I need advice

[MaryMac]

Hello all - I need advice. Last night my sons teddy bear hamster (Jackpot) died. This is the first hamster we've ever had (strictly dog owners in the past) and we've had no luck with him. We got him for my son at Christmas and were told by the pet store they were 6 weeks old when we got them. That makes him only 6 months old.

What happened was last week we noticed that he wasn't pooping as much as normal. We also noticed that he was less active - not staying in his ball as long as normal. So we wondered if he was constipated. So I researched on the internet and they said to increase his fruits and veggies and put some vegetable oil on it to help soften things up. They said we should see results in 24 hours. Well that was Friday morning. So Saturday morning we took him to the vet. The vet said that his stomach appeared very bloated and wondered if he had a tumor because tumors are common in Syrians, but it could possibly be constipation, although he thought he was a little too bloated for that. So he suggested giving him a laxative every 5-6 hours until you see diarhea, then stop. Then we noticed on Sunday that he had some diarhea stuck under his butt. But by Monday at lunch he had holed himself up in his house and wouldn't even raise his head to take an apple. When I got home after work Monday pm he wouldn't even look up, but he was still breathing. By 8:30 pm he was gone.

I sure don't know what caused it. He didn't have anything in his cage that he could ingest for blockage. Have any of you had similar problems?

We are so bummed with our bad luck that we think maybe hamsters aren't for us. After reading today on a few different web pages all that can go wrong with hamsters, I feel this isn't the pet for my son. My son balled his eyes out last night when we told him Jackpot died. I don't know if we could put him through that again. We told my son when we got him that they aren't like dogs - that they only live 1-2 years. But when he died after only 6 months, that just killed my son. He felt so bad.

Then I read all your posts and you guys seem to have healthy hamsters that live a long time.

What to do, what to do?

Any advice or thoughts you may have would be welcomed.

[xenya88]

I am a new Hamster owner myself, so unfortunately I cannot offer any advice. However, I can say that I am sorry that your hammy died so soon and am especially sorry that your son has to deal with the loss. I hope he is going to be ok soon. The only thing I can think of is that maybe Jackpot was older than the petstore suggested. Although I purchased my hammies from the pet store as well, I haven't always had the best information from those places. You seemed to do everything right. I know alot of people hesitate to take small critters to the vet, but you didn't. You followed all the directions. Don't blame yourself. Also, just because you had one bad experience with a hammy, don't get discouraged. From all I hear, they make wonderful pets. From my short experience I agree. Maybe what your son needs right now is a substitute. I don't mean to give bad advice, but maybe a positive experience and a new pet love will help. I know that maybe your best bet would be a hamster that you know for sure is a young one. I got mine from a new litter as soon as the store said that it was ok to separate them from the mom. Like I said, don't let this ruin the experience for you and your son. I hope everything works out for the best! :wavey:

[riegfinnid]

i'm sorry for your loss, but i dont think anyone can make up your mind for you..maybe ask your son if he wants another hamster? I will have to put to sleep one of my rats soon due to a health issue (nothing can be done and he's getting paralized) and after that i dont think i can handle having a new rat...i really dont...i'll feel like im cheating on my baby....so its all up to you...
as for your concern about hamster health...all small rodents have pretty much the same problems...parasites (external and internal), tumors, alergies, respritory infections, injuries (which can easiler become deadly since they're so small)...i mean there're few additional problems like with hamsters its eyes (as i found out myself reccently)...mice are prone to heart attacks and infections can kill them in HOURS...rats are very prone to tumors and so on...you get the idea....

[xenya88]

Of course- I absolutely didn't mean that you need to run out and get a new hamster immediately. Maybe your son wouldn't want to deal with another hammy. I certainly didn't mean that would solve all the problems. I was just trying to say- don't give up on the species after one bad experience. I just wanted to maybe make you feel better. :blush:

[MaryMac]

Thanks all. I understand what you are saying. Last night as my son was crying he said to me "I don't think I'm ready for a new hamster yet." I have the feeling though, given a few weeks of recovery, and the next visit to the pet store, will result in begging for a new hamster!

