Ronnie is barely moving

[nomsheep]

Ronnie, My Russian Dwarf, is normally a very active ham, on his wheel for multiple hours a day, and recently got fairly aggressive towards his old cage mate, then myself.

I went to check on him just now and he wasn't moving, I assumed dead, he was cold to the touch and there was no signs of life.
However, on further inspection. he seems to be hibernating, showing all the signs of it, slowed heartbeat and breathing.

There's just one problem, he's not asleep, his eyes are open, and he can move about, albeit very little.

He doesn't seem to have received any injuries, his coats is still fine, and he's well fed and watered.

Any ideas what's wrong with him, or how to fix it?

(He can go to the vets in the morning, but they won't be much use, they're poorly equipped to deal with any smaller than a cat. )

[AmityvilleHams]

Has it been even a bit cold lately where you live?Hamsters are very delicate creatures and can easily go into a condition known as torpor if they're kept in prolonged cold conditions.Temperatures should ideally be 72 degrees Fahrenheit or roughly 22.2 degrees Celsius.

If that is the case which seems very likely based on the symptoms,you must be very slow with reheating your hamster.Start with just a somewhat warm blanket or direct contact with your body(in a very warm area for example the stomach).If you go too fast with this process it will cause shock,which in most situations does unfortunately lead to death.

On the note of the cage mate,if they're not already separated keep them separated.It isn't natural for hamsters to be in same sex groups,as they'd only be in mixed sex groups(for breeding purposes,not necessarily social purposes)and so social living can be extremely stressful if not damaging to their mental and physical health regardless of species

[nomsheep]

It has been quite cold here, at night he's moved in to the back room where it's a little colder, because his wheel makes a lot of noise.

I turned the heating on, and have left a hot water bottle by his cage, if he comes aroudn near my chest, he'll bite it.

I separated him from his cage mate the very second he attempted to tip the poor guys tendons out. wasn't worth the risk.

[nomsheep]

As a quick update of sorts, he's curled himself up into a ball, and is able to get comfortable again. and his movements a tiny, tiny bit less groggy.

[nomsheep]

as of about 1am, Ronnie passed away.

[Drago]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My greatest sympathies go out to you, you did all that you could for him. May he rest in peace

[cypher]

I'm so sorry for your loss nomsheep, unfortunately being such small animals hamsters can sometimes have hidden illnesses & pass quite suddenly without us being able to know why, it may just have been his time & appeared cold for that reason rather than the room temperature being too low & warming him just revived him a little so I don't think you could have done more for him.

Run free & play well at the bridge little Ronnie.

[Pebbles82]

I'm so sorry. I was reading your description and thinking he may have been in pain or unwell. You mentioned him getting aggressive towards you recently and that can be a sign they are in pain sometimes. Plus the sitting still and feeling cold is as if he was preparing to go xxx So so sorry for your loss. It sounds like he passed peacefully and is now at the Rainbow Bridge playing free.