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Old 07-24-2021, 06:09 AM   #1
junebuggie
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Default Elderly hamster suddenly acting strange

Hi, it's been a good while since I last posted--my hamster Blondie, which I adopted in Nov 2019, has slowly begun showing signs of old age.

This morning, though, she's really suddenly started wobbling when she walks, and instead of burrowing like she usually does to sleep, she's been lying out on her belly on top of the bedding. She also spent a while walking back and forth like she was uncomfortable and couldn't find a place to sleep.

For background, she's had some inflammation in her paws for a few weeks and the vet put her on a round of steroids, which she just finished on Monday. They didn't reverse the inflammation but they did keep it from getting worse.

She doesn't feel cool or hot to the touch, so I don't think it has to do with the temperature in the room she's in (and last summer she had no problems with heat). I'm concerned that her condition is going downhill fast and she may not be with me much longer.
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Old 07-24-2021, 07:25 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Elderly hamster suddenly acting strange

Sad as it is, their lives are just too short.

Do you know how old Blondie is?
You could ask the vet if an anti inflammatory/pain relief like Metacam/Loxicom may help her paws and possible, general discomfort.
Two of my late hamsters were on it for the last few months of their lives and it did help them quite a lot. I currently have a 16mths old dwarf with health issues on the same medication and he does hamster about more as a result.

All you can do really is to make sure that her set up is arranged in a way that everything is easily accessible with food and water within easy reach.
Move from a house to a bungalow so to speak in human terms and same applies to elderly hamsters.

She may pick up again but either way, i'd spend as much time as you can with her and enjoy your time together. It becomes so precious when they get older or unwell.
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Old 07-24-2021, 08:41 AM   #3
junebuggie
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Default Re: Elderly hamster suddenly acting strange

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
Sad as it is, their lives are just too short.

Do you know how old Blondie is?
You could ask the vet if an anti inflammatory/pain relief like Metacam/Loxicom may help her paws and possible, general discomfort.
Two of my late hamsters were on it for the last few months of their lives and it did help them quite a lot. I currently have a 16mths old dwarf with health issues on the same medication and he does hamster about more as a result.

All you can do really is to make sure that her set up is arranged in a way that everything is easily accessible with food and water within easy reach.
Move from a house to a bungalow so to speak in human terms and same applies to elderly hamsters.

She may pick up again but either way, i'd spend as much time as you can with her and enjoy your time together. It becomes so precious when they get older or unwell.
Hi, thank you so much for your reply.

Blondie was about 21 months old and unfortunately passed away this morning. The vet found heart disease and an internal endocrine disease (which had been suspected before) and she was euthanized.

I’m grateful that she had help when she decided to pass on. And I wish your little dwarf best of luck
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Old 07-24-2021, 09:01 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Elderly hamster suddenly acting strange

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Originally Posted by junebuggie View Post
Hi, thank you so much for your reply.

Blondie was about 21 months old and unfortunately passed away this morning. The vet found heart disease and an internal endocrine disease (which had been suspected before) and she was euthanized.

I’m grateful that she had help when she decided to pass on. And I wish your little dwarf best of luck
Thank you.

I am very sorry for your loss but at least Blondie didn't suffer because you gave her all the love and care she could have wished for, right to the end.

Play well at the rainbow bridge Blondie.
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Old 07-24-2021, 10:03 AM   #5
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Elderly hamster suddenly acting strange

I'm very sorry to hear this but it was great to hear you did everything to make her comfortable in to her twilight years. Play well x
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