View Full Version : What kind of illness is my hamster dying from?
BrinaAngel
Apr 22, 2009, 01:16 AM
My oldest hamster, who is about 2 years old, is dying and probably won't make it through the night. I have gone back and forth trying to figure out what illness she has that has made her so sick and dying. Her symptom are eyes always closed, no movement and limp when I pick her up, cold and different smell, heavy breathing but turning shallow, sometimes I see her try to walk and she wobbles and stops in her place and lies there, tonight I found a little discharge from her behind. Good thing I separated her from the other two hamsters I have. I first thought she had a respitory infection because it all started with her weezing and having a hard time breathing 3 days ago and the next day she was barely moving. Could she have had a respitory infection or wettail, I don't know which one?
Alty
Apr 22, 2009, 08:38 AM
I wish I could give you a definite answer, but without actually seeing your hamster, I can only guess.
Respiratory infections in hammy's are quite common. What kind of wood shavings do you use? Many store bought wood shavings can cause resp failure in the animals that use them.
Wet tail, although commonly associated with hamsters, is not as common as you think. It does happen, but not nearly as often as you would think. Most times it's just a case of the runs. If it is wet tail, there's really nothing you or a vet can do. Most hammy's with wet tail are dead within 24 hours.
Just keep her comfortable, make sure she's not in pain. If you can, take her to the vet. I doubt there's anything they could do, but they could end her misery.
Two years old means old age, so it could just be that as well.
I'm sorry. I wish I had a solution.