Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-15-2019, 05:55 PM   #1
onionpowder
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Default Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

I am just wondering if anybody else has experienced anything like this with their hamster:

I brought my 2 year old dwarf hamster (suspected winter white hybrid) to the vet last week as he has gotten very skinny, has lost all his fur on his tummy and legs and sometimes seems very wobbly/unsteady on his feet.

The vet concluded that even though he is 'on the skinny side', it is probably just old age creeping up on him and that since he is still eating, drinking and playing i should just continue to do whatever it is i do with him.

But tonight i had him (the hamster, not the vet..) in bed with me, as i often do, and he peed a load of blood. it wasnt a little or very diluted, it was a full, bloody pee. There was no change in his behaviour other than that he was even more affectionate than he normally already is and he didnt seem to be in pain although he got really active just after this happened.

I know i need to bring him back to the vet and i am not quite sure why i am posting this, maybe im just hoping somebody had a similar experience which turned out quite harmless?!
onionpowder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 11:48 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
Little Miss Tinytoes
 
mangoandmimi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

So sorry to hear this, all sorts of problems can start appearing when they reach this age unfortunately. You’re right to take him back to the vets ASAP though, hopefully its not too serious. Sometimes it turns out to be an infection which can be treated with antibiotics but it could also be kidney problems amongst other things so you can’t really say unfortunately. Hope the vet is able to advise on the best course of action.
mangoandmimi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 01:06 PM   #3
alpacassei
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
alpacassei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,109
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

Hopefully its just an infection and a course of antibiotics will treat it, good luck at the vets!
__________________
<3 Sunflower Custard, Bigfoot, Petal, Stormy, Flurry, Vanilla <3
___________
Angel hamsters: Francisco, Marcello, Peppermint, Mishka, Stephano, Sundae, Peach <3
alpacassei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 02:01 PM   #4
onionpowder
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

Got an appointment for this evening and it's not looking good at all...

He has a growth on his tummy and the vet figured there are likely more spread inside his body which could have caused last nights bleeding but discouraged me from considering scans and operations as he thinks they would be too far gone regardless.

Aside from this he also found an abscess on his tummy caused by a nasty bacteria, likely transmitted by sawdust. Now i always avoided sawdust as i know its bad but used it temporarily thinking it would be ok for just a little while.

Neither of these were noticed by the vet i visited last week!

I was given antibiotics but the vet has very little hope and told me i might find him (hopefully) having died in his sleep or deteriorating to the point where i will have to bring him in to be PTS.

Thankfully he is still full of beans right now so im hoping he will just slip away some night without pain and until then he will be getting all 'bad' but yummy treats i had avoided until now and even more snuggles.
we've another appointment booked for in 2 weeks though so im hoping he will have another few weeks left.

Thanks for all the encouraging words, its really appreciated

Last edited by onionpowder; 04-16-2019 at 03:48 PM.
onionpowder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2019, 02:10 PM   #5
mangoandmimi
Little Miss Tinytoes
 
mangoandmimi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 7,036
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

Oh no I'm so sorry things didn't go too well at the vets. Sometimes it is kinder to let them continue on as they are rather than putting them through the trouble of scans etc, especially when they're older. Glad he seems happy enough though that's always a relief. Sounds like he's going to be rather spoilt
mangoandmimi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2019, 02:24 PM   #6
onionpowder
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 3
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

my poor boy died 4 hours ago, thankfully i checked on him so at least he wasnt alone for his last hour and (i think) was still enjoying some snuggles.
he was already very sick but im guessing a stroke took him in the end as he couldnt move his legs or head but im hoping it was more distressing for me than it was for him.
onionpowder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2019, 02:51 PM   #7
alpacassei
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
alpacassei's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Cornwall, UK
Posts: 1,109
Default Re: Kidney failure, Diabetes or just old age?

Im so sorry for your loss, sleep well little hammie x
__________________
<3 Sunflower Custard, Bigfoot, Petal, Stormy, Flurry, Vanilla <3
___________
Angel hamsters: Francisco, Marcello, Peppermint, Mishka, Stephano, Sundae, Peach <3
alpacassei is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
vet, hamster, skinny, age, experience, bloody, pee, behaviour, similar, full, change, diluted, load, harmless, blood, hoping, turned, peed, back, bring, active, pain, affectionate, posting, happened

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:56 AM.