As life seeps slowly from his body

[MissTaken]

I wonder what I can do to make him more comfortable.

Now, Scamper, our two and a half year old hamster appears to be struggling. His head shudders when he tries to hold it up and there is dampness around his neck and down the center of his abdomen. He even tried to bite me when I was holding him and he didn't seem to have the strength.

Hmmm

What should I do?

I considered helping him along, but what if he gets well?
And how to explain euthanasia to my six year old?

I think for now, I will let nature take it's course.


Do you have any thoughts or experiences with sick pets?

Or sick pets and children?

 

[Raindear816]

I wonder what I can do to make him more comfortable.

Now, Scamper, our two and a half year old hamster appears to be struggling. His head shudders when he tries to hold it up and there is dampness around his neck and down the center of his abdomen. He even tried to bite me when I was holding him and he didn't seem to have the strength.

Hmmm

What should I do?

I considered helping him along, but what if he gets well?
And how to explain euthanasia to my six year old?

I think for now, I will let nature take it's course.


Do you have any thoughts or experiences with sick pets?

Or sick pets and children?

As a subject that is near and dear to my heart, please let me extend my sympathies here. I had to have our family guinea pig "loopie" euthanized. I explained to my (then) six year old and his brother, that it was far more cruel to let Loopie suffer through his pain than to allow him to fall asleep peacefully only to wake up in Guinea Pig heaven, where he'd never feel pain, and would never go hungry. They seemed comforted by this idea.

Not long afterward, I had to do the same with two of our cats who were also failing in their health and were too old for extravagant measures to extend their lives. I was surprised to find that the children were pushing me towards euthanising them rather than letting them suffer in their old age. We had peace in our decision, although we still mourned their loss.

I know it isn't easy, but the life of a hamster isn't long, about 3-7 years if you are lucky. Their ears get extremely dark when they are very old. Please check your hamster's ears, and then amke a decision that you and your little ones decide is best. Just make sure that they know euthanisation doesn't hurt, but stops the pain.

You'd be surprised at how much kids are willing to accept the concept.
All my best to you and yours, as well as my condolences.

 

[snowy ciara]

talk to the kiddos and help the hamster move on to the next life...

I know it's hard, Miss T, but I think that's best. I got an easter bunny when I was 4, and she was already middle aged in bunny years when I got her. She got sick when I was about 6 and I begged and pleaded not to put her down. Mum and dad listened to me, and she lived for about a week. We made her comfortable as possible, but I hate myself now for it. She suffered needlessly for a week longer than she needed too. I really really regret it now. I( think it's better all around if you talk to the kids and let the hamster go.

cause whatever decision you make, it's gonna hurt somehow.

 

[MissTaken]

Well, he is getting worse.

Now, he is very anxious, tries to bite, but can't.

He is losing movement in his left side.

How would one go about putting down a hamster in a humane fashion?

 

[MissTaken]

And thank you both for posting.

It really isn't an easy thing, rodent or not.

 

[Netzach]

Am I a total yuppie for asking if there's a small=animal vet in your area? M, bless his heart, has had surgery on ferrets and rats.

They'll help it along in a decent way.

 

[MissTaken]

Yes, there is.

Perhaps, if he is still struggling tomorrow, I will take him in.

Oh, and Raindear, I did check his ears. They are very dark, almost black.

And his coat isn't orange like it was, is much less vibrant. That may be because he is ill, though.

Thank you, Neztach.

 

[RJMasters]

@}---}---

My heart goes out to you in your predicement.

Others have said what I would have said.

One thing you can do is make a bed for him(dig a little grave) and have the kids put something special of theirs in with him to keep him company while he sleeps. May give them a chance to say goodbye. Only you know if holding a little service would help or not for the kids.

As far as how to put him down. Other than having a vet do it...if you have to do it. Well damn there is no easy way. Its about having the courage to do the right thing. As far as method...my only suggestion would be to fill a bucket with water then put his cage in so that it submerges then walk away. Give yourself some time to calm down like an hour or so then come back and he will be asleep and at peace.

Drowning is not a bad way to go, its over pretty quick, and there is not a violent act involed as a memory that you have to live with.

*hugs be strong

 

[graceanne]

The Humane Society will put animals down for cheap. That's what my sister did when their three year old rat got cancer. And if you're in the mood to laugh your ass off (I know my husband did)read on.

Then she came over and buried him in my back yard, cause she was living in an apartment at the time. The next morning her son (5) asked if he could go outside. I dressed him, and he went outside. He's real big on digging, so I didn't think anything of it when he grabbed a spoon. Then he came in and yelled "Who wants to see the rat?" The little turd had unburied it. I called my sister, told her what her son had done, and informed her that she was reburying it.

 

[graceanne]

ooops double post

 

[MissTaken]

Scamper is sleeping which is good even though he is typically nocturnal.

Okay, I am a coward.

The SPCA might be an option.

Thanks!

And thanks for the chuckle. I was thinking earlier about where would be best to bury him when it is time, because I know that between kids and outdoorsy sorts of critters, he will likely get dug up.

 

[PyroDemon]

MT, I totally can understand. We lost our dog of 19 years over a year ago and we did not do the "right" thing and help him out of his misery. We thought about us more than we did him. I still don't sleep well over it.
I am sorry, but it appears your hamster has had a stroke. I raised them as a kid and am familiar with the signs. