Is my hammy going to heaven??

[DazzlinDylan]

I have had Hazel for a year and a half now but I really don't know how old she is. I bought her at Petco so god knows how long she was their! She is rather skiddish (won't let ANYONE hold her, but LOVES to eat and loves me for the treats) so I am assuming she was their for awhile. When I purchased her I was also under the impression that she had been returned and the guy suggested if I couldn't "turn her around" in a week or two that I should do the same, needless to say I felt bad for her and kept the little brat! She has always been a very free hamster, loves to eat and loves to run in her ball, until about a month ago. She started losing hair on her stomach and now her chin is completely naked. I assumed it was from chewing on her bars, but now I am wondering if it is from just getting old. She is still very active, loves to run and eats like it is her job, but she is losing weight as well. She is not lathargic at all but just looks like she has aged quite a bit. Do you think she is sick or just passing away? I have talked to a couple friends but it is hard to find anyone who has lost a hammy due to old age and not magic escape acts. Please let me know what you think!

Thanks!

[buddy01]

I don't know what to say but take her to the vet. See what he/she says.

[Zouave]

>> but it is hard to find anyone who has lost a hammy due to old age and not magic escape acts <<

That is terribly IRRESPONSIBLE of them to let hamsters escape and then not find them.

You can never tell when a hamster will pass away. I have had seemingly healthy hamsters just a year old not wake up. Others have been over two and decrepit-looking, but linger on for months, but in no apprarent pain. Just make sure their short lives are HAPPY - and safe - lives.

[DazzlinDylan]

so in regards to your old and decrepit looking ones.... I think that is where Hazel is. She has the same attitude she always had and her environment has not changed at all and she is still an eating machine!! Making her a comfy home is the best I can do for her I guess!

Thanks for your response!

In regards to your reaction about the escape artists... I agree and I think it is kind of funny because the two times by little Hazel escaped from her ball she would turn and look at me and sit and wait for me to come get her :)

[Fluff N Roll]

The bald patches cam be mites, fleas, any kind of pest living on pore little hazel. Dont give your hopes up. My first hamster passed away from old age she was just over 3 she was running one day and laying under the wheel the next night. It was a peacefull dealth and i'm glad she didn't suffer. They usually dont keep hamsters at petstores once they pass a setain age and they get them in at about 8-9 weeks old. If you've had hazel for 1yr & 1/2 hamsters life spans are 2-3 years. Just give her the life you would want lol a nice one!

The handling part - get a pair of gloves and start picking her up i bet after not to long you guys will be best of friends. Like i said above dont give you hopes up and think she's getting old just because hse's lazy. My hamsters have always been lazy even Cooki who i have now she has her own time to do things and no one says other.. I would get those balding spots checked out, if it is mites ect. they can harm her and cause a shorter life.

good luck:)
-Merrit

[SpunkyMunky]

>> but it is hard to find anyone who has lost a hammy due to old age and not magic escape acts <<

That is terribly IRRESPONSIBLE of them to let hamsters escape and then not find them.


Zouave I think what she ment was when people have hamsters and they get out of their cage they never find them, as in they looked but they just can't find them, rather than them not ever escaping nd just dying of old age.
I once had a hamster named Mr. Bean and he escaped from his cage and I looked for him everywhere! I was crying so much, I never found him, but occasionally my mom would tell me a story that he was alive and eating the food we put on the counters...
Then we found out the food was dissapearing/getting bitten from mice.
Those mice were cute.


Anyway back to the topic.
Maybe your hamster is very young but has a problem other than just natural causes. I would strongly suggest you bring your hamster to the vet. A vet visit is around 40$ in Quebec and I'm not too sure howmuch it is in the States. Just call around and make sure they treat small animals.

My friends hamster had mites. He hamster later died of them because she never brought him to the vet, even though I told her 100000000 times to bring him. Then she later blamed me because I made her switch from pine, to aspen, she told me it was my fault. I don't talk to her anymore.