ill girl, any advice

aappleby · 09-25-2021, 08:26 AM

hey, I have an 18 month old female syrian named Caramel.

She was ok last night, but when I got home from work, she was cold, wobbly and lethargic.

I've been trying to warm her up with body heat and blankets for 90 mins with little change, and she keeps making small squeaks when startled or at random moments.

Is there anything I can do?

GhostBella · 10-05-2021, 02:57 PM

The temperature has been dropping over the last coupl of days. How warm is ur house? Hamsters need to kept between 21°c and 25°c. Shes probably got cold kerp warming her with a hot water bottle but do not let her eat or drink untill shes warm! Give her fresh warm bedding and plenty of it. Make her bed as usual then put extra sleeping bedding outside her bed so she csn put more in her self if she needs it. I have 3 sleeping houses for mine all with bedding in them, i do this so she can choose the warmest or the coolest bed.
I also have a small fridge temperature thermometer level and next to her cage so i can check the temperature is right in her cage. Remember a sudden difference in animal's especially prey animals is a survival instinct not to look weak and easy prey! She could of been feeling cold for 24hrs yet u wouldnt of known.
Id put ur heating on and put her bed and new bedding material on a radiator warm it all up, make sure u have a deep level of cage litter and build it up around her bed preferably so u only have the entrance and roof visible. Get her warm first before putting her back it could take up to 3hrs to warm her depending on how long shes been cold!

Lilafernim · 10-05-2021, 03:15 PM

Has she had any other symptoms through previous day you can think of?

-drinking more
-loss of appetite
-going toilet
-lumps
-missing fur

Is she also moving normally? As in has she got a limp?

I’m sorry your hammie is not well, I hope she warms up soon 🤞

Ria P · 10-06-2021, 01:29 AM

Hello and welcome to HC!

I'd get her checked out by a hamster knowledgeable or exotics vet. I don't know where you live but in the UK it is not cold enough for a hamster to get that cold.

A hamster would go inside their house and cosy nest when they feel cold and probably pouch extra bedding or toilet paper strips to take to their nests.

To me it sounds like your hamster has suddenly taken ill which can happen the same way it happens to humans.

I hope your hamster will recover and get well again soon.

GhostBella · 10-10-2021, 12:55 AM

She could of had some sort of stroke or seizurer, vets best. If shed got cold in her bed and there's no other bedding around for her to pull in she wont stay in it she'll try and look for somewhere. If they get to hot or cold in there bed and are unable to either warm it up or cool it down they will move