Hamster not well help

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 11:13 AM

UPDATE: I just discovered a mass (internal) Mommy's neck. It is very 'ball' like, my guesses are cyst, tumor or impacted pouch which could have caused infection and swelling. But whatever it is, I think its what caused her to not eat/drink and that is the cause of her severely ill state. Im taking her to vet 1st thing in morning. I feel terrible because my in laws didnt notice she was sick, I feel like I left her with the wrong caregivers when we went out of town. I am so sad. Do I force dropper feed her? She is severely dehydrated and starving, all bones...I feel like I have nothing to lose, if it overwhelms her at east I tried. But if I dont, I dont see how she will make it through the night. But she hates it and pushes dropper away, wants to be left alone

ANYONE have any input? Please help me. Thank you for reading and in advance for any input xx

Quick history: We went out of town for a week and left our 4 syrians (separate caged) with relatives. My oldest (1 1/2 yrs) 'Mommy' has been a little under the weather lately and I had given her Oxbow recovery food for supplemental nutrition, which had her fairly perky again. But relative watching them said 'Mommy was quiet, hardly seems to leave igloo' Darn it! I told her Mommy had been a little down lately and gave the recovery food in case, why she didnt use it or at least call/text me on this!?!

SO CURRENTLY:
--she is cold, obviously not regulating core body temp. I have heated sock filled with rice in cage for a safe heat source but no improvement in thermal regulation yet

--not eating/drinking independently. Was taking Oxbow recovery (thick and watery consistency) by dropper as of yesterday, pushes away today. Will nibble minimally on hard boiled egg, wheat toast, apple slice.
--pushes away water and food by dropper
--vet closed today on New Years

I love my little Mommy, she is so sweet and precious to me. I know she is getting older but 1 1/2 is still not end-of-life old yet, she should have months or so left. I believe she is ill and the caregiver watching them didnt recognize it, thus she is dehydrated/starving. Dehydration/starvation is what kills them, but Ive brought my hammies back before when it was illness by dropper nutrition/hydration but she is pushing it away

--Any ideas?
--Im afraid of aspiration--how far should I go in pushing her to take dropper?
--Any advice from experience/knowledge is so appreciated.

It is looking exactly the same as when I lost my Sammy and Benny

Sad for Mommy, I need to help her...Anyone please help. Thank you sincerely x
Pamela

SinNyx · 01-01-2014, 11:19 AM

Keep doing what you are doing and if she worsens, I suggest you call a vet when they are open again and ask them for their knowledge on hamster care and if they can see her.
I can't see you doing more for her than you already are - you seem to be doing a great job.
I am guessing all of the other hamsters are doing well and showing no signs of illness?
Is she having any diarrhea or passing blood/discharge?

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 11:30 AM

Thanks SinNyx. Yes I agree, I am calling first tomorrow am. My others seem to be normal. I have not seen any discharge at all, not nose, eyes, mouth or vaginal. No diarrhea.

SinNyx · 01-01-2014, 11:43 AM

Definitely keep up with what you are doing, and do keep giving her what she needs via the dropper, but do remember she is small so she won't need to much as long as you give her what she vitally needs.
Do your best to keep her warm, even wrap her up in a small towel as well as what you have done.
It may be a possibility her time is coming if she may be older than you think (I am guessing she was from a pet shop?), but I am sure with your help she can get better or at least she will pass away in good care!

All fingers and paws crossed for you and her, I hope another member may be able to give better advice x

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 11:44 AM

I think my biggest questions right now:

How much water (in mL/cc) is minimum to get her thru this?

Any other ideas on food to try, esp with high water or calorie content?

Should I keep trying even though she pushes dropper away or at best will take a couple drops?

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinNyx

Definitely keep up with what you are doing, and do keep giving her what she needs via the dropper, but do remember she is small so she won't need to much as long as you give her what she vitally needs.
Do your best to keep her warm, even wrap her up in a small towel as well as what you have done.
It may be a possibility her time is coming if she may be older than you think (I am guessing she was from a pet shop?), but I am sure with your help she can get better or at least she will pass away in good care!

All fingers and paws crossed for you and her, I hope another member may be able to give better advice x

Thanks so much. And now that you mention it, mommy was larger and though they said 2 months I have wondered if she could have been older. She had one litter of pups (11) and was the best, most nurturing mommy ever. She wanted to nurse them forever it seemed! Thats how her name got changed to Mommy...sorry just reminiscing...that said, she was thought to be 4 moths when she had the babies but she may have been 6 mths. Thank would put her at close to 2 years...
I may switch to heating pad...

SinNyx · 01-01-2014, 12:32 PM

I am not 100% sure, but I think I have seen that females that have had litters may have their life expectancy reduced, so it is possible that if she is a bit older than you though and has had a litter, then her time may be near.
I can see how much of a well loved pet she is and if it is her time to go, I can see you will help ease her journey over the bridge.
Have you tried cooked chicken/baby food/cucumber? Baby food with no onion or garlic may be a nice thing for her to have, a lot of people give it to hams especially as they get older.
If she pushes it away make sure she has at least taken a few drops to keep her hydrated.

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinNyx

I am not 100% sure, but I think I have seen that females that have had litters may have their life expectancy reduced, so it is possible that if she is a bit older than you though and has had a litter, then her time may be near.
I can see how much of a well loved pet she is and if it is her time to go, I can see you will help ease her journey over the bridge.
Have you tried cooked chicken/baby food/cucumber? Baby food with no onion or garlic may be a nice thing for her to have, a lot of people give it to hams especially as they get older.
If she pushes it away make sure she has at least taken a few drops to keep her hydrated.

I also have read that on reduced life expectancy, though it was vague. I think her time is near, she doesnt look well. I just put the heating pad under her cage to see if it can help. She seems to want to be alone which is not like her

I tried applesauce and she took a few licks which is better than nothing I guess. I will try cucumber next, that is something she typically likes. She is just so cold...ominous sign in what ive experienced before

I wonder has anyone had a sick hamster that was cold but survived? If so what did you do?

SinNyx · 01-01-2014, 01:16 PM

I have had a hamster that was very cold and survived, my last female had a time where she was very cold and lifeless. I gave her some water in a syringe and wrapped her up in a hand towel and had her on my lap like that so she could warm up, then I gave her some food which she slowly started eating, but this only lasted for an hour or so and I do not know what was wrong with her besides that I think she had stopped drinking and got dehydrated.

Pamela · 01-01-2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinNyx

I have had a hamster that was very cold and survived, my last female had a time where she was very cold and lifeless. I gave her some water in a syringe and wrapped her up in a hand towel and had her on my lap like that so she could warm up, then I gave her some food which she slowly started eating, but this only lasted for an hour or so and I do not know what was wrong with her besides that I think she had stopped drinking and got dehydrated.

Thank you so much SinNyx! That is encouraging. I will still hope until the end that mommy pulls thru. I really appreciate your input on this xx