OLD Hamster Stroke/Dying Slowly? Please help.

AbiChan · 05-29-2016, 01:15 AM

So when I first joined I posted about my hamster Paddington, he was anti-social, a rescue and just a wreck. Since then over the last two years we've bonded so close. He became the sweetest little guy who liked cheese and enjoyed kisses and loved being held. At present he's a male Syrian who is estimated to be over three years old.

Everything seemed pretty normal with Paddington recently, he seemed to be getting a little older, I switched cages with him however so he couldn't chew bars as this was causing heavy hair loss. (This hair never grew back.) But last night when I went to check on his food/water I noticed he wasn't moving when I called his name like he usually does. And was lying on his side breathing very deeply, at this point one of his eyes were squinting, the other closed tightly shut. I coaxed him to some water, and he moved around although very slow and extremely shakily, he also seems lost and confused, shaking all the time and being extremely unresponsive, falling over a lot and sleeping in weird positions that look uncomfortable. He's also become extremely bony in the past few days.

This morning (I kept his cage close by and checked on him every 2 hours, he was asleep the whole night.) I was surprised to see he'd survived. Now he's wobbling around and occasionally squeaking and both eyes are now shut so his wobbling is worse. Its getting harder to coax him to water and I've had to switch to a syringe, no luck with food though asides from a small nibble of cheese last night.

I'm in bits about this whole thing, I'm just so worried he's in pain and I want to help him more. My step-dad suggested maybe he's had a stroke? Any advice to help him out at this time would be greatly appreciated.

Lala Noma · 05-29-2016, 01:22 AM

I'm so sorry, I don't know what you can do, except maybe go to the vet. The vet can tell you what is the best for your hammy, a treatment or keep him confortable, or put him down if he is suffering.
I hope the best for you and your little buddy

Pebbles82 · 05-29-2016, 01:22 AM

Hi there. What a lovely great age he is. It does sound like it might be a stroke or some other neurological condition. You could try giving him puree'd or mashed food on a teaspoon and sea if he can lick it off - but if he can't take any food and water it might be kinder to help him on his way with a vet visit. It's difficult I know. If he is squeaking he could be in pain. It sounds like he is taking the water from a syringe from what you said. You could try mashed banana, mashed carrot, or grind his hamster mix to powder and make it into a porridge with boiled water (thanks to SKB for that tip), let it cool and try feeding that from a teaspoon.

But if he can't take food and continues to squeak it does sound like helping on his way would be the kindest thing to do.