Please help- old age or poorly ham?

[Lozz]

Hi everyone,
I really hope someone can give me some advice :/
My dwarf ham Gus Gus has recently become very withdrawn, very quickly. Over what seems to be a matter of days he has gone from spending every night in his wheel to barely leaving his bed except to eat (or make another nest somewhere in his cage). He still let's me stroke him and pokes his nose through the bars when I'm watching him eat, but when I get him out to play he just seems to be trying to find somewhere to sleep.

Recently he developed what the vet thinks is a cataract, although over the past couple of days I have noticed him squinting it when he wakes up, and he has started to pee on plastic parts of his cage (e.g. his tubes, platforms and ladders rather than his usual corner) and I have no idea why. Because of problems with his teeth he is fed Harry Hamster and P@H complete nuggets that have been soaked and mashed, as well as shelled sunflower seeds and Burgess Dwarf Hamster mix (I'm not convinced he can actually chew these but if he doesn't have something to pouch he starts to store his poop which has given him thrush around his mouth in the past).

During his last trip to the vets she said she felt a lump in his tummy but it could be nothing. He has lost a small amount of weight and he has now lived with me for 18 months (because he was a rescue I'm unsure of his age when I adopted him, but I was told he was.approximately 4 months).

Common sense is telling me this could be old age but I don't want to give up on him until I've done everything I can, and am unsure of whether to let him rest for a few days or take him back to the vets. I've read about diabetes and CRF and am wondering if it could be either of these? I don't know if he is just sleepy of if he is suffereing, and at what point does it become kindest to take him to be PTS?

Thank you x

[CMB]

He could be sleeping more because it's getting colder. But I think a vet trip is best.

I would ask the vet questions. To help you decide wether to try to treat the problem or have hike PTS.

[Pebbles82]

It could be the cold affecting him as CMB says - you could try leaving heating on overnight in the room he is in (if you don't already). If that makes a difference in a day or two it could still be worth a vet visit in case there is something that can be done about his teeth to help him eat better. Our Syrian lost weight rapidly at two years old and had his teeth clipped at the vet - he could eat hard food and chews again after that.

So yes some of it probably is old age but if he still eats and drinks, a few things could help his old age be more enjoyable and him go in his own time. We've just moved to a house that is colder and draughtier than the previous one and even with an oil filled heater on all night our old Syrian was still affected by the cold, taking 6 sheets of torn up toilet paper every night. I've now got a snugglesafe heat pad attached to the side of the cage at night as well - near the nest area, and a fleece blanket over the top and sides to cut draughts down - and he's now using his wheel again.

I would give it two or three days and some extra warmth and loads of bedding material and then see how he is. Maybe supplementing his food a bit might help as well. A bit of baby food, some porridge or scrambled egg and other soft nutritious foods. They seem to enjoy them and it makes life nice and interesting! Charlie's favourite is the Cow and Gate 4 months pumpkin and chicken.