Health concern or aging?

charmore · 03-02-2018, 04:20 PM

Hi! Steve is a Syrian hamster. We got him as a gift for my daughter in January 2017 from Petsmart. So I guess he is about 18 months old. My husband and I are his primary care givers. Usually, around 11PM he gets up and eats and then asks to go into his ball and roll around (very actively) for about 45 minutes. Put him back, uses his wheel (can hear it if you get up), and food gone in the AM. My concern is that he's been reluctant to get up and into his ball for about a week, didn't get up (except to grab food and take it to his house) even though we waited for him until 1AM two nights ago, and then last night we put him in his ball and he didn't roll anywhere. I put him on the well hamster-proof couch for a few minutes. He seemed interested and moved around, but he was not "squirrelly" like usual. So, do I take him to the vet, or is he just getting old? His appetite is a bit less than normal (lots of fresh veggies, some kibble, raw seeds, small bits of chicken, etc...), and he's pooping normally. He has a bi-level (cat proof) cage - the kind with an aquarium bottom and cage top with cardboard floors, a big wheel, fresh water, vitamin/salt block, wood thingies, and a house, Lots of burrowing material. We clean everything weekly. Thoughts? N00b issues? Help! I'm willing to take him to the vet, but don't want to stress him out if this is normal.

charmore · 03-04-2018, 01:29 AM

Steve’s appetite is still down, and he still doesn’t want to run.

cypher · 03-04-2018, 01:43 AM

Sorry your original post got missed.
What's the weather like where you are & is the room that the cage is in warm at all times, it should be about 18-20c day & night.
They can be a bit more reluctant to come out during winter even when the room is warm but if it does get colder at night that might be one reason for the change in behaviour.
18 months isn't really that old for a syrian although some do age earlier than others, if it isn't a temperature issue than it may be that he's unwell but it's hard to say tbh.

souffle · 03-04-2018, 01:53 AM

It may be that he is getting older and those begaviors are common in older hammies like sleeping more, eating less, thinner fur. They can also wee a lot more and drink a lot due to the kidneys weakening. He could have some arthritis making running less comfortable for him and also making him feel less like climbing up ramps. Weekly cleans are quite a lot for a hamster unless he is wetting a lot. After a clean they need to get their scent all around again and rearrange and this can take a lot out of them. Try more spot cleans. Make sure his cage is easy to get around. I offer older hammies some extras like porridge with wheat germ in it and fresh green veggies. You could add a drop of small animal vitamins to his porridge and some extra oily seeds like sunflower and linseed. If he is really out of sorts then a vet visit would be needed.

charmore · 03-22-2018, 10:27 PM

He’s hibernating tonight. He was drunkenly up yesterday, aye and drank, but tonight he’s out. Had him down n the heated cat bed and cleaned he pee place. Then put the heated cat bed next to his tank and nested him. If he’s not up tomorrow, do I need to take him to the vet?

cypher · 03-22-2018, 10:43 PM

It's been a while so if he still seems unwell & you're concerned that things aren't normal with him then I would take him to the vet.