Going of old age?

[Christiane]

Hey all,

this is regarding my syrian hamster Noah, who's currently coming onto 2 years 6 months. The only ailment he's had in his life was a bout of diahorrea summer last year, which got sorted out by the vet with an antibiotic. Healthwise he's been fine since. In the winter he got up later, which seems the case with all my hamsters, in summer it's around 8, in winter down to 12. However, a couple of weeks ago he seemed to decide that the winter was over and from one day to the next got up at nine and wanted to come out. That lasted for a bit, and he was very active. Then a few days ago he seemed to not get up anymore (at least when i was awake), he was sleepy, i put a bit of woodchip in his wheel to check whether he was getting up later in the night but it was still there in the morning and he hadn't. I usually check them through in the morning, when i feed them, i take them out their attic rooms (they both got HHs), check them and then put them down to where the food and water is, they have a drink, gather some food, and go back up to bed. So i did that yesterday, and he was fine, then yesterday evening i realised if he's not making it down anymore, i better take him out again so he can have a drink. Which he did, but he was really wobbly on his feet, yes, like about to go, and he couldn't find the entrance to his tube anymore (as he's older also his eyes are closed some of the time), and came to me for help, so i helped him up to his nest. I honestly thought he wasn't going to make it through the night, and it seemed to have come on pretty sudden, and not, a specific problem, but just like, old age, fading. Then this morning, he was still there, normal, in his nest, i took him out, as usual, at first he was fine, but then he became really hectic and erratic, i put him back and he ran/ wobbled around the cage like mad, then hid in the corner... i really thought that was it, and i rang my vet, to also check with them what was the best course of action, and they said too it sounded like old age and best was to make him as comfy as possible. Well, in that state, and if he was going, i didn't want to drag him down there, but leave him in peace, in his own, known, surroundings. Then funnily enough, about half an hour later, he seemd to shake himself up, he came up to his platform, had a long drink, gathered some food, and went back upstairs. Where he's been all day, curled up in his nest as usual, nibbling food now and again. I went out for a couple of hours and when i came back, i checked on him, and he stuck his nose out and said hello, normal, just sleepy (eyes closed). So i can't really figure out what's going on here, one minute it seems he's definitely not gonna make it through the next couple of hours, the next he gathers food and drinks and makes it upstairs like normal. I don't know, i even thought, maybe he went into some kind of hybernation, and i shocked him this morning. However, current plan is, if he seems alright enough in the morning, to take him down to the vet for checking.

Any input appreciated!

Hope you're all well

xxx

[Christiane]

Since i wrote the above i checked on him again, well he was awake anyway, and i thought it's a good time to take him down to his platform so he can get some water and gather some food.. he was totally fine and normal with me now, had a long drink, gathered food, and went back upstairs to his nest (i tried settling him downstairs to make it easier for him, but he won't have it, his nest, home, is in the attic), but he is, definitely wobbly on his feet, like an old grandpa, he doesn't seem in pain, so at the moment i think maybe the best is, to leave him (apart from taking him to food and drink 2ice a day), and, as the vet said, make him as comfy as possible.

[anorak]

Bless Noah. Just look after him in his old age and make him as comfy as possible. Good to see he is a grumpy old man and wants his nest where he wants it! Give him a cuddle from me and Noodles!

[Christiane]

Aw, thank you ! I think he's very comfy snuggled up at the moment and he gets lots of love.

[anorak]

Good, I am glad he gets lots of love! I hope that he will be ok, sweet little old man!

[princess-rhi89]

Awww bless him, he sounds alot like kizzi, hes getting to look old now too, best thing as noodles says is to keep him comfy and warm.
Sending lots of love from me, Maisie, Oscar, Lizzie and Kizzi xxx

[Hope]

Bless him poor little chap

Have you considered taking away his tubes, attic house and shelf? to make the cage all one level? He may be a little confuesed at first but in the long run it might be easier for him to negotiate as it sounds like he can get a bit disorientated. I know that you said that he loved his little attic house though - could you put this on the floor inside the cage, so that it is still the same, just in a different place? Maybe move his food and water closer to him aswell so that he doesnt have as far to go.

I hope he will be ok for a while yet, and that all goes well at the vets

[souffle]

He could have had a slight stroke which caused his behaviour to change a bit. He sounds to have picked up though.
Hammies also can suffer from arthritis and they don't really understand why they hurt so this can make them skitty.
If he is struggling with the house and tubes I would also say it needs removed as it is not good if he is not drinking when he needs to.
Feel him tummy and make sure it is not swollen and check for any signs of constipation or problems with weeing. Older hams do sleep a lot more so he is maybe just winding down a bit now.
Hope he stays chirpy for a good while longer.

[Christiane]

Aw, thank you guys.

Yeah i took him down to have water and food 3 times yesterday, morning, early evening, late at night, he seemed alright getting up through the tube again by himself, then this morning i had a pleasant surprise, he was awake and shovelling around in his house, both eyes open and clear, i checked him through (his tummy seems normal, flat), he seemed fine, his wee and his droppings are also okay, he does drink and gather food when he gets to the food corner, and he doesn't seem to be in any pain. Actually he seems pretty normal apart from not being very active, being a bit wobbly on his feet (like a balance thing) and for some reason not going down (which, if he can make it up through the tube no problem, it seems strange if he couldn't make it down). Oh and he's totally fine and normal with me and being handled again. That was just a one off yesterday morning, i must have startled him somehow. I think it might be right what you say, souffle, that he might have had a slight stroke, and is weakened and a bit wobbly and disorientated in the course of it. Well, it certainly seems today that he's not going anywhere in a hurry- horray!!! I have taken your advice, took the tube away, and put his attic house on the platform (taking the pavilion down as well), so he's close to his food and water. At the moment he's very confused, running around, and trying to get into the closed off tube! I'm sure he'll get it eventually and settle down, and it's better for him in the long run, so he can keep autonomous (a disabled- friendly house so to speak!). Good to see him so awake and active though!

Thanks so much again guys!



xxx

[Gillzy]

Glad Noah's feeling a bit better.