Hamster has passed away

lozzapops · 02-23-2018, 02:29 AM

Having adopted a 6 month old Robo hamster from Support adoption for Pets on New Years Eve, and having had Syrians in the past, I decided I wanted to get a Syrian. There were none up for adoption in my local Pets at Home centres, so I bought one from store on Saturday 27th January 2018. She's been kept in an Ikea Samla bin without a lid and mesh has been wrapped round the top - so plenty of ventilation. She had CareFresh bedding, and some plain ripped up toilet paper for nesting material. She was fed Harry the Hamster with some additional extras and fresh fruit and veg a few times a week. She had a toilet which had mainly sand with a little bit of Kaytee litter which she always used, and was a very clean hamster. I have just been spot cleaning and avoided cleaning everything simultaneously to prevent stress. She loved her wheel it was the larger Wodent wheel. I saw her yesterday morning and heard her get up and drink last night at around 10pm and so assumed everything was ok. It was only when I got up this morning and I saw that she hadn't used her toilet, or touched her food that something was wrong, and I found her passed away in her nest. I'm really confused as to what has happened to her, as it doesn't look like wet tail to me, I'm absolutely gutted! She was so cute and friendly and I want to know what's happened. I feel like I may have done something wrong, but she had fresh water every day and plenty of food, so I don't see what it can be. If anyone has any ideas, that would be great? I will obviously thoroughly disinfect everything just incase it was a disease, to make sure I don't spread it to another hamster if I get another one.

cypher · 02-23-2018, 04:49 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss, it must have been a terrible shock for you & it's always especially hard to lose a young ham so suddenly.
If she appeared well before then it may just be that she had some kind of congenital problem or weakness somewhere that you couldn't have known about or done anything to prevent this happening.
Sadly this does happen sometimes & we can never know exactly what the problem was, take comfort in knowing although her life was sadly short you made it the best life she could have had.

lozzapops · 02-23-2018, 05:26 AM

Thank you Cypher, I have just done some research on congenital problems and I guess it could have well been that. Her eyes are closed, so I'm hoping she passed peacefully in her sleep pain free. My little Robo is doing just fine, so I guess I can't be doing too bad a job.

cypher · 02-23-2018, 07:44 AM

I'm sure you're doing a great job, it's only natural to question everything when something like this happens.

souffle · 02-23-2018, 08:00 AM

I'm sorry you lost her so young. It's not uncommon for hamsters bred in rodent farms and actually even hamsters bred with the greatest of care to pass away suddenly. It's much the same for all creatures - a bit like a cot death I guess. Most likely cause would have been a heart valve problem which suddenly just gave out.
It sounds as if her short life was filled with fun and love and she went quickly and painlessly. Run free little one x

Turrican · 02-23-2018, 02:44 PM

Oh Lozzapops I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure you did nothing wrong! It happened to a hamster of mine a few years ago, she was very young and seemed fine and then one morning we found her passed away in her nest. We'll never know why, but it was really sad. Be kind to youself x

lozzapops · 02-24-2018, 10:14 AM

Thanks all for your supportive comments, really appreciate it!

hollynelson1984 · 02-25-2018, 08:04 PM

I echo what Soufflé has said. I am so sorry for your loss xxx

Thin Lizzy · 02-25-2018, 09:04 PM

Sending you big hugs, such a shock and such a short time.