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Old 07-21-2021, 06:12 AM   #1
geohamster
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Question Floppy hamster

I have two hamsters. Poppy (girl) and Dusty (boy). They are kept in separate bin cages. Poppy is 8 months old and Dusty 2 months old. I keep them in separate large and tall bin cages, which dont have lids because they are quite high, and they can't get out. I have a wood shaving substrate, exercise toys etc. One day Poppy went all limp, when she was about 3 months old (it was cool that day), so I rubbed her all over and eventually she woke up. Now Dusty, only about 1 month old, I also found limp (now in the summer and quite warm). She was lifeless and so I rubbed her and blew a little, gently into her mouth. This seemed to revive her - not sure whether it was the air, or the fact that hamsters don't like much to be blown on. This has happened twice with Dusty; I just found her lying on a tile, motionless, normally she is quite skittish as she is only just being tamed. Any ideas. I am keeping a close watch of Dusty. There is nothing out of the ordinary with my setup, they are being well, but not over fed on both dry foods and some veggies. They are both normally active, spend time out of the bin cage, and generally seem happy.
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Old 07-22-2021, 05:31 PM   #2
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Hello

It could be due to the heat currently. Was her breathing shallow or rapid? When they are hot they will often "pancake" and can be quite drowsy, just like us

On the other hand, if it gets too cold, hamsters can go into a torpor state. People often mistake or call it hibernation but their bodies go into energy saving mode but as they haven't build up fat stores it can be fatal. It is possible she drifted into this state. It is hard to know as it was so long ago.
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Old 07-23-2021, 09:01 AM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Because it also happened on a cool day i wonder if it could be the substrate. Are the wood chips scented or do they have anything added? I have seen lavender scented and antibacterial wood chips before.

It may be worthwhile to try a paperbased substrate like Kaytee clean and cozy to see if it makes any difference

This could be a wild guess of course and may have nothing at all to do with the substrate.

Have you asked a vet?
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Old 07-23-2021, 09:25 PM   #4
geohamster
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Thank you Amethyst and Ria for your thoughtful, helpful, and well considered answers. The substrate is standard Pets at Home wood shavings, unscented. It is very interesting about the low energy torpor state. Although we have had some very warm weather, the episodes have not been at particularly warm moments. It happened again with Dusty yesterday, but she revived very quickly. He is only eight weeks old, so perhaps it might be something he grows out of. As I said, it also happened once to Poppy; but over the last six months, there has been no recurrence. I haven’t spoken to a vet because I really can’t believe that there is anything of it could do; if a human were behaving in such a way, I suspect one might put him or her on some very potent medication. Not something that would be available or recommended for a hamster.
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Old 07-24-2021, 04:58 AM   #5
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Is she not just asleep, what time of day does it happen? Because if she is genuinely going into a torpor state that is quite serious but I'm wondering if she is just sleeping in the open and you catch her when she is asleep? It's a bit hard to judge from just your descriptions, perhaps a video?

The shavings can be very dusty, have you considered switching to something like kaytee?
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Old 07-24-2021, 10:07 PM   #6
geohamster
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Red face Re: Floppy hamster

Hi amethyst. Thank you for your reply. Normally if I wake the hamster it wakes up with a fright. And can even be a little aggressive until it realises it’s only me! This is different, the hamster seems flat and when I pick it up it’s just completely floppy. It has only happened with dusty three times. I don’t think it’s just him being asleep. As I mentioned before it also happened once to poppy but perhaps she has grown out of it, and dusty will be the same. Hopefully. I do keep a close and constant check on them, just tapping a little bit on the side of the cage, to make Dusty stir, without completely waking him up. Thankfully he has been fine over the last few days. Long may that continue. I could change the substrate, but I really don’t think that’s the issue. The other substrates are also quite expensive.I wonder if anyone else has had any experience similar or has any comment to make about the standard substrate.
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Old 07-25-2021, 05:13 AM   #7
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Hmm sounds a little suspect. Keep an eye on it and if it happens again maybe a little vet trip will be in order
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Old 07-25-2021, 05:37 AM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Probably far fetched but could you have an undetected gas leak?
That is something i have come across twice.
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Old 07-25-2021, 06:53 PM   #9
geohamster
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Default Re: Floppy hamster

Thanks again. Am keeping him under surveillance. No gas at the property!
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