Hamster Rapid Breathing & Change in Behaviour

[cshat1982]

Hi,

First time here. My Syrian Hamster Sandy, has shown some changes in the last week or so. I believe shes around a year old now as I got her last year during the first lockdown.

Shes normally super active in evenings and loves getting in her ball every night. But for the last few nights shes only surfaced to grab food then straight back to sleep with no interest in coming out for a run.

Shes also now not sleeping in a sawdust borrow like she normally does shes sleeping on the surface of the sawdust and is breathing very rapidly and short when shes asleep.

Anything I can do or is this just to be expected? Any questions please ask.

[Ria P]

Hi and welcome to HC!

I'd get her checked out by a vet to rule out any respiratory issues or other health problems if her breathing is different from the way she normally breathes.

Hamsters do sometimes change their behaviours and habits but for a burrowing hamster to suddenly sleep on top of the substrate is unusual, unless you live in a climate where the weather is very hot of course.

This may be a silly question but have you checked that her water bottle is working ok?

Have you maybe changed to a different brand of woodchips lately that could trigger an allergy? Scented substrate can cause reactions.

I hope you'll find out what's going on. It's so worrying when our hamsters are not themselves.


This is off topic but i'd like to make you aware that hamster balls are dangerous because they lack ventilation and toes can get trapped in the gaps. A playpen or playarea is far safer.

[cshat1982]

Hey there. Thanks for the reply. Sadly I found my beloved Sandy calm asleep but passed away last night. She seemed very peaceful. Literally yesterday morning I put a load of soft bedding in the cage for her to cover herself with and she grabbed it instantly, treated it like a duvet and pulled it over herself.

Checked on her last night and she was in a sleeping position but had already passed

First animal ive lost in a long time (have a cat of 5 years too). And she was my little nighttime tv buddy shed be out every night on the sofa with me as i watched tv.

So yeh, little distraught right now but in a way I kinda had a feeling it was coming. She was 1 yr 3 months old.

She was quite big for race (i think). Certainly fatter than my friends hamster. We gave her fresh veg every day.

Going to bury her tomorrow

[Ria P]

I am very sorry to hear that Sandy has passed away.
Play well at the Rainbow bridge Sandy.

Sometimes hamsters die before their time and we'll never know the reason why.
No matter how well we look after them, sadly it happens.

It could have been something she was born with like a weak heart or some genetic fault but it could also have been a chest infection.

[Petite]

So sorry to hear about Sandy. It's lovely that she was your nighttime tv buddy, and you will miss her, but she is at peace now. She will meet lots of furry friends at the bridge.