It's happening again :(

[MrsHamHam]

I think my nine month hammy is dying in my lap. Can't believe it - this will be the third one I've lost this year. The first from old age, the second a stroke and I don't know what's wrong with my little Bear

He's super wobbly and sleepy. He's currently wrapped in a warm blanket and being gently stroked.

It's horrible just sitting here watching him slip away :'(

I would rather he stay he warm and comfortable than put him through the stress of the vets.

I think this will be my last.

[Hollykw]

Oh my gosh i'm so sorry -hugs-

[MrsHamHam]

It's probably too late but does anyone have any experience of torpor?

His cage was quite cold and I feel so ashamed that I could have killed him Our apartment was around 20 degrees but inside his cage was probably a few degrees colder. I put him on a towel on the radiator immediately and gently rubbed/stroked him in an attempt to warm him up. He ate a little piece of food and drank a tiny bit when I offered him some. He's now on my (warm) stomach (skin to skin) with my t-shirt and a warm fleece blanket over him.

It's really not looking good but I'm praying he somehow makes a recovery. Really hating myself right now

[Hollykw]

Yes I have had it happen to my hamster.

I held him in front of the heater and stroked him it took him about 45 minutes to wake up.

Fill his bottle up with warm water and see if he will drink that.

[MrsHamHam]

I think a miracle has occurred! I just came back in to check on him and he was back to his usual self! I'm so happy.

I'll be watching like a hawk through the night but fingers crossed everything will be ok now.

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi MrsHamHam, I'm so glad your little fella is ok, please don't blame yourself, you got to him in time and saved him. You might need to think about moving him to a warmer room or providing him with extra substrate and bedding.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Sounds like Torpor to me and yes I have had to deal with it here often even with the Hammys being in the room with the heater. I lost 4 in one day when we went from 80 degree Fahrenheit down to 39 degree Fahrenheit in less then 48 hours. We had opened the window nearest the Hamsters kept in aquariums as they were very hot with the 80 degree temps and we were not expecting the sudden drop. So with the window wide open and the very cold air hitting the 4 end tanks directly it caused their tanks to drop to Torpor levels.

I came home to find 4 dead or dying hamsters You need to provide a heat source so the Hamsters never get to Torpor temperatures. I was too late for my 4 but now all tanks are far away from that window and the heat is on keeping the house at a comfortable 68 degrees at all times. So very glad your story had a happy ending and you were there in time for your hamster.

[greysome]

So glad he seems to be on the mend! Like Thin Lizzy suggested, I think it might be a good idea to either move him into a warmer room or give him extra bedding/toilet paper to nest. If you can't move him into another room, the extra bedding will help him to "regulate" the temp in his burrow, adding or removing bedding/nesting material as needed to stay comfortable.

[Bertiebobbins]

My heart is always in my mouth when I start reading threads like this, so glad your ham perked up! Hope he's continuing to do well this morning.

[MrsHamHam]

Thank you everyone. I checked on him a few times in the night and he was giving me his usual "Yes? How can I help you?!" looks!

We've moved his cage to a warmed place now and I've given him lots of extra bedding. Would putting a hot water bottle wrapped in a thin towel in his cage from now be a bad idea?