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Old 02-12-2020, 11:28 AM   #1
MaryRobinson
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Default Do hamsters go senile?

Hi everyone,

So Mimi has been with us for almost 9 months. She was a rescue so I've no idea of her age but hoped I might at least get a year with her. She is still looking glossy and not threadbare, however she has lost a little weight and is now sleeping an awful lot - she won't come out until about 11.30 pm when before she would come out by 8.30. When she is out she still darts about and uses her wheel but tires more quickly.

In the last week, because I work from home and am in the same room as her, I"ve noticed that when she comes out periodically in the day for a pee and a drink, she's a bit... dopey? She has tried to get into her sand bath where she wees from the other side of the bendy bridge over it, which she never did before - this is a weird route which involves pushing the body bridge out the way! Also she seems sometimes to have forgotten how to use her water bottle and instead just bites it. I've made sure she gets a water bowl too these days and she seems to prefer this but often takes a really odd route to it, clambering up over her house and hauling herself over a divider rather than the easy path up to it!?

She's eating well and otherwise seems fine - not walking weirdly or anything which would indicate pain or a brain issue like falling to one side. Can hamsters get - well, a bit senile in old age? I'm not sure whether this is the hamster equivalent of grandma forgetting her glasses are on her head, or whether to be worried? Mimi has always been a bit mad and kooky (she used to shimmy up the back of my desk, onto the windowsill and stare at the moonl!) so perhaps this is just an extension of that?

To be fair, I don't need much of an excuse to worry about Mimi.. I've kinda been psyching myself up for her passing ever since I got her, since I didn't know her age, but against my better judgement I'm now besotted with the little bean!
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Old 02-12-2020, 11:38 AM   #2
Vierville
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

They really do creep into our hearts. I can relate to that!

I can only speak for my little Admiral Lord Nelson, who was also a rescue and of undetermined age when he passed away. He did slow down a bit and began sleeping more, he seemed a bit 'doddery' in his cage, pottering around but without much urgency or aim. He still ate well until the day he passed away but he did seem a bit vacant or slow as he got older.

Just give Mimi all the love you can and maybe remove anything in her cage that she could injure herself on such as high shelves, put her food and water closer to her house and try to make her elderly days as loving and comfortable and gentle as possible.
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Old 02-12-2020, 11:58 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

I am not sure about senile exactly - as in slightly losing their marbles, but I think they start to get worn out in old age and possibly unwell in some way as organs start to fail. It may just be all a lot of effort and hence her not doing some things the same or forgetting how to do them. Distracted by tiredness possibly. I suppose it is possibly for their brain to start failing. How does she interact with you? Does she still know you?

Very sad - it sounds like she is ageing and slowing down.
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Old 02-13-2020, 02:45 AM   #4
MaryRobinson
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Talking Re: Do hamsters go senile?

Do you know - I think Mimi was a mind-reader... I read the comments and had to agree that yes, she's slowing down...

Then at 11pm I gave her her treats and cleaned her sand pit when suddenly - I didn't even see her get up there - there was a rattling on the lid of her detour and she was standing on her little corner hide doing the thing she used to to say, 'lemme out for play time!' So I let her out and she whizzed around like nothing had changed; even had a climb up the back of the desk (with my hands underneath her of course) like she used to!

So she may be sleeping in later but she's still got some juice in the batteries!

Don't we worry!? She even climbed all over me as normal and made her little "mip!" sounds as she did so (I like to think they mean "I love you!" but they probably just mean "have you got treats?!"
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Old 02-13-2020, 02:47 AM   #5
MaryRobinson
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

Admiral Lord Nelson is the cutest name ever! Yes, I've banked up all her substrate so she has easy access to everything; no high shelves as she's in a detolf. And her wheel was being well-used last night at least so she's still getting exercise... Phew!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vierville View Post
They really do creep into our hearts. I can relate to that!

I can only speak for my little Admiral Lord Nelson, who was also a rescue and of undetermined age when he passed away. He did slow down a bit and began sleeping more, he seemed a bit 'doddery' in his cage, pottering around but without much urgency or aim. He still ate well until the day he passed away but he did seem a bit vacant or slow as he got older.

Just give Mimi all the love you can and maybe remove anything in her cage that she could injure herself on such as high shelves, put her food and water closer to her house and try to make her elderly days as loving and comfortable and gentle as possible.
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Old 02-13-2020, 02:49 AM   #6
MaryRobinson
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

I am clearly a worry-wort! Absolutely; she still makes her "mip" sound to say hello and is still gentle and likes a bit of a stroke. Definitely not vacant or scared. Maybe getting just a tad dotty in her twilight years!

If only they went on for just a few years longer... KikoCHiya on Insta lasted almost three years but even that isn't long...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I am not sure about senile exactly - as in slightly losing their marbles, but I think they start to get worn out in old age and possibly unwell in some way as organs start to fail. It may just be all a lot of effort and hence her not doing some things the same or forgetting how to do them. Distracted by tiredness possibly. I suppose it is possibly for their brain to start failing. How does she interact with you? Does she still know you?

Very sad - it sounds like she is ageing and slowing down.
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Old 02-13-2020, 02:51 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

Glad to hear she is back to normal I've found in the past they often like to do their own thing for 2 or 3 days and then want to come out. Maybe as they get older they just want to sleep for 2 or 3 days and then come out!
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Old 02-13-2020, 04:59 AM   #8
Vierville
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
Glad to hear she is back to normal I've found in the past they often like to do their own thing for 2 or 3 days and then want to come out. Maybe as they get older they just want to sleep for 2 or 3 days and then come out!
Sometimes I feel like sleeping for 2 or 3 days is a great idea!
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Old 02-13-2020, 07:05 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

Me too haha.
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Old 02-14-2020, 12:47 AM   #10
MaryRobinson
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Default Re: Do hamsters go senile?

I could quite happily sleep for three days!!

She was very quiet last night and stayed in bed. I guess I just gave to get used to her energy being far less predictable than when she was little. Enjoying each day I get with her
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