Should i put down my hamster? - Page 2

LunaTheHamster1 · 08-15-2020, 07:10 AM

Like others have said I do think your hamster needs to see a vets to see if he needs to be on antibiotic if he has a respiratory infection and possibly pain killer.

Reading all your posts I just wonder if you have a friend or a friend of a friend that would be willing to take on the care of your hamster if you explained the situation. I know it can be hard to ask for help sometimes, but it can often be surprising how many people are willing to help us in times of need.

I hope you can find a solution for both you and your hamster.

Pebbles82 · 08-15-2020, 07:20 AM

That is quite a short timescale if you leave on the 22nd. Treatment at this stage is the equivalent of "palliative care" for humans when they have an incurable disease and just the symptoms are treated to keep them comfortable. So treatment would be to prevent suffering rather than to cure anything. Although antibiotics can cure an infection and relieve suffering also. I think in the timescale - see a vet and have an assessment of your hamster (although I appreciate many vets know zilch about hamsters). But also decide where he is to go for rehoming. I would also want to take him with me actually. The long car journey as a one off wouldn't be a huge issue as long as he was in a pet carrier that was securely wedged in somewhere in the car. It could be worth contacting the college and asking for a special dispensation, for a few months, to keep an elderly hamster in your room - you would find the space. I found that when it's a hamster people are more amenable to bending the rules as they think - small thing in a small cage and not a chewy dog or scratchy cat. We have done this before with holiday cottages that say no pets - but when we asked specifically to bring an ageing hamster (thinking he would die if left for a week or two) they were fine about it and don't see it as "pets" exactly.

So write a list!

1) Appointment with vet
2) Email to accommodation officer at college - explaining the details - even if they don't let you keep him in your room they may kindly come up with an alternative place to keep him.
3) Chase up the email in two days time by phone if no reply.
4) When you see the vet - tell them what you want. ie tell them he is still enjoying hamstering but has a cough and can the cough be treated please so he is comfortable in his old age until its his time.

I think many vets will actually advise helping him on his way to be honest due to his age. But only if they think his quality of life is poor and he is suffering and there isn't much else to do. But the decision needs to be based on his condition really, rather than him needing a home.

If that does end up being the case then you can always cancel the arrangements with the college afterwards.

Ria P · 08-15-2020, 07:24 AM

I would definitely get in touch with the rescues which are often privately run and non profit, i volunteer for one of those rescues. Hamsters that are too old to rehome simply stay in the rescue but you would be surprised at the number of people who are willing to take in an old hamster or a hamster with health or other issues. I've done it and would do it again.

If he has an infection then a course of antibiotics should work. My hamster isn't the youngest either and his vet isn't an exotics vet.
Even if you decide to have him put down because you're going off to college and can't find anybody to take good care of him, you would still have to take him to a vet.

Amethyst_ice · 08-15-2020, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

That is quite a short timescale if you leave on the 22nd. Treatment at this stage is the equivalent of "palliative care" for humans when they have an incurable disease and just the symptoms are treated to keep them comfortable. So treatment would be to prevent suffering rather than to cure anything. Although antibiotics can cure an infection and relieve suffering also. I think in the timescale - see a vet and have an assessment of your hamster (although I appreciate many vets know zilch about hamsters). But also decide where he is to go for rehoming. I would also want to take him with me actually. The long car journey as a one off wouldn't be a huge issue as long as he was in a pet carrier that was securely wedged in somewhere in the car. It could be worth contacting the college and asking for a special dispensation, for a few months, to keep an elderly hamster in your room - you would find the space. I found that when it's a hamster people are more amenable to bending the rules as they think - small thing in a small cage and not a chewy dog or scratchy cat. We have done this before with holiday cottages that say no pets - but when we asked specifically to bring an ageing hamster (thinking he would die if left for a week or two) they were fine about it and don't see it as "pets" exactly.

So write a list!

1) Appointment with vet
2) Email to accommodation officer at college - explaining the details - even if they don't let you keep him in your room they may kindly come up with an alternative place to keep him.
3) Chase up the email in two days time by phone if no reply.
4) When you see the vet - tell them what you want. ie tell them he is still enjoying hamstering but has a cough and can the cough be treated please so he is comfortable in his old age until its his time.

I think many vets will actually advise helping him on his way to be honest due to his age. But only if they think his quality of life is poor and he is suffering and there isn't much else to do. But the decision needs to be based on his condition really, rather than him needing a home.

If that does end up being the case then you can always cancel the arrangements with the college afterwards.

I think this is perfect advice.

I just bought my first house and the lease said no pets without written consent.. went into detail even had "caged foul"... when I contacted my solicitor and housing agents to get approval for the rats and hamster they laughed and said it was fine! Usually the no pets rule is cats and dogs and many places are reasonable with caged pets.

I don't believe in letting elderly pets go if their only ailment is old age. Good luck with trying to find a solution x

Ria P · 08-15-2020, 09:41 AM

This question doesn't directly refer to your situation Selma.

Can a vet pts an animal that is old but has a treatable illness because the owner requests him/her to do so or is a vet bound by law to preserve life and can only act in the animal's best interest regardless of the owner's wishes?

Amethyst_ice · 08-15-2020, 09:44 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

This question doesn't directly refer to your situation Selma.

Can a vet pts an animal that is old but has a treatable illness because the owner requests him/her to do so or is a vet bound by law to preserve life and can only act in the animal's best interest regardless of the owner's wishes?

In the UK pets are by law property and while a vet can discourage an owner to not pts or maybe offer a rescue facility if they know of one, an owner can take a perfectly well pet to a vet to be pts sadly

UK guidence

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/euthanasia-of-animals/#:~:text=To%20refuse%20an%20owner's%20request,the% 20welfare%20of%20the%20animal.

Ria P · 08-15-2020, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

In the UK pets are by law property and while a vet can discourage an owner to not pts or maybe offer a rescue facility if they know of one, an owner can take a perfectly well pet to a vet to be pts sadly

That is shocking! Thank you for your reply.

Pebbles82 · 08-15-2020, 10:47 AM

It is - what is even more shocking is the number of vets who think any hamster over a certain age should be pts rather than treated.

Selma · 08-15-2020, 05:31 PM

Again thanks for all your advice i really appreciate it<3
I think i'll make an appointment with the vet sometime tomorrow to have him assessed and they can perhaps figure out what is best for him. I am still not completely sure if bringing him with me is such a good idea as i will be spending most of my time outside of my room and not on school grounds. It's not really a school where you sit down and study, but more where you met other people and learn to be more independent. I will also be going home during the autumn break, and if he were to make it that long there would be absolutely no way for me to bring him with me back. I'm sure i can persuade my parents to take care of him. I doubt they will actually go through with putting him down behind my back, and i'll just have to call them often to make sure they actually remember to take care of him for me. The sad thing in that case is that i will most likely not be around during his passing, but if that makes it so that he lives out his full lifetime, i'm willing to offer that moment.

Pebbles82 · 08-15-2020, 06:13 PM

Let us know how you get on with the vet. Autumn break is when - about 3rd week in October? So about 2 months away. Yes he could still be soldiering on until he is 3. But if you did have him there with you you could ask someone to petsit him while you go home for the autumn holiday.

You don't need to be with him all the time at college either. Hamsters sleep all day! And you will see him when you're there. I sometimes don't see much of ours for two or three days as they mostly come out at night. You would need a silent wheel though if you're sharing a room. It could be an adventure. For both you and the hamster.

Do let us know how you get on at the vets. Mention the cough and ask specifically is it infection or is it something else.