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Old 04-13-2022, 04:36 PM   #1
sarahhhh
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Unhappy I've been back and forth from the vets for months

Hi girls, guys and non-binary friends. This isn't a nice post but I'm at a loss for what to do.
My old boy has had some health troubles, his eyes bulging, and a protruding scent gland on his tummy.
I've been back and forth to the vets for months now. At first we thought it was an eye issue so he had antibiotic eye drops, then we thought it was his chest so he had oral antibiotics and now the vet said his eyes are likely bulging due to discomfort from his scent glands so we've put him on painkillers.
He doesn't seem to be getting any better and I haven't missed a SINGLE DOSE. He's too old for surgery and I really don't want him to suffer like this anymore. He's eating and drinking but obviously because they're prey animals it's harder to know if he's in pain. He's also super itchy, I've checked him for mites and I can't see anything.
I need some advice, or personal experiences, or even some comfort because I'm losing my head. I don't know what is right for him. I know I can't ask for medical advice but I need to hear something from people who care about hamsters as much as I do xx
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Old 04-14-2022, 12:58 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

The way i see it is that when life becomes a burden then it's time to help them on their way.
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Old 04-14-2022, 02:34 AM   #3
souffle
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

What ever you decide if the decision is made from love it is always the right one.
It's always better a day early than a day late when a little one might become critical. Once you know in your heart that your hamster is not leading a happy life and is in pain or unable to do normal hamstery things you must make a choice for them even though it's the hardest thing to do.
I hope that helps things rest easier on you x
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Old 04-14-2022, 02:50 AM   #4
velma
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

Hamsters are very good at hiding their pain but I think because they all have such individual personalities that you can spot if they're suffering in other ways when they're ill. Lively extrovert hams will become very withdrawn. Cuddly hams may become a bit snappy about being touched. Hamsters who love their treats may become uninterested in food. That sort of thing. I feel they let me you know when they've had enough and are ready to go. But sometimes you may need to make a decision for them if you feel they're only going to get worse. Your vet can advise you medically but you know your hamster best to know what he's telling you he needs. You love him so you'll make the right decision for him.

From my own experience. I've had to have two hamsters PTS. Most recently my boy Woody who stopped eating and drinking, and couldn't open his eyes. He became ill incredibly rapidly. The vet felt it was a neurological thing and was obviously causing him a lot of distress so that was very upsetting but straightforward as there was no alternative. The first was a harder decision to make. A few years ago I had a Syrian called Pip who developed a tumour on his shoulder. Very quickly it began to affect the movement in his front leg. I was worried he would get complications if he couldn't use his leg to empty his pouch/clean his eye etc. The vet felt it would grow very quickly and I'd have to take him back in a couple of weeks anyway. So between us we decided the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep there and then. It was a very hard decision because he was himself and not at that point suffering and I could easily have taken him home. But it seemed the kindest thing as he was comfortable with the vet, he wasn't distressed and he wasn't in pain but I knew that if I left it until things progressed, it would have been a lot worse for him.

So my very long waffle isn't really advice, only you can ultimately make that decision. But, having been through it twice - one where there wasn't a choice, and one where there was - I just wanted to say I know it's a hard thing to do but you'll know in yourself what is right and do the right thing either way because you love him.
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Old 04-14-2022, 03:47 AM   #5
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

For me it boils down to quality of life, can my hamster still eat, drink, go on wheel, forage, clean itself, ears not down, not hunched up etc.
I know these times can be so hard, but like others have said whatever you do will be the right thing to do and it does only come from a place of caring and love.
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Old 04-14-2022, 12:37 PM   #6
Lilafernim
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

I know it’s not the same but just to add to experiences, Velma we had a similar experience with one of our dogs. She couldn’t use her back legs properly anymore and her lungs were filling with water so she couldn’t breath properly or eat.

Our vet said though that she could be put on pain killers and taken home but a dogs life is to run and be happy, she couldn’t even sleep without choking sometimes. My mum made the decision to put her to sleep then despite the vet and honestly it was the right choice, she’d had enough and it took next to nothing for her to be taken.

Another alternative experience is my third hamster as a child had ear mites. I took him to the vets and they’d given me a solution to give him but he was older anyway. On a revisit to the vet they gave me more solution but he was starting to swell and his eyes were drooping more. One day getting home from school I knew he’d died because my cupboard where the cage was, was crawling with hundreds of mites. His whole ear was swollen and I really regret not putting him to sleep.

I was around 12 and trusted the vet that he’d get better but honestly just trust yourself. If you think they’re in pain and they’re not enjoying life just help them along the way because it ends up feeling like a relief to know they’re not in pain and went peacefully.
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Old 04-14-2022, 04:13 PM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: I've been back and forth from the vets for months

How old is your boy sarahhh? It is more about condition than age but you mentioned he was too old for surgery. What is his behaviour like? You say he's eating and drinking - is he still using his wheel - does he enjoy being out of the cage? I tend to go with behaviour because they can still want to eat even when in a bad way sometimes. If they're nearing dying they stop enjoying food sometimes. But we had a robo that was getting in a bad way who seemed to really enjoy his food. The vet said it was the cancer making him want to eat because it was taking all his nutrition. So he wasn't actually enjoying eating, he was driven to eat.

So maybe watch his behaviour and condition. If he seems to struggle doing things and not seem to be enjoying them then it might be time to help him on his way. If he still has hamstery routines, enjoys his wheel and shows interest in coming out and special treats etc then maybe he is still enjoying life.

I have to say though that when their eyes are bulging there will be some pain and discomfort. I found that very upsetting with our last Syrian who had an eye problem. It didn't seem to bother him at all at first but I knew when it was. And that he was suffering with it, and surgery wasn't possible. And he was behaving ok otherwise.

If he's on pain relief (metacam) that may help keep him comfortable. Keep giving him that - I used to give it in baby food - a bit on a teaspoon with the metacam dropped on top - they love the baby food treat and look forward to it. I knew our Syrian had had enough when he rejected the baby food and metacam.

If he's comfortable on the metacam he will let you know when he's had enough.

I think the other thing is - when they get old it gets beyond vet "treatment" other than pain relief and keeping them comfortable. And things will start to go. If he shows signs of lethargy, hunching or ears down all the time then you'll know he is not in a good way and needs help.

If the pain relief is helping he may still be enjoying normal hamster habits - but only you can observe that.
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