Very ill hamster

[kesaiserris]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I am so sorry. She is at peace now and playing free over the Rainbow Bridge. The funeral sounds very special.

It is maybe a bit soon to decide what next regarding pets but there is no right or wrong. Some people need time to grieve first, and others get another hamster quite soon and still grieve for the previous one.

When Charlie died I couldn't get another hamster straight away - he was also a real heart hamster. But the grieving really got to us. It was very hard. Within 2 or 3 weeks I felt I wanted another hamster but waited a bit longer.

All I can say is - when we got another baby hamster - we were all happy again and it was wonderful - we didn't realise just how sad we had all been for so long. Every hamster has their own personality and I followed advice to get one that was a different colouring so their own individual. And yes it was a culture shock going from an older hamster to a whizzy baby - but boy it gave us so much happiness and laughter. You love them all differently just as you do with people I guess - for their own particular personality quirks - but you never forget the one who passed.

I would say it actually helped get us out of grief getting another hamster. And in fact I decided I wanted two as I didn't want the double grief of being left with no hamster to care for again. Until such time as we decide to stop keeping hamsters. Because somehow that made it much harder. Not only was there the grief of Charlie dying, but it had become such a big part of my life thinking about caring for him, feeding him etc. It was a selfish feeling but I still needed a pet to care for and I know others have more than one hamster and say it can help to still have the other one for comfort when one dies.

We now have a Syrian and a Roborovski hamster. I actually feel it helped me move on from the grief getting another hamster or it may have always been a stuck grief with bad memories. Newt brought new life and happiness to our house - and he is a completely different personality!

I think maybe it is different with dogs slightly. They live so much longer. Hamsters mature quite quickly.

I can understand fully what you are saying. I have only had 3 hamsters but each one had their own personality. I was looking forward to sharing some apple with Stella for breakfast this morning so I know what you mean about becoming attached to caring for them, you dedicate a part of your life and your self and so there is a little hole when you no longer have that role. Isadora and I loved giving her her favorite treats. I never grew tired of watching her happy with her treats or her little face when she would look up at me during a cuddle. She had the most trusting, affectionate expression, they are so completely innocent even when being mischievous! And she was sometimes mischievous but she was also very very sweet. Stella was my daughter's first pet it was a long time before we could get a pet because I had some health issues and we wanted to be sure we could afford to care for their needs which took time given that we have started our lives from scratch more than once (hubby is Swedish I am American, moving overseas multiple times takes a lot).

[Pebbles82]

Such a hard time - all I can say is what people said to me - it's time. I actually contacted the Blue Cross bereavement service - Charlie had a very difficult end which made things worse.

Charlie was also my stepson's first pet when stepson was 6 and he was very much part of the family. But he became my baby. I can't tell you how happy my Stepson was when we got Newt about 3 months later. As I say we didn't realise what a hole it had left in our family life and then suddenly this wonderful little baby came to us. Stepson chose the name Newt after seeing the Fantastic Beasts film - but then changed it to Newtus Hamsterus after he started doing the Romans.

Right now - it is such a hard time. I left the cage covered up for a week before I could clean it out. I felt better after I had put everything a way. Just one day at a time. Xxx

[kesaiserris]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Such a hard time - all I can say is what people said to me - it's time. I actually contacted the Blue Cross bereavement service - Charlie had a very difficult end which made things worse.

Charlie was also my stepson's first pet when stepson was 6 and he was very much part of the family. But he became my baby. I can't tell you how happy my Stepson was when we got Newt about 3 months later. As I say we didn't realise what a hole it had left in our family life and then suddenly this wonderful little baby came to us. Stepson chose the name Newt after seeing the Fantastic Beasts film - but then changed it to Newtus Hamsterus after he started doing the Romans.

Right now - it is such a hard time. I left the cage covered up for a week before I could clean it out. I felt better after I had put everything a way. Just one day at a time. Xxx

Stella's room was the dressing room. I found it very hard this morning when getting dressed to see that empty cage sitting there. Sometimes in the morning she would come out and look at her bowl and look at me all eager for breakfast or she'd ask in her way to be picked up. Isadora also found it very hard and was in tears this morning. I know it has to sink in that she is gone but it is hard, I miss her already.

[Pebbles82]

Put a throw or blanket over the cage. I found that really helped - it can very raw seeing the cage at first. But I found it easier to avoid looking with a blanket over the top of it. It took me a couple of weeks to feel ready to remove it and then clean everything out and put things away. Which was a bit emotional but felt better once done.