Holiday Care Dilemma for ailing, elderly hamster with sticky eye

Flo · 08-13-2018, 06:46 AM

Hi all, I've been a browser for a while but I really need some advice! I'm so hoping you could help me please?

My Syrian, Flo, is over 2 yrs and has developed kidney disease. She has been getting slower and sleeping more but was doing fine until I went on holiday 2.5 weeks ago. Unfortunately the teenager I'd asked to care for her (who has done so very well previously) wasn't able to cope and evidently didn't have mum's help this time! Flo's cage had not had urine removed all week. She had sticky eye and was dehydrated (water bottle had been moved). I took her to the vet who said, all things considered, she was OK - no treatment required - and I've found advice on here re bathing the eye plus I'm giving her veg 2 x a day now (instead of just eves) and she's more sprightly (eye still stuck closed every day).

What is causing me a lot of stress is that I'm due to go away again in 2 weeks. I do have a friend that I trust to care of Flo but I will need to take Flo to her house ( half an hour). I'm still worried though about Flo being stressed by being handled by someone else - she does not like her eye being bathed. My other option is to take Flo with me but it's a 6 hr journey - and I will have DOGS in the car! I imagine that would stress her out too! I could possibly leave the dogs behind if a friend would take them but that might not be popular with the rest of the family!

So it seems I can't avoid stressing my little Flo and I don't even know how long she's got left. She's my first hamster and I'm dreading her passing but more than that, I want to be around when it happens. Can anyone who has traveled hamsters help, or any of you experienced hamster owners give me your opinions as I'm in such a quandary!

Many thanks!

cypher · 08-13-2018, 08:40 AM

I'm really sorry to hear about Flo's health problems & that things didn't go so well when you left her last time.
Whichever option you choose when you go away again there will be a degree of stress for her but I do think a 6 hour drive would be too much for an elderly & unwell ham tbh, it would probably be better to leave her with your friend.
How is her eye doing, is it getting any better? If you're not going for two weeks then maybe it won't need bathing so often then so she may not need to be handled so much.
I can totally understand how you feel about her passing but I do think a short journey & staying with someone you trust to take care of her would be in her best interests at this stage.

Flo · 08-13-2018, 02:45 PM

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I think your advice gets right to the heart if the matter and has reassured me that it's best to leave her and Yay! Almost like magic, when I went to check her after typing that message, her eye had not closed again and it's still open this eve so, with luck, she won't need to be bathed after all! I keep musing how something so tiny can get right into your heart - but I guess you all know that! Thanks again x

dreamtree1234 · 08-13-2018, 03:33 PM

Hi! I'm really sorry about Flo's kidney disease. I'm glad that Flo's eye is doing better though and is not showing signs of being sticky any more. I totally agree with all that Cypher said. I, too, think it will be best for Flo to stay with a friend while you are away. The long trip with dogs in the car would be way too much for a senior ham with health issues. I will be hoping that you and your family have a wonderful trip and Flo has a nice time with your friend as well. Best of luck to you and Flo.