Potential end of life care

rowan22 · 09-01-2020, 03:42 PM

Hi,
My hamster has been losing fur since around February and went completely bald. She was acting relatively normal (eating, drinking, running around) until this week and I noticed she doesn’t come out of her bed anymore. I go to bed around midnight every night and she is asleep, and I don’t hear her at all through the night. I get up for work at 6.50 and she is asleep again. I have seen her eating and drinking over the last 24 hours so she is waking occasionally but is nowhere near as active as she was 2 weeks ago. I picked her up on Sunday afternoon and she was quite cold to the touch but she can still walk and is not wobbly - just very slow.

She is almost 2. Her skin condition is undiagnosed (treated for mites, gave linseed, nothing changed) but that’s been going on for 6 months so I don’t think it’s cushings as she surely wouldn’t have lasted this long? Due to her age and my vet being around a 40 minute walk away (don’t have a car) I don’t want to stress her out by going to the vets just for them to say they can’t do anything to help her.

I was wondering if I am doing the right thing. I don’t think she is ready to be pts yet but I am monitoring her closely. I feel like taking her to the vets might do more harm than good, especially given the fact that she is so old. Having said that, I do not want to put off going to the vets if there was something they could do to help her. I will also take her to the vets to be pts if it comes to that as I don’t want her to suffer at all.

My main question here is - is it worth taking to the vets, potentially stressing/scaring her, or is it best to just make her as comfortable as possible in what may potentially be her last week or so? (Hoping this is not her last week but also being realistic)

cypher · 09-01-2020, 10:40 PM

I’m sorry to hear this, I know how difficult it can be when they’re reaching the end of their life to know if or when it’s time to help them on their way.
Usually if they’re still eating & drinking & not showing any signs of pain that you can see it’s ok to let them carry on, they do tend to mostly just eat & sleep toward the end.
How has the temperature been where you are, here the nights have been cold lately, if the temperature in the room where she is kept has fallen that may be a factor, especially as she now has no fur she will need extra warmth.
If you can’t see any actual symptoms & she doesn’t seem to be in pain then taking her to the vet probably wouldn’t be much help, it can be a day to day thing really, just keep monitoring as you are.
Have you tried offering her some different foods, in old age they often enjoy baby foods & porridge & these can help to give them a bit of a boost.
I’m not sure what else to suggest really but I hope she can continue to live out her time comfortably & peacefully.

rowan22 · 09-01-2020, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

I’m sorry to hear this, I know how difficult it can be when they’re reaching the end of their life to know if or when it’s time to help them on their way.
Usually if they’re still eating & drinking & not showing any signs of pain that you can see it’s ok to let them carry on, they do tend to mostly just eat & sleep toward the end.
How has the temperature been where you are, here the nights have been cold lately, if the temperature in the room where she is kept has fallen that may be a factor, especially as she now has no fur she will need extra warmth.
If you can’t see any actual symptoms & she doesn’t seem to be in pain then taking her to the vet probably wouldn’t be much help, it can be a day to day thing really, just keep monitoring as you are.
Have you tried offering her some different foods, in old age they often enjoy baby foods & porridge & these can help to give them a bit of a boost.
I’m not sure what else to suggest really but I hope she can continue to live out her time comfortably & peacefully.

This morning she is not looking great. She doesn’t open her eyes and I know that is one of the signs of pain. Unfortunately I have to go to work now but I am going to get her some eggs and soft baby foods on my way back to see if that will help her. It’s hard to tell whether she is just sleeping or whether she is just lying there in pain - she woke up to eat some mealworms and broccoli and I gave her some water to drink too. When I get back from work I will assess how she’s doing and take it from there, which at this point is all I can do I think - it’s so hard to tell what they actually need

Pebbles82 · 09-02-2020, 01:34 AM

It is hard. It does sound like she is in her twilight time and I agree that a vet visit for a diagnosis won’t achieve much and the only vet visit would probably be if she needed to be helped in her way.

It is a very difficult time as it may be she is close to going or they can go on like this for quite a long time. And the thing then is to decide whether they are suffering. Clear signs of pain are usually sitting hunched, ears down all the time. But as prey animals they are also good at hiding pain.

Keeping her comfortable can include not cleaning her out or disturbing anything in the cage - just putting food and water out. A tiny bit of spot cleaning the pee if absolutely necessary once a week maybe. Giving her soft foods and things she likes.

From what I know if Cushings, it isn’t usually the case that they die of it. More the case that the suffering means they need helping on their way before they die if it.

You will know probably if she needs help. They sometimes give you a sign or you can just tell they’re suffering. See how she is tonight.

Hair loss isn’t necessarily Cushings - it could be other things. Other signs of Cushings are a pot belly and skin sores. Also dark patches of skin pigmentation - but it could be some of these and not all.

But I sometimes think it is not really about the cause at this age but about the quality of life regardless of the cause.

It has turned colder this last week or so and they often start building bigger nests at this time of year as they feel the coolness in the air and the nights drawing in. So as Cypher said - she may be staying in her house more to keep warm. So put a bit extra nesting material out- she may take some. But just in the cage rather than directly in her nest so as not to bother her in her nest. But main thing is to keep the room temperature around 20 degrees.

rowan22 · 09-02-2020, 12:19 PM

Thank you for your kind replies.
I tried to ring the vet this evening to book an appointment for her to be pts but they had no availability.
She came out of her bed to see me when I got back from work and I cuddled her for a while and then she passed away in my arms shortly after. It was quite traumatic but her final breaths only lasted a few seconds and then she was gone. I am just glad she came out to see me and I got to spend those final moments with her. <3

Ria P · 09-02-2020, 12:42 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss but at least she died in your arms and it must have been a great comfort to her to spend her last moments with you. Its almost like she waited for you to come home from work and once you were there with her she was ready to go. She's at peace now and her happy memories will live on.

cypher · 09-02-2020, 12:56 PM

I’m so sorry, it is traumatic but those final moments are so precious I’m glad she came out to be with you & passed peacefully.
She will live on in your heart now.

LunaTheHamster1 · 09-02-2020, 01:02 PM

Rowan22 sorry for your loss, it does sound like she waited to be with you in her last moments.

Chicleteer · 09-02-2020, 05:40 PM

I am so sorry for your loss, rowan22. Those last days of uncertainty are so difficult, especially when you’re not sure what to do. I was in that situation with my sweet little Syrian, trying to decide what to do, but like your situation, mine also ended up passing on while I was holding her. It really felt like a gift to be able to be with her at that final moment. I wish you well, adjusting to life without her.
Run free and play well at the bridge, little one.

Petite · 09-03-2020, 03:01 AM

So sorry for your loss. I'm so glad you got to be with her in her final moments. The fact that she waited for you is a sure sign that she knew she was a well-loved hamster and wanted to see you one more time.
She will meet up with many friends at the bridge.