M
Member ID2
Just had to make a minor adjustement while watching him move around. A little log thing was in his path and he stumbled over it.
M
Member ID2
Old boy Rory hasn't asked to come out in days but did tonight and stayed awake while out.
R
RainbowBrite
It is lovely Rory felt like an evening stroll. He looks so cuddly.
M
Member ID2
Rory is a lovely and gentle hamster. He comes to his door for a stroke. Sometimes he climbs out of his cage and i lift him out and other times he goes back in.
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Hello Rory! I think it's lovely when they come to the door for a stroke like that. It's like he's saying - I really don't feel like coming out or being active but I just want you to know it's not personal and it's still nice to see you. I think that although it's sad when they get old and weary, it can also be quite special. They are like little old wise hamsters who understand your feelings - after all they are older than us. It's like he's saying - I'll see you as much as I can as long as I can and I appreciate you and don't want you to worry.
It's something I find very fascinating. Although people say it's a shame hamsters don't live very long, there is another side to that. We get to see their whole lifespan from babyhood through to old age. They start off like children, younger than us, and end up older and wiser than us.
It's something I find very fascinating. Although people say it's a shame hamsters don't live very long, there is another side to that. We get to see their whole lifespan from babyhood through to old age. They start off like children, younger than us, and end up older and wiser than us.
M
Member ID2
I had a strange experience with Rory last night. I thought he was dying.
He had been hamstering about in his cage late evening and then he went into his coconut hide. He curled up and remained very still for a long time with his eyes open. I heard faint little squeaking breathing noises and his left back leg shook a little.
I sat by his cage and talked to him gently but he didn't respond like he normally does so i decided to keep quiet and just be there for him.
This went on for about an hour. He looked very peaceful and didn't appear to be in any discomfort which gave me comfort.
Then he suddenly sat up, washed his face, chucked a couple of poops out, came out of his coconut and went into his house.
*****
Rory has always had this habit of staying still and staring into space for relatively long periods of time, even when he was young.
When he got old there were a couple of ocassions where i thought that he was dying because he lay there, not moving, breathing slowly, eyes open and unresponsive to my voice.
He has had what i thought were mini strokes so he could be suffering from something neurological like seizures with absences.
I don't know, i'm speculating but whatever it is, age related or illness, he is not suffering.
*****
The roof of his house lifts off easily and quietly so i can check on him without disturbing him. This morning he looked up at me so i offered him a little porridge on a tiny lid of a one portion jam jar. He happily ate it.
He had been hamstering about in his cage late evening and then he went into his coconut hide. He curled up and remained very still for a long time with his eyes open. I heard faint little squeaking breathing noises and his left back leg shook a little.
I sat by his cage and talked to him gently but he didn't respond like he normally does so i decided to keep quiet and just be there for him.
This went on for about an hour. He looked very peaceful and didn't appear to be in any discomfort which gave me comfort.
Then he suddenly sat up, washed his face, chucked a couple of poops out, came out of his coconut and went into his house.
*****
Rory has always had this habit of staying still and staring into space for relatively long periods of time, even when he was young.
When he got old there were a couple of ocassions where i thought that he was dying because he lay there, not moving, breathing slowly, eyes open and unresponsive to my voice.
He has had what i thought were mini strokes so he could be suffering from something neurological like seizures with absences.
I don't know, i'm speculating but whatever it is, age related or illness, he is not suffering.
*****
The roof of his house lifts off easily and quietly so i can check on him without disturbing him. This morning he looked up at me so i offered him a little porridge on a tiny lid of a one portion jam jar. He happily ate it.
R
RainbowBrite
Gosh, you must have been so frightened. Thankfully he sounds happy and well. It is lovely he enjoyed his porridge. Perhaps he does have mini strokes. My rabbit often had those and behaved similarly to Rory.
M
Member ID2
I wasn't frightened because i live only 5 miles from a 24hr animal hospital so could get medical help fairly quickly.
I felt sad because i thought i was going to lose him. I was also very relieved when he washed his face.
I felt sad because i thought i was going to lose him. I was also very relieved when he washed his face.
R
RainbowBrite
It is such a relief he is okay. He is a very special hamster.
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Sounds very worrying. Glad he started washing later. Maybe as an older hamster, he just has the odd symptom and goes for a rest and comes round again.
When Newt was older he would still run round the living room but would sometimes stop still like that and pant for a bit - he was clearly getting short of puff. It used to worry me but after sitting still and panting for a while he would just do something normal like wash or wander off as well.
When Newt was older he would still run round the living room but would sometimes stop still like that and pant for a bit - he was clearly getting short of puff. It used to worry me but after sitting still and panting for a while he would just do something normal like wash or wander off as well.
M
Member ID2
There's definitely something cerebral going on so it's a matter of keeping him as comfortable as possible.
The Pringle porch didn't work so i had to remove it. It affected the ventilation too much and the inside of his house got damp quicker.
The Pringle porch didn't work so i had to remove it. It affected the ventilation too much and the inside of his house got damp quicker.
R
RainbowBrite
It is good you were able to work that out. You are so in tune with your hamsters.
M
Member ID2
I set up Rory's bungalow so i can easily access his house and nest to check for dampness. I think it's really important to keep an elderly and slightly incontinent hamster dry.
I always go the same way about it and with minimal fuss so they know what to expect and don't get upset.
I always go the same way about it and with minimal fuss so they know what to expect and don't get upset.
R
RainbowBrite
This is very helpful for me to note for the future.
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Bless him he sounds such a lovely boy! I was thinking, can hamsters have gabapentin? I have a guinea pig on it currently to ease his neurological issues. Luckily the dwarves never needed it for their own neuro issues so I've never asked my vet about it, but it works excellently for my guinea pig.
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I am not sure about that - you'd need to ask an exotic vet probably. I've not heard of hamsters being given gabapentin, but my vet did say there is an alternative pain relief med they can have if Metacam is contraindicated (it's contraindicated with Cushings apparently).
M
Member ID2
That i don't know but i can imagine it would be difficult to get the dosage right. First of all he would need a diagnosis and probably tests.
At 2 years 6 months old i don't want to go down the medical route. He was perfectly well for over two years so i think it's age related. I witnessed what i thought was a TIA a couple of months ago which may have triggered something.
If he had regular seizures that affected his breathing or cause him distress then yes, i would need to take him to the vet.
It's an interesting thought though and worth looking into.
At 2 years 6 months old i don't want to go down the medical route. He was perfectly well for over two years so i think it's age related. I witnessed what i thought was a TIA a couple of months ago which may have triggered something.
If he had regular seizures that affected his breathing or cause him distress then yes, i would need to take him to the vet.
It's an interesting thought though and worth looking into.
M
Member ID2
He is. I've had him since he was a baby.
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Aw what a wonderful age for the little man! Yes I was thinking the dose would be a nightmare to figure out, it was awkward enough for the little piggies as I make the solution myself from the powder in a 100mg capsule. I'm lucky that the neuro symptoms were very pronounced and my vet was willing to trial treat for a short period rather than put him through stressful diagnostics and then continue treating as symptoms improved. I'd imagine not everyone's vet would be willing to go that route which is a shame, you don't want to be stressing elderly hams who are already not in peak health.