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Old 02-23-2019, 12:00 AM   #11
kesaiserris
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Default Re: Very ill hamster

I looked at both open and closed and a little into the variations therein. We will try with the antibiotics because it is the only option available. There just isn't a vet in Sweden that will perform the operation at her age, we have looked just to be sure we have done our due diligence. I hope that she ends up in that small percentage that recovers or that it is another condition that can be treated with antibiotics and won't return. If we think she is just in pain I can't see dragging out her suffering and that is why they don't do the operation on older hamsters here because it is seen as cruelly drawing out the suffering of the animal. As much as I hate to think of her death I feel so sure that she knows how much we love her and that we have given her the best life we could.
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Old 02-23-2019, 02:09 AM   #12
Pebbles82
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Agree she is quite old for an operation. Fingers crossed the antibiotics knock it on the head and she does ok.
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Old 02-23-2019, 08:49 AM   #13
Vectis Hamstery
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Default Re: Very ill hamster

I'm glad you got some antibiotics for her, and I hope she feels better soon. It must be tough not having a hamster savvy vet nearby.

For girls I haven't had spayed, I've had some reasonable longer term results with high dose antibiotics and Galastop/cabergoline. I've also heard of people using aglepristone instead of cabergoline but haven't had cause to use it myself (my girls with pyometra in recent years have either been spayed or been so unwell so fast that they needed euthanasia).

I can entirely appreciate your concerns over surgery in a hamster of Stella's age especially with the vet who could do it being so far away. I hope she stays comfortable for a while yet.
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Old 02-23-2019, 12:06 PM   #14
kesaiserris
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Just an update.

This morning my husband gave Stella her first dose of antibiotics which she accepted without protest (not so when the vet tried). She did not eat after having seen the vet and Stella is such a consistent eater that this has been a major concern to me. She is still losing blood. I went down to her just now to check and she would allow my daughter and I to cuddle her. She accepted a spinach leaf from my daughter and then took a little bit of food from her bowl back with her to her house. She is such a well-behaved sweet hamster it just breaks my heart she would have to go through this.
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:09 PM   #15
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Another update

We went through the full course of antibiotics but we saw no improvement in her condition. Her condition has continued to deteriorate. She lost what appeared to us a significant amount of blood and I have been trying to build up her iron but she won't touch meat so I have had to go the vegetable route. I was certain she would have bleed to death given but she held on. She now eats only fresh food though not enough to maintain a healthy weight. We started to notice signs of pain soon after the vet visit so I have been preparing a special, targeted fresh food diet and feeding her twice a day since she can't eat much at one time. We are also crushing her mix to make it easier so that she always has something available. We have moved everything to make it easier for her to access, put a heater into her room for extra warmth, and we have had to change from the substrate we used because it was too hard for her to walk on it and get out of her house when she wanted. I just made that change and I am worried about it but she was literally being trapped by the substrate, obviously I kept some things with her scent on it. She is often better at night than in the morning but this morning was a pretty good morning, the evening has proven tougher.

On Monday we are going to call the vet again and see if they have pain killers for hamsters. I looked into Metacam but it is not approved for hamsters in Sweden and I am not sure what if anything is available here. I contacted another vet an exotic vet, state of the art treatments but not for hamsters . The food does seem to help because she is more relaxed, breathing much easier, sleeping more soundly but it's not like I can get her to eat everything I need her to eat in the proportions I need her to eat them for it to be the most effective. She does not have any swelling in her tummy at this time. She absolutely loved the egg I gave her. She thought the peas were funny though she did eat them (she actually opened her eyes and played with the peas a little). She is very weak (particularly the hind legs I am not sure they are working), uncoordinated, sometimes confused, sometimes aware. She still drags herself into her sandbox every morning though she can't bathe it seems to be something that she needs to do for herself. For about 7 days she has been exhibiting clear signs of dying and honestly I do not know how she could possibly still be with us because her body has failed, it must just be willpower at this point. She still enjoys a cuddle (she stretches out even, it seems that cuddles are the best medicine) and has not bitten anyone even when hubby had to clean her bottom earlier. My daughter has been so compassionate and tender with her. We are all crying a lot. I can only say that my daughter who is 11 is learning about the dying and the grieving process and she thinks so much about little Stella being comfortable and she hugs me when I cry and when she cries and we have talked about death openly and intend to have a proper full on funeral for Stella when her time comes.
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:17 PM   #16
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Such a hard time. I can't believe they won't prescribe Metacam in Sweden. I couldn't have it for our last Syrian in his last couple of weeks because my vet at the time said it was contraindicated with Cushings. Even though he didn't have a clear diagnosis of Cushings. I begged just to try it and she just said no. So in the end I bought some White Willow Bark from a herbalist and left a small piece near his house entrance every day. He did have a little nibble of it but I don't know how much. It is supposed to be a pain relief herb as it's where aspiring comes from. And to be honest when they are so near dying I don't worry if it's ok or not.

I do think you may need to get prepared to possibly help her on her way, as she is getting weaker and dying, and sometimes they have a strong heart and take a long time to go - and can start suffering suddenly and quickly. They can hang on for you as well when you love them. It can help to talk to her and tell her it's ok to go if she needs to xxx

I think you will know if the time comes to help her on her way. But it is difficult to know how much she is suffering now.

Incidentally my current vet says there are other pain relief meds that can be used if Metacam can't. That is news to me - I didn't think anything else was licensed in the Uk. It might be worth ringing a vet and asking.

