hamster not very well

[sop]

Hi there, I need some urgent advice please.

My hamster is 21 months old and up till 5 week ago she was happy as she could be.

The symptoms at first was sleeping longer than usual and her ears being clearly back saying she wasn't happy and then after a couple weeks she started nibbling me, another sign of being unwell. I then noticed she had lost some hair around her neck and the rest of her skin looked very dry. I took her to the vets and they gave me mite treatment (it was a guess on there part) but this has not made any difference to her well being. Its been a week now and she will only wake up when I call her but even then she seems unbalanced and unhappy.

She is still eating and drinking like normal and going to the toilet fine.

I have to go to the vets again today to get her checked out but the likely hood is they will want her put down and i just want to feel comforted that it is the best thing for her and that there isn't anything more i can do. Unfortunately my vets are not very clued up on hamsters and its hard to believe she was so healthy and happy and now she is so very ill . .

please help

[BrainGirl]

Hi sop, dry skin is quite common in older hammies, as is sleeping longer. It does sound like she's in some sort of discomfort possibly just the aches and pains of old age but enough to affect her mood. Would it be possible to get a second opinion from a more hamster savvy vet? I know that some people give their senior hams a bit of fish oil or other healthy fats to improve the condition of their skin. Might help her feel more comfortable!

[cypher]

Hi sop, sorry to hear your ham is so unwell.
As BG said dry skin, a little hair loss & sleeping more are common as hams age & some adjustment or additions to her diet could help with that but when you say she's unbalanced I wonder if there is something more going on, even a small stroke which again isn't uncommon in older hamsters.
If you could take her to a vet who knows more about hams that would be the best thing but if not you know your ham best & if she seems really unwell & unhappy & you can't help her with any kind of treatment then you'll know if putting her to sleep is the best thing.
They do often go downhill remarkably quickly so don't feel that you haven't done enough.
It's always a very hard decision but if you do have to remember it can often be the kindest thing we do & it shows how much we love them, it sounds as though she's much loved & well cared for, try to take comfort in that.

[fluffymunchkins]

Hi there sop,
Its a good idea to keep her under close observation at the age she is, it does sound like most of her symptoms are down to her old age.
I've found it really beneficial to introduce soft foods like baby food or porridge for older hamsters. It can help if they have teeth problems, or even just perk them up a little.

Wishing her the best, I hope she improves soon x

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi Sop and Welcome to HC. It's never easy when our hams get older and start slowing down.
Baby food and porridge are great treats and hams love them.
How did you get on at the vet?

[Vicki S]

Sorry to here about your wee hammy have you tried coconut oil the edible kind I swear by it for animals my dog has had allergic reactions causing hair loss which it has brought the hair back for her worth a try as long as it's hamster safe I'm sure someone on here would know but if so I'd say anything a worth a go 4 helping wee furries