Old Syrian Hamster Questions - Paw Talk

keithmdw · #1 09-13-2005, 04:49 AM

We have a female Syrian who is coming upto 2 1/2 years old.

She got ill a few months ago and was treated by the vet (fall causing a knock to the head or stroke he thought). He gave her a couple of injections and she made a full recovery. She was over 2 years old at the time.

He said she was getting old for a hamster and so might start to slow down etc. (which she already had to a degree).

However, over the last few weeks she hasn't really done an awful lot! Stays in her bed most of the time (that we are awake anyway) and doesn't come out if you call her - kind of juts looks up as if to say, "not likely". She used to come out if she heard the treat bag rustling and bounce around like an idiot, but now she just lays there as if she can't be bothered.

Her water is going down (not a leak!), so we know she is drinking, and if we put food in it has gone by next morning, so she is obviously up at night eating/hoarding (not sure how much she is up though).

However, we have noticed that her teeth don't look perfectly straight any more. Her bottom teeth in particular seem to be seperated at the top as if growing away from each other.

We have tried giving her more soft food in case she is having trouble eating, but that said even her hard food is going so she must be eating it.

Is it normal for a hamsters teeth to degrade with old age (like a humans) or could it be she has damaged them on something? And if they are damaged, will they grow back at her age.

Don't want to take her to the vet if she is simply showing signs of old age (she is almost 6 months older than their expected life span), but if she is injured then we will obviously take her to be treated.

dragonmaster · #2 09-13-2005, 12:05 PM

I don't think I've ever noticed that with any of my hamsters, but as far as I know (and I could be wrong) a hamsters teeth never stop growing, so if they were broken or something, they would still "grow back." All the extra sleeping and such sounds very normal. The fact that she is still responsive, even if it is just to glare at you, is good. Just keep an eye out to make sure she is drinking and not getting real thin or anything.

Zouave · #3 09-24-2005, 10:30 PM

Extra sleep sounds normal.

They do love warmed baby food (veg and chicken), but they need to gnaw the ever-growing teeth on something at any age.

My oldest hams, Zeb and sister Ebony, were born here and died here at 28 months. So yours is older than my oldest was. Lucky you!

keithmdw · #4 09-25-2005, 08:38 AM

We took her to the vets just over a week ago and had to have her put to sleep I'm afraid.

She had a large tumor around her liver the vet said and had stopped eating and drinking at all.

She had a good life - she was approx 30 months old and well looked after. We were sad to let her go, but we think we did the best thing and didn't let her suffer once we knew she was ill.

The vet said that tumors are really common in hamsters because of their high metabolic rate.

TikisFinity · #5 09-26-2005, 08:01 PM

aww I'm so sorry! She was lucky that she had you to take care of her

Critterangels · #6 09-27-2005, 04:19 PM

Sorry to hear about your loss. It's the hardest thing to do, but the kindest. She was lucky to have you. All the best.

Wendy · #7 09-29-2005, 01:22 PM

I'm so sorry, what a shame... sweet dreams little girl.

keithmdw · #8 09-29-2005, 01:51 PM

Thank you for your kind comments everyone.

MischievousChins · #9 09-29-2005, 03:49 PM

I'm sorry for your loss. At least she had a great life!

gizmo · #10 10-26-2005, 01:29 AM

Sorry to hear that,
I had a siberian dwarf hamster die last month as well.
It was about 2 years old.

Now I have another fancy dwarf named Sparky,
and just gotten a BlackBear today, named him Cosmos

lilchris_28 · #11 10-27-2005, 12:51 AM

I'm so sorry.