My Hamster died and I still have no idea :(

[yuel0022]

Hi!

I recently owned two pet hamsters (male and female). I have owned them since the first week of January this year. They were quite getting well on the first week. But last Sunday, the female died.

When she died, the things I noticed were:
1. It seems like there is something sticky protruding in her genital part (?) that looks like a tail.
2. She is performing poorly in the hamster wheel exercise.
3. Ants are swarming her in her deathbed.

Now, earlier this day, I have seen the other hamster showing the same symptoms, and I think it's dying. :'(

I am really eager to bring it to the vet but unfortunately, I have to go to work and I couldn't bring them.

I have done a few research and I've read something about Wet Tails but I'm not quite sure.

I have suspected the following as reasons for their illness:

1. Rats were able to get in the cage (I don't know how the hell they've done that) and might have attacked them.
2. Maybe I have fed them wrong food. So far I have fed them the usual processed hamster foods, bread, and carrots.
3. The weather in our place is getting cold, although we are trying to get their place warm, like covering half of the cage with soft/thin blanket.

Now, I am thinking twice of owning another hamster. I really love to get a new one but what hapenned to my first hamsters is still bothering me.

Hope you could enlighten me on this one, so if ever I own another one, I would be able to avoid what happened. Thanks

[souffle]

Without seeing a vet it is hard to say what happened however it sounds as if your hamster had either a prolapse of the bowel probably caused by wet tail or possibly a stuck pup as she may have been pregnant if kept with a male and had delivery difficulties.
Not going on the wheel would be a sign of illness and she was clearly unwell.
Ants will appear near a dead animal looking for food.
If the other hamster is ill and he will likely have wet tail if he has been near the female and she had it then you MUST see a vet though the chances of survival are slim. If he is very ill and you cannot afford to have treatment or time to nurse him then ask the vet if it would be best to give him rest
The food does not sound like it would cause this.
I would strongly advise you not to get any more pets because if your house has an infestation of ants and the chance of rats being in contact with you and your animals then it is not a safe environment for them. Rats carry many horrid diseases that can affect people and hamsters.
The place you got the hamsters from may not be the best and the animals may be unhealthy.
Which country are you in? I am guessing not the UK? I would advise you to see a vet very quickly for the male to have any chance of recovery.

[Pompompoms]

I can only echo what Souffle has said, it is imperative your hamster gets medical attention immediately as it is showing similar signs to the one that has passed on. There may be something that can be done, or the vet can offer a painless and peaceful passing before he/she suffers anymore

[yuel0022]

@souffle and Pompompoms

Thanks for the advice!

Sad to say, the second hamster has already died :'( And my newest hamster seems to show the same signs too. I got a little stressed regarding these deaths, so as for your advice, I think I won't get any more pet hamsters at the moment. We are moving to another house in a year I think, so I guess I will have to get new hamsters when after we have moved to another place. Yes, it kinda sucks that our current house has been home to a lot of rats (there are lots but it's not like an infestation though). This made me decide to keep a cat as new pet.

I'm from Philippines, and we're having a kind of wintery season right now. The air is colder than expected, and I would not risk getting a new hamster with this kind of weather

Thank you very much! I'll still be hanging out in this forum to learn more so I can avoid repeating the same events when I get another hamster. Thanks!

[strawberrysmom]

I am so sorry to hear this. And I hope that you can get better housing soon for your own welfare as well your pets!

Welcome to the forum - you will learn SO much here! And there is an "other pets" section where you can post about them as well!

[yuel0022]

Hi strawberrysmom

Thanks! I'll go to the Other Pets forum and check it out. Right now I wanted to have a cat but I'm considering guinea pigs but after what happened to my hamsters, I'm afraid to get one

Thanks

[linford27]

hi Yuel,

I'm sorry about your hamsters, but I don't think a guinea pig would be a good pet for your situation right now. Since there are some rats around, they can pass diseases on the the guinea pigs, and make the guinea pigs cages unsanitary, which can also cause illness.
Personally I'd reccomend against getting anymore pets until you have moved, then there are better conditions for your pets, meaning they are less likely to get sick.
Linford
x

[yuel0022]

Hi linford27!

Yes, absolutely! I think I'll go with a cat. I will keep the cage and their feeds for the moment

Thanks

[lucyeleanor]

Originally Posted by yuel0022

Hi linford27!

Yes, absolutely! I think I'll go with a cat. I will keep the cage and their feeds for the moment

Thanks

I'd wait around to get any pets until all the issues are sorted. If you do get a cat, please remember that you can't put rat poison down, otherwise you will inadvertently be poisoning your cat too if it ate the stomach.

[souffle]

That's a good point lucyeleanor. It isn't worth the risk and to be honest cats don't actually have much impact on the rat population. Rats are too large for them and a well fed cat won't need to hunt anyway. Rats are well used to cats around and don't bother about them these days.
If you are moving house as well it would be better to wait and find out if there are any issues at the new house before taking on any more pets.