Hamster stroke

[Emilytwom]

Hi,



Just after some advice really, I've just lost my beloved Syrian hamster Bernard. He suffered what I think was two strokes. He wasn't living with me at the time but was with my mum who took very good care of him whilst I was looking after a friend's cat. The first stroke hit him a few days ago and I noticed small changes in his gait and eating and drinking however he was still his inquisitive self, before this point may I add he had not been showing any signs of old age and was still his hyperactive self at the age of 1 year and 10 months. Following this 2 days ago he had I think another stroke and really deteriated, he wasn't eating or drinking himself (I had to feed him and drink from a syringe) and also wasn't able to lift himself up at all. It had affected him so much he had no energy , and by the evening I had him in my dressing gown sleeping and by 2am he little heart was going so slow, I let him sleep next to me in a basket with a hot water bottle and lots of blankets , and woke up at 5am to find he had passed away . I'm just after some advice really, to help me grieve , does anyone have any experience and know why he might pass away so quickly and why he might have had two strokes so randomly? No nasty comments please I'm still very upset. Thanks, Emily.

[Ria P]

Dear Emily, so sorry to hear that you lost your little friend. You've done everything you could for him and he died next to you so had you as comfort in his last few hours. It sounds like he passed in his sleep. I lost a guinea pig once because he had a brain tumor. I think that animals can get similar ailments to humans, for no obvious reasons and not always age related. Cherish his memory and talk about him if it helps you. I still tell stories about Mops the guinea pig 50 years later. Bernard was a lucky hamster to have lived with you and in time, there will be another hamster lucky enough to share your affection and care. Just think of all the little hamsters out there waiting for a loving home.

[cypher]

I'm very sorry for your loss, sadly it isn't uncommon for this to happen, it's not something you can predict or prevent, you did everything you could to keep Bernard comfortable at the end, you gave him a good life full of love, try to focus on that & not question what happened too much, you couldn't have done more.