Last edited by souffle; 03-02-2019 at 12:27 PM.
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Old 03-03-2019, 02:25 AM   #17
kesaiserris
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Stella passed last night. I found her this morning. We had a funeral for her. My husband made her a coffin. We each wrote and read her letters and buried her with some nuts (offerings). She was such a wonderful hamster, she will be very dearly missed. I have no doubt that her next life will be wonderful because she was so wonderful in this one.

We have decided that for us it is best to grieve before bringing home a new pet. I also personally feel that the next pet likely will not be a hamster. Stella was such an outstanding hamster that we (my husband and I) fear that a new hamster might be subject to some comparison or that there might be expectations for a new hamster that occur on a subconscious level which would not be fair to him/her. It would be easy for my daughter to forget the time that was needed initially to make Stella comfortable in her new home which might lead her to try and rush the process of building a bond thereby stressing the little guy out (I say Isadora but it could happen to us as well). We also fear that she might have forgotten how active the little guys are when they are very young and how exploring often took precedence to cuddling in those days! We have observed this sort of thing in people who own dogs. They are very close to their dog and when it dies go out directly and buy a new dog whom they never train properly and often spoil as a way of unburdening any residual guilt they might feel as part of the grieving process. I just don't see this as being fair and I can't even say I won't do it myself even if intellectually aware of the risk. I know in owning Stella we have learned many things which will hopefully aid us in taking better care of a new hamster when the time comes. I am hoping that in interim that there is an improvement in the medical care provided for hamsters in Sweden, which is almost not existent at present. Initially before we bought Stella I was researching pets for my daughter and I had researched rats heavily but then hubs surprised us all with Stella. I am so glad he did because she was such a joy and such a sweetheart. She could never be replaced, she was one of a kind.

What is everyone else's feelings about this? Do you observe a mourning period for your pets before bringing in new pets? Do you buy pets that are the same species or bare resemblance to the pet lost and if so feel free to share your perspective on the issue. How have you helped your children through the grieving process for those who have children? We have been very honest with Isadora and allowed her to be involved in the nursing process and in the funeral. She saw Stella after she had died (we found her soon after so the body was stiff but nothing else had occurred by way of decay) I always insisted I check on Stella first just encase something would have occurred that would be traumatic so we could discuss it first but otherwise I felt it was best to let her be involved.

I want to make it clear that I have loved owning hamsters and hope to own hamsters in the future because they are little bundles of joy but I am not sure about the when aspect.

Last edited by kesaiserris; 03-03-2019 at 02:29 AM. Reason: adding content
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Old 03-03-2019, 02:42 AM   #18
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Default Re: Very ill hamster

I am so very sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute. You did your best for her and she was loved through her life and will be beyond. Involving your daughter as you did was exactly right. I am not a believer in hiding things from children or protecting them too much from the realities of life and part of loving a pet is always losing that friend.
Everyone is different in when they feel ready for a new pet and each individuals choice is always the right one. With a family you do need to discuss and consider everyones feelings on this and do what is right for all. There may be some compromise needed when more people are involved.
For me I think that each creature we love makes our hearts grow a little bigger so when they die there is a space in there for them plus a space for us to accept a new little one to love. You never replace them because they are already with you in that space in your heart forever.
When ours pass away we have a little funeral and we have a special area where all our pets are buried. We have stone animals around the area and we plant plants there and we feel that they have joined the circle of life again and will come back in another form. As the plant grows and their body is taken in to the circle again their atoms flower in the plant and the oxygen becomes part of they air we breathe and part of them may well become part of us. We are all entwined forever. We find this a comfort. Anyone who has spiritual beliefs will find comfort in that and whatever is right for you all will always be right as it is made from love.
Her path sounds like it was gentle.
Play well at the rainbow bridge Stella and send a rainbow to your family to tell them you are safe. The next time you see one Kesai remember it will be hers x
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Old 03-03-2019, 03:21 AM   #19
Pebbles82
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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.
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Old 03-03-2019, 06:07 AM   #20
kesaiserris
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Quote:
Originally Posted by souffle View Post
I am so very sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute. You did your best for her and she was loved through her life and will be beyond. Involving your daughter as you did was exactly right. I am not a believer in hiding things from children or protecting them too much from the realities of life and part of loving a pet is always losing that friend.
Everyone is different in when they feel ready for a new pet and each individuals choice is always the right one. With a family you do need to discuss and consider everyones feelings on this and do what is right for all. There may be some compromise needed when more people are involved.
For me I think that each creature we love makes our hearts grow a little bigger so when they die there is a space in there for them plus a space for us to accept a new little one to love. You never replace them because they are already with you in that space in your heart forever.
When ours pass away we have a little funeral and we have a special area where all our pets are buried. We have stone animals around the area and we plant plants there and we feel that they have joined the circle of life again and will come back in another form. As the plant grows and their body is taken in to the circle again their atoms flower in the plant and the oxygen becomes part of they air we breathe and part of them may well become part of us. We are all entwined forever. We find this a comfort. Anyone who has spiritual beliefs will find comfort in that and whatever is right for you all will always be right as it is made from love.
Her path sounds like it was gentle.
Play well at the rainbow bridge Stella and send a rainbow to your family to tell them you are safe. The next time you see one Kesai remember it will be hers x
Thank you for your heartfelt sentiments, it means a lot to me. It was a very meaningful service I think having the funeral helps with closure and I hope that she heard the messages we sent her and felt our love for her.
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