Is this normal for old age or something to be worried about?

[katjacks]

I am using the finacard cardboard stuff for his substrate then using the bedding that finacard sell which is ripped up white toilet paper basically, on top of the finacard in his bed, both from finacard, I have used this for years now and never had an issue with any of my hamsters and I am using it for Roxy and Phoenix and they are warm enough too, like I say though I have just got a heat pad so going to put that under half the cage too as soon as it comes x

[katjacks]

Not sure how to put links on here but will try and if it is wrong I apologise

http://finacard.co.uk/index.php?main...1bca04c279917f

[SugarFairy123]

I do not know what happened to the poor little guy but my prayers will be with him ....

[lady jocardi]

Going through the same with my girl Jocardi at the moment to. Vets are not open until Tuesday after the hols. I'm praying she's still with us then. Hope your little one improves soon xx

[Nancy's Hamsters]

It could be he is off balance on Blood sugars. A Hamster with low blood sugar will do all that you described in your Opening post, Unsteady and very shaky, and will have trouble with body heat as well. They also tend to be confused and disoriented. Best solution is a drop or two of Raw honey desolved in warm water and using a dropper let him lick about 2 to 3ccs. Wait at least 20 minutes before offering 2 to 3 more ccs and no more then a total of 6 ccs. If it is low blood sugar you should see a change in his behavior after the first 3 ccs is drank. If he is too weak to lick be very careful in placing it in his mouth to avoid him aspirating the liquid into his lungs and causing more issues for him.

I just had my oldest girl here a sassy Black Tort Dominant Spot Frieda have low blood sugar and she really looked like she was leaving me, but after just 2cc's of warm honey water she was back to drinking and eating and just 24 hours later was back to her normal saucer running self. She is 2 years and 3 months old and is back at her saucer each night.

[katjacks]

Unfortunately Max died last night. He went seriously down hill and could hardly pick himself up off the ground, he was in a lot of pain and a really bad way. I rang emergency vet and it was neurological problems, highly likely brain tumour. I am laid in bed crying while writing this as it was so awful to see it happening.

[cypher]

I'm so very sorry katjacks *hugs* it's always a relief to know they are no longer suffering & at peace but that doesn't make the loss of a much loved ham any easier, I know how much you must be missing him.

Run free now Max & play well at the bridge.

[racinghamster]

Just saw this katjacks, I`m so sorry to hear Max passed. From the symptoms you described he didn`t sound well at all and usually things can swing either way. Take heart that he`s not in any pain now and you done your very best. So don`t dwell on that. It`s a rotten time of the year for any of our hamsters to be ill or passing. Remember the good times. x

[katjacks]

Thank you both of you, He was so ill last night and I could not bare to see it, I am sure now that he was having mini strokes, that is the worse thing I have had to see any of my pets go through and it was heartbreaking. Thing is he was trying to carry on and do things normally but he could not walk last night he was crawling, tried to get up his ramp but his body would not let him and he was literally shaking over and over, he tried to bite the vet and luckily got the stethoscope but he would not let go of it and when she put him down gently his legs would not go right and she was able to gently pull at his leg without him responding at all, I chose to have him put out of his pain, I know a lot of people do not agree with putting animals to sleep but I do not agree with leaving them in that much agony, I got to say goodbye to him properly as he totally cuddled in to me. I miss him already x

[racinghamster]

If in any doubt, it`s always better to see your vet about letting them go because we can`t honestly say they are not in discomfort. To date, I`ve only had to put one of my hamsters to sleep, a Russian dwarf called Scooby. He was rolling over and over and his eyes were stuck fast. It all happened so fast and I found myself at the vets making `that` decision because I knew would be back there within a week if I decided to go for the medication option given the behaviour he was showing. So no, don`t feel guilty at all about euthansing when it`s absolutely the right choice.

Was Max your only hamster katkacks? x