Slowing down

[merlin]

My dear lovely Arthur is 2 yrs and 3 months old. He is my treasure and my best friend I've ever had. He has been slowing down more and more. Though always an active and energetic ham even in his older years, he started getting sleepier and napping more during his free roam times.

These free roams were a special and magical time for both of us. I would always wake up around 1am when he usually wanted to come out, and I would offer my arm for him to climb out on. Then we would just go around the apartment together until he was ready to go back home, at which point he would just waddle back to his terrarium and hop up back on my hand.

This has been an almost nightly thing for the last 2 years, and for the first time, he has not been out in about 6 days. He appears to not be ill. He is eating reasonably well, though avoiding a lot of his favourites such as veggies and boiled chicken, in favour of softer favourites such as baby food, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. He is drinking and using the bathroom reasonably often, a bit less so. His fur looks healthy and soft, and he appears to be grooming. He just wants to stay in his house all of the time and sleep.

I know that this is the natural course of life, but I feel sad and miss these nightly runs already. I wish I could change the course of time. I made a vet appointment for him this Friday just in case, but also am hesitant to stress him out, if all he wants to do is prepare quietly to make his journey to the rainbow bridge.

I'm looking for advice on whether this behaviour seems to be old age or whether anything acute could have happened to cause him to act this way.

It seems strange to think of my invincible indomitable little golden prince aging and dying, but I take comfort at least in knowing that he had a long and happy life. But I just want one more night, one more night to be with him like we used to and say goodbye, before he sails into the West under that eternal sunset on a far horizon.

[Ria P]

Oh Merlin, the way you write about Arthur is wonderful, touching, poetic and very emotional.

My hamsters aren't a year old yet so i haven't experienced this kind of sadness but being an older person myself i sometimes get a bit sad when i reflect on how short life is.

This kind of thoughts don't achieve anything so i soon go back to my carpe diem mantra and seize the day. Arthur is still with you and because he is a very old hamster man he may no longer have the energy to roam around at night and keep you company so enjoy simply being alive with him. Enjoy the moments you still have together.
He may be preparing for and nearing life beyond or he may just have a toothache.

I'm not sure what i would do, take my hamster to a vet or let him sleep and leave him in peace. I'd probably leave him be unless he shows signs of distress or pain.

A vet visit will rule out any physical ailments though and maybe you need to know that you have done everything possible for him before you are able to let him take his natural path in life.
Could you arrange a home visit from the vet?

Let us know and keep in mind that your Arthur must be so happy to be to living with you.

[LunaTheHamster1]

I can only share my experience with Luna who is currently 22 months old. She slowed down to about 3 hours active this last winter, picked up a bit in spring then slowed down again april/may time. I thought she was just getting old and for a few weeks in may or june i think it was, i was totally convinced she didn't have long left. i was just trying to make sure she was comfortable. Until the morning I woke up when she had blood underneath her, so I swiftly took her to the vets. Until the blood there was no sign that she was ill apart from the slowing down. She is now on baytrill due to her kidneys failing, bus still full of life and picked back up to the 3 hours of activity. I'm not saying that this is the same for you or anyone else out there, but if you have any concerns it's always best to get a vets opinion. Also, I notice people on here worry all the time about the stress of taking a hamster to the vets (as did I) but in all honesty if you can put there house or hide that they sleep in, into a pet carrier or small cage to take to the vets I'm not sure they even know they have left their normal cage most of the time. Your hamster is still eating, drinking and grooming and these are still all good signs.