Hamster not drinking?!

Fidgetthefirst · 12-26-2009, 01:58 AM

My hamster is almost 2, and you can see he's old just by looking at his fur, he barley eats, and for the past two days he hasnt even walked out of his little house in the cage. ( in the day not even to have a drink, go the toilet etc. ) But im really worried because yesterday i needed to know for sure if her was drinking. So i got a paint pen and put a line where the top of the water was. (at about 3pm) And a few hours later, i checked, he hadnt even had a sip. I checked last night, nope, and this mornning still. Fidge usually drinks, and he has up until 3ish days ago. The vet said to me, if he goes down hill again bring him back in. I dont want him to suffer. Is there anything i can do to help him drink and eat?

souffle · 12-26-2009, 08:41 AM

Offer the water on a teaspoon and see if he will lap it or maybe give a little bit of cucumber.
It sounds as if he is getting ready to take is steps to the bridge if he is unwilling to eat or drink and if you can get to a vet to have him looked at I would do that though sometimes with a peaceful very old hamster would would leave him to pass in warmth and security of his own bed if we were sure he was not in any pain.

Fidgetthefirst · 12-26-2009, 12:31 PM

Thanks, just wondering, what if he doesnt drink or eat though how long will he last without water?

Fidgetthefirst · 12-26-2009, 12:47 PM

Alright - he took the cucumber but sadly refused the water. I thought maybe he just didnt like his food, but then i realised he was off his favourite egg biscuits, fruit stick, sweet corn sticks. I'm really worried. But then i thought maybe it was his new cage. But i dont think i is. Because i got it 3 weeks ago? 2? Something like that and he was eating not as good, but he was still eating and drinking. Shall i just continue to give him bits of cucumber?

suga · 12-27-2009, 01:13 AM

I would keep giving him the peices of cucumber. Remember to take the old peices out when replacing. You could keep trying the spoon as well.

Fidgetthefirst · 12-27-2009, 02:34 AM

Last night he refused the cucumber, and the water. and when i got back home he had mucusy stuff over his eyes, like he couldnt open them, i got him out of his house and he opened them but he still had th stuff on his eyelashes and he has now got to black lines coming from his eyes - wether there eyelashes (there quite long the lines are) that have been stuck down with the mucusy stuff i dont no, because its a black line at the top of the eye and bottom - its hard to explain on here.

suga · 12-27-2009, 10:44 AM

Sounds like he could possibly do with a trip to the vet. Is he still responding to his name?

Fidgetthefirst · 12-27-2009, 11:38 AM

No not really, he seems almost deaf. And usually when im approching his cageill speak softly s i dont scare him, but i do seem to scrae him now, i dont think hes hearing me properly. Doesnt it sound like hes going to go soon. He spends all day in bed, doesnt come out to get a drink, food, exercise? Should i encourage more excercise? Or just leave him to it?

souffle · 12-27-2009, 02:13 PM

I'd just leave him for now. You need to see a vet with him as soon as they open up as he needs a hand on his path to the bridge if he cannot cross alone and he sounds like a very porrly hamster now. Don't stress him too much and leave him warm and quiet and see what the morning brings. If he is still here then make an urgent appointment.
I am sorry he has taken ill. It is not the cage it is just his time I think.

Fidgetthefirst · 12-27-2009, 02:33 PM

thanks, its a shame really, i didnt really bond with him. And i know its not the best of lives just.. sleeping is it, every night i go to bed thinking next morning he wont wake.