Is this normal for old age or something to be worried about? - Page 3

cypher · 12-28-2015, 06:17 AM

I think you did absolutely the right thing, I see it as part of our responsibility as a ham owner to ensure they don't suffer needlessly when there is little or no hope of a good recovery from what's wrong with them, even with that certainty it's not an easy decision to make but you did the bravest & kindest thing, I always feel that sometimes having them PTS is the only gift we have left to give them.
I'm glad you had a chance to say your goodbyes & have no doubt he knew just how much you love him.

katjacks · 12-28-2015, 07:09 AM

Racinghamster- sorry about Scooby, no not my only or first, I have 2 now both syrians male and female, I have had hamsters for 10 years now but treat them as my babies as I cannot have kids, this is the worse thing I have had to see them go through in all the time I have had them, it is hard to put in words exactly how bad he was but it was so sad to see what happened and him struggling to move at all x

katjacks · 12-28-2015, 07:12 AM

Thanks Cypher, I could not stay in the room while she did it due to my mental health I could not have handled it but she said he went really quick and it was as if he was ready to go and that if I did not do that then he would likely have not lasted the night. Good job I had vets funds set by too as it was £100 and if I did not have it then the poor thing would have died anyway but been kept in pain

racinghamster · 12-28-2015, 08:38 AM

katjacks, you went that extra mile for Max and no doubt he would have felt immediate relief. It`s absolutely hellish to lose them. Especially, as you say, they are like adopted kids to us. The knowing that we give them love and happiness in what might otherwise been wasted life as a kids pet, can only feel satisfying for you.

£100 is a bit steep, but I once paid something like £65 to an emergency vet on a Sunday and my Chinese hamster still passed away the next morning. But money means nothing when it comes to being the best owner you can be. I was in a similar situation with Prinny as she was frantic and couldn`t pass urine, which is an emergency. Low and behold, what did I get? A syringe of Baytril and a, "I`ll send a fax to you own vet to say you came in"..... nothing about further investigations or try to relieve her obvious discomfort. So in many ways, I felt rather fobbed off. Not to say angry. x

Nancy's Hamsters · 12-28-2015, 10:59 AM

I say you deserve a huge Cyber group Hug. It is never easy to say good-bye to a beloved pet who is asking you to help. Max couldn't say in our language what he wanted but your heart could see and understand what he needed and you gave him a most beautiful gift a final one for this world which very successfully helped him feel safe and warm and in no more pain. You did a good thing for him not a bad one. You spared Max a long and horrible ending by allowing his body to rest. Most Vets sedate the Hamster before giving the euthanasia meds and this allows the Hamster to calmly fall into a deep and pain free sleep. The euthanasia medication simply causes the heart to stop quickly and thus painlessly for the already sound asleep Hamster.

katjacks · 12-28-2015, 11:37 AM

I could not get to the vets as did not have a lift so she had to come to my home that is why it cost so much but I do not mind to be honest as he really needed help. Thank's Nancy's unfortunately he did not have the sedation as to be honest he was totally out of it and did not have a clue what was going on anyway, we had to act fast and there was no time really for us to get him to the vets and it would likely have stressed him out even more, I feel awful now you have said this as I am worried he died in pain from it now but there was absolutely no option, he just went straight to sleep though so do not think it was a horrible death or he was in pain or stressed/ in distress, he fell calmy into a deep sleep anyway I think that is why she got the impression that he was ready to go already, usually if you take them into the vet's they do it the way you explained.

Nancy's Hamsters · 12-28-2015, 12:51 PM

Since he fell into a deep sleep it was still like he was sedated first so I still feel it was not painful at all and actually for him peaceful. With him falling a sleep it means he was calm and at peace and was indeed ready to go on to his new adventures at the bridge.

Remember the anesthesia in low dose is a sedative so he did still get that before the full dose which stops his heart with no pain.

katjacks · 12-28-2015, 01:00 PM

I have had a hamster put to sleep before but it was actually at the vet's so this is all totally new to me and I just had to go with what the vet thought best for him as I just wanted the best, there was no stress from him though and it was really quick, gosh I am missing him tonight, even though I have another two hamsters it is certainly not the same around here cause I let them out seperately obviously lol every morning and ever night for free roam, I suppose I will get used to it though over time, hope he is enjoying playing up in rainbow bridge.

flowerfairy · 12-28-2015, 01:30 PM

Having the vet come to the house is much less stressful. RIP Max.

katjacks · 12-28-2015, 01:35 PM

Yes I agree as he was scared of the vet's and drew blood from the vet last week but this vet he went to bite her when she was checking him but got hold of the stethoscope and would not let go but I cuddled him and said bye etc, and when she went to put him to sleep he did not try and bite her or anything and was really calm so he cannot have been stressed at all. Thanks flowerfairy