight in him. I'm wondering if he's remaking his bed because it's giving him some sort of emotional comfort/satisfaction perhaps? I don't know much about hamster behaviour but it might be a possibility, it's something for him to do and that he has control of. Although it may not look like a good quality of life, consider that he is wobbling about to have food/water and is quite content to do so. He doesn't seem like he's in pain, and he's happy to sleep through the days. It's quiet, peaceful and he's in a place that he knows as his home. Surrounded by familiar smells and noises. On top of that, he has a good nurse who's watching him. You're doing great - sending love!!

[Sazzle]

Hey everyone.

Things have definitely taken an downward turn and although he seems snug in his bed, I’m pretty sure he’s no longer eating or drinking. I’ve just had a look at him and he’s definitely still breathing, but no lifting of the head or anything. I thought he’d gone when I got home just, but there are definitely signs of breathing.

So I’m back to my original dilemma. Should I try and get him in to the vet or leave him to go peacefully here? It’s really difficult because I think travelling to the vet would be awful for him, but I’m worried that if he’s stopped eating & drinking now that it’d be kinder.

I never dreamed he’d carry on for as long as he has like this. Poor little man. My heart is breaking for him. I wish he could just rest peacefully now.

X

[Coco61]

This is an awful time Sazzle. I went through it myself. My dear old boy managed everything except in the last couple of days. Then on the last day, for the first time, he did not eat even when some soft porridge was within an inch or two. I knew he must be going but all I could see was him curled up in his nest breathing but no other sign of movement. My own decision was to leave him be. There was no sign of pain or a struggle to breathe or any distress. Just breathing and slowly slipping away. I decided a vet visit would cause unnecessary distress. Going gently in his own home seemed best for him. That is what happened.
Only you can decide. You know your lovely old man. Go with your heart and instinct. A peaceful end sounds likely and soon.