I'm pretty sure that we got a young hamster. He actually grew ever so slightly (besides the bloated stomach) and his fur color changed slightly. I think that happens as they mature. Plus, I had checked at the pet store just before Christmas and they had sold all their teddy bear hamsters. But got another shipment in 2 days after Christmas. So I assume all those things add up to a young hamster. Who knows though.

[Padfoot]

Next time, why don't you get one from a breeder? Pet stores usually don't take the best care of their animals and the hamsters are usually of unknown heritage. Breeders make sure that their hamsters are of healthy lineage and refuse to breed any hamster with a disease history (in its family). I'm not saying that 100% of all hamsters sold by responsible breeders are disease free and 100% of all hamsters sold by pet stores are ill, but you have a better posibility of getting a healthy hamster that will live a long life from a breeder than from a pet store. Also you can get one that is already tamed and a great companion for your boy.

Time heals all wounds, and I'm sure that your son soon will be willing to have another hamster as a pet. They are wonderful animals! I love dogs also... but hamsters do some things that are just amazing and funny as you can't imagine... they are really great!

[Zouave]

. . .So Saturday morning we took him to the vet. . .

That was very good of you to do that.

First of all, hamsters, gerbils, and other small and furries, should not be considered "kids' pets". I am so glad I discovered them as an adult; they are fun, interesting, and relaxing.

My first hamster, Blackie, I got a few years ago, and he died of a respiratory infection, It was quick, plus I did not fully understand the symptoms which came and went (confusing me).

I got Rainy Jan. 3, 2003. She was wonderful, but died a bad death of apparently incurable brain cancer; I posted her story in the Pet Loss/Memorial forum, if interested in that.

She had a surprise litter a week later, after I got her: 12 babies. One died in three weeks as the runt; one died suddenly (within hours) of no apparent cause 2.5 months later. The ten remaining stayed together (here; I kept them all!) until January when Ringy died suddenly. Both Ringy and her mom are in my flashing avatar (black Syrians).

The remaining nine of her litter are here and happy!

I also rescued a badly biten hamster over a year ago; and Maggie is here and healthy. I also rescued Princess about the same time; she was wonderful, but after six happy months died very suddenly of a stroke. :bawling: she is the banded sable in my flashing .gif. She was "replaced" by Prince, who looks like her younger brother, and he is fine after eight months.

So, the POINT is the great majority of my hamsters (and gerbils and dwarfs) last a long and happy time.

Why??

They have peace and quiet during the day and safe places to hide and sleep, and safe solid wheels, and a good diet, and fresh water.

They are handled very gently, and everyday shown affection - I kiss them all on the nose and ears, despite the large numbers of animals here.

They are kept away from drafts, heat, and there are no other animals here to scare them, except
a sweet rabbit.

Princess and Rainy were not young.
But eliminating them from the list of the deceased, along with the runt, only two have died at a young age.

So what I am doing must be working!

Also, you may want to try a different pet store, or a professional breeder, to be sure you get a healthy strong animal.

Hope that helps.

[MaryMac]

Thanks all for your words of encouragement. We had a nice funeral last night for Jackpot. My son did well throughout the day, but when it came to bedtime and he was left alone with his thoughts (and he was tired) he had another breakdown. I feel so bad for him. But he is talking about getting another hamster when he has dealt with his grief over Jackpot. We love our animals immensely, as you can imagine.

I don't have any idea of how to find a breeder. I live in Chicago so you would think it would be easy to track down, but I have no idea. Any suggestions?

[Padfoot]

You can start by posting a message in the Internet Hamster Association (http:///InternetHamsterAssoc)

Good luck!!

[xenya88]

It sounds like you really do love your animals very much. It's heart worming; especially since your son has someone who really understands his grief over Jackpot. Good luck with your search, keep us updated! :wave:

[Halogengirlie]

If you choose to get a new hammy, please sanitize the cage.. you wouldn't want to pass the sickness on to any new pets... (I have this horrid thought that I may have done that accidently to a Hamster when I was a kid)