Lethargic hamster concerns

Mose15 · 08-08-2018, 06:28 AM

My hamster Mose is approx. 1 year 1 month old and has always been a happy energetic hamster until yesterday. I'd been gone on vacation for 5 days and my roommates had been watching her and giving her food and water, although they did not get her out to play. When I got home I immediately checked up on her and got her out to play around on the couch and she was extremely lethargic. She wouldn't take food I offered and just sat there wide eyed. She did run around a bit but not like she normally does exploring. She didnt really protest (very odd) when I picked her up to do a thorough check of her and physically everything seemed normal. I checked and she seems hydrated and her water bottle still works. She's acted like this one other time when she escaped her cage and was very freaked out. It's possible I scared her because I moved her house to find her? Just wondering what other people think

Swirls · 08-08-2018, 06:37 AM

Your hamster may be stressed.

Mose15 · 08-08-2018, 02:48 PM

Update: she just took some food from me which she refused to do last night. She also seemed a little spunkier since I woke her up from her snooze (normally I dont but I needed to check on her)and she did a little spitting and hissing and protested when I held her on her back to check her out again. Hope she keeps moving in the right direction or a vet visit will be scheduled.

Pebbles82 · 08-08-2018, 03:52 PM

I think it's because you've been away

Our last hamster used to pine.

Pebbles82 · 08-08-2018, 03:53 PM

If you do think she's dehydrated though it might be an idea to have two bottles in the cage just in case one intermittently blocks up or something.

cypher · 08-08-2018, 11:06 PM

If she hadn't been out of her cage for a week & you suddenly lifted the house up to find her it could just be that she's had a scare, it does sound as though she reacted in a similar way before. I would just keep an eye on her without disturbing her too much if you can, talk to her so she knows you're around but just let her adjust to you being back, if she doesn't improve then there may be an underlying problem but it sounds as though she may just need some time now.

dreamtree1234 · 08-09-2018, 04:32 AM

I agree with the excellent advice from both Swirls, Serendipity, and Cypher. She probably just missed you and became accustomed to not coming out of her cage for playtime while you were away. Sometimes hams need a bit of time to readjust to they loving owner coming back home and playing with them again. I do hope that she will be back to her usual self again very soon. If she doesn't and you are sure that she is drinking properly, there may be a health concern that will need vet care. Best of luck to you both.

Mose15 · 08-09-2018, 04:58 AM

Thank you guys so much! She seems to keep improving!!! My crazy hamster momness comes out the second anything seems off so thank you for your advice!!

cypher · 08-09-2018, 06:10 AM

Glad to hear she's still improving, hopefully she'll be back to her usual self soon.

dreamtree1234 · 08-09-2018, 06:17 AM

That is such excellent news. Hoping she will be back to herself soon.