Sick hamster-large lump, closed eye and wet tail to top it off

[Flamestriker]

Fingers crossed that everything will be fine. Gentle hugs to you both

[Skeever]

Baby food might help feeding wise. I don't think it's anything you did or didn't do. Rodent illness is often fast and ruthless to be blunt. Sounds like a treatment resistant infection not willing to let go or be medded out of existence Again though, not something you have control over.

Keep us updated when you can. I don't know what I can do but at least we're both in the same city. Let me know if there's anything ....It's a long horrible wait till meds kick in or a doc is available...Keep him as comfortable as you can, and that his food water and bedding are near him so he doesn't have to move around to get to anything.

[souffle]

sometimes after a period of diarrhoea the bowel wall becomes irrepairably damaged. The hamster's gut is so small that any damage will affect him severely and the fact that he is already weak means that he will be unable to fight off even a small infection. Antibiotics kill off all the good bowel bacteria that they need to digest food so the hammy lacks vital vitamins and nutrients even though they seem to be eating.
I am sorry to hear he is so ill but it may be that he does not have the strength to recover with the damage to the bowel. You can only try so much and need to recognise when the little one has had enough and needs help on his way to the bridge. Look very hard at him and listen to his whisper and see if he tells you what he wants to do x

[starshme]

Thank you, Kyrillion. I really don't think he's going to make it through the night. My kids and I are in tears. I hope I'm wrong.

[starshme]

Thank you, everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Souffle, I think that you are right and though it is the last thing I want to do, I don't know if he can recover from this. We will see what the Dr thinks in the morning, I don't want to have to make that decision but he's not even able to eat at this point and will only take liquids, and not enough of those. He's so sweet, I can't stand seeing him like this. I will keep you updated, really I can't thank you all enough for all the kind words.

[Flamestriker]

It is not easy...I had a choice two days ago about my three year old rescue Peanut, and I had her put to sleep. She went downhill fast...the meds might have worked, if I had chosen that option, but her age was against her, and I knew that I would be back at the vets within the week. I could not put her through that.

Any choice you make will be done out of love, and you are doing everything that you can.

Please keep us updated

[DrKMcK]

This is so sad. This little hammy means a lot to you and your family. It so clear from your posts how much a part of your family Apollo is. I hope he can make it to the vet, but, if this is his time to go, I sincerely hope it's a gentle path. It is so hard when they are sick

[starshme]

I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. Apollo passed at about 3 in the morning. We tried to keep him as comfortable as possible but it was heartbreaking. I wish that I had followed my instincts and asked the vet to help him go in the morning. It's true, Souffle, that they go so quickly with diarrhea. We will miss him incredibly, it's overwhelming right now. I can't believe how such a tiny ball of fluff became so important to us.

TT, our other Syrian, thank goodness is still healthy. They were not housed together or even near each other as Apollo would get agitated when TT was in heat so fingers crossed that she stays healthy. I haven't touched her without sanitizing my hands and she has her own bag of food. I can't even think of it happening to her as well, I still have to tell my youngest daughter that Apollo is gone. He was "her" hamster.

Thanks everyone for the support.

[spyro87]

I am so sorry to hear Apollo didn't make it it's often the way with diarr. and other digestion related problems.

I know what you're going through, I recently found myself telling my children (aged 7 & 5) that we had lost a ham in the night it's not easy, but, I found cuddling my children and helping to remind them of all the funny moments, and allowing them to take part in the burial and express it through drawing pictures seemed to help them. I also gave in to the comforting imagery of our ham at the Rainbow Bridge with all the other hams who have passed - that helped my children no end.

I'm so glad to hear your other Syrian is still healthy and bright. What Apollo had is unlikely to be infectious/contagious so with any luck TT won't ever get it Apollo had an abcess which then went on to create new problems for him
Crossing my fingers and getting the hams to do the same with their paws that little TT stays healthy xx

[souffle]

I am sorry for your loss. He chose his own path in the end and it was paved with love. Having you near will have been a comfort and he will live on in your memories. Play well at the bridge Apollo and send a shooting star one day for your family xx