Should i put down my hamster?

Selma · 08-13-2020, 05:32 PM

Hey guys

So i have an elderly hamster who is quite frail and sick. I have refrained from taking him to the vet as he is 2 years and 8 months and i don't think the added stress from a vet visit is going to do him any good. I am also moving out in a little over a week which would mean that he would be in the care of my parents. The problem is that my parents can nor wish to get educated on his proper care and i fear he might get neglected. Because of this i have been thinking about putting him down as he is most likely not going to be around much longer and i would like to be here during his passing. In an ideal situation i would have done everything to keep him alive and thriving longer, but as things are now i'm a bit unsure, I would love to hear your guys' thought as it is an extremely hard decision to make as you can imagine.

Pebbles82 · 08-13-2020, 06:50 PM

It is always a very hard decision and it usually comes down to whether or not the hamster is suffering. He is very old at 2 years and 8 months. But some hamsters live till the age of 3 or even a bit longer, without actually being ill or suffering.

That is what needs to be your guide. If he is still pottering around and enjoying food and doing hamstery things then it would not be good to have him put to sleep because you are no longer there to care for him. Although I completely understand the dilemma of leaving him with your parents. You say you are moving out - could you not take him with you and have him live with you where you're going? Or is it no pets allowed? I assume this is for the start of a new term somewhere - college maybe? College rooms often allow small pets like hamsters.

Frailty is not necessarily suffering. You say he is sick. In what way is he sick? One way of telling if they are suffering or in pain is - sitting hunched all the time, or ears down all the time. Or you can just tell they are not happy. They may nip as well if in pain when you try and handle them.

Is he eating and drinking? Has he lost weight, have any lumps or swollen belly?

Ria P · 08-13-2020, 11:55 PM

If your hamster is sick you will have to take him to the vet because he may need painkillers to keep him comfortable. Its a bit of a misconception to think that a hamster gets stressed out by a visit to the vet. I have recently taken my hamster twice, put a spare house, bedding and some food in a large transport box and he was fine.
If the vet thinks that your hamster is not suffering and if you think that he is not suffering and has enough quality of life left to live a few more months then it wouldn't be right to pts him in my opinion.
If you really can't take him with you and i guess that there must be a valid reason for that or you would take him and leaving him with your parents is not an option because he wouldn't be cared for, then you have to find a good rescue to take him in and let him live out his life in the way he deserves.

Pebbles82 · 08-14-2020, 10:02 AM

I was wondering about rehoming or a rescue as well. It has often been said on here that a vet visit for a hamster can be stressful - and it can be - especially if they are very old. Some hamsters might handle it better than others. If a hamster is old and suffering there is very little a vet can do. But yes pain medication is one thing although as I found out, it isn't enough if they have cancer. Metacam isn't nearly enough to relieve the pain. But often we don't know what their diagnosis is and it is more a case of when they are very old and starting to suffer, that their quality of life is such that helping them on their way is the kindest thing. And with ageing all the organs start to fail so even a vet doesn't really know what is the cause of the suffering - unless they do tests etc and that is when it is unfair on an old unwell hamster.

A vet visit will let you know though, whether the hamster is suffering to the point of needing to be helped on his way. Most owners can tell. Or whether it is something metacam can help with. However I have also been refused Metacam for an ageing hamster due to it becoming toxic to their kidneys when their kidneys are starting to fail.

It might help us if you could explain in what way he seems sick. There is no cure really for a very elderly hamster - it is just about keeping them comfortable - or - if they are suffering a lot, to decide to help them on their way.

Just not sure in what way he is sick? If he is just old and doddery but doing normal hamstery things then he deserves to live out his life.

Selma · 08-14-2020, 02:41 PM

Hello thanks for all the replies

I suspect he might be suffering from upper respiratory infection as his eyes are very groggy and he tends to cough a bit. He has had this cough for a little while now, but he is still eating and drinking as normal. I can tell that he is in some kind of pain, but he is still walking around his cage and acting for the most part as normal just sleeping a lot more. I can sadly not take him with me as the place i'm moving to is only for a year, and it doesn't allow any form of pets in the room. I am also a bit unsure as to which rescues would take him as i live live Norway and hamster rescues aren't exactly the most common thing here. Our vets also aren't super experienced with hamsters as last time i took one of my hamsters in they just kinda laughed and her treatment didn't really work. This is also one of the reasons as to why i don't really trust our vets here when it comes to treating hamsters. My parents have also been talking about putting him down regardless of i want or not as they really do not wish to take care of him. I'm sure i can convince them if i have to, but then again i don't think they will give him the proper care that he deserves.

Maker · 08-14-2020, 02:57 PM

I would move into the place, then move in my hamster, how would they know if you had him in there? I imagine they would do an inspection after 6 months when you could just hide him somewhere, a friend's place or your parents for a couple of days. I know it's breaking the rules but that's just what I would do

Selma · 08-14-2020, 03:51 PM

Well this school is kinda different from say an american college. I live with a roommate and they hold inspections every week or so. The room is also extremely small so fitting all of my personal belongings as well as his stuff and my roomate's things just isn't really an option. It's also a 5 hour drive away which again can be really stressful for his old body.

Pebbles82 · 08-14-2020, 07:05 PM

It does sound like he is in his twilight time if he has a cough. Sticky eyes are common when they are older and not really a sign of illness. Have you tried googling exotic vets in your area? They know more about hamsters. The timing is difficult. They also do sleep more when they’re older. It sounds like he could do to see a vet if he has a cough. They can get upper respiratory infections or it may be a heart issue. Our last Syrian went on for a few months with shortness of breath and swelling before it was his time. Maybe take him to a vet for a check over and to see about the cough. They can assess him generally. But you do need to find a good vet if possible. They may also know of somewhere that could look after him.

This is a very difficult situation as it is the time when he doesn’t really need a lot of changes. Could your parents be persuaded to care for him. They don’t take a lot of looking after at this stage - just food and water putting out and avoid cleaning out too often to avoid stressing them. You could maybe ask them as a favour .

Ria P · 08-15-2020, 05:56 AM

If your hamster has an infection a course of antibiotics may cure it. Don't be put off because a vet laughed off treating a hamster, just ask to see another vet.

I've recently seen a vet who refused to give my hamster the treatment he needed so i went and saw another vet who immediately prescribed the correct treatment and my hamster recovered.

Do you have the equivalent of the RSPCA in Norway? It's an organisation that deals with animal welfare. I would google rescue and rehoming services in your area. There must be some. People often advertise in the small ads and websites that deal with animal adoption. You could also ask in pet shops where they sell hamsters. They may be able to put you in touch with somebody.

First of all your hamster needs to be assessed by a vet to find out how sick he is and if treatment would be available. What you don't want is for your hamster to be in pain or discomfort.
I feel so sorry for your hamster facing an uncertain future in his old age and i can't help thinking that there are people who would be willing to take on an old hamster to let him live out his days in comfort.

Selma · 08-15-2020, 07:00 AM

Thank you for all the tips and responses.
There is an exotic vet nearby, but they are on break and don't open up again until the 25. august which wont work since i leave the 22. There are some very small local rescues in Norway, but i highly doubt they will take in such and old and sick hamster. Sadly hamsters aren't as appreciated as pets like cats and dogs are, and most people will just tell me to put him down or leave him be. I'm thinking about bringing him to a local vet to hear what they have to say, but just a simple assessment is going to cost up to a hundred dollars and chances are any form of treatment might not even work since he is so old. I could try to persuade my parents to take care of him, but they are so forgetful that they sometimes forget to just give him water when i'm not home. To trust them with taking care of cleaning his cage, giving him food etc is extremely scary for me. I'm also scared that they might just go behind my back and put him down without my consent as it's really only me who truly cares about this hamster in my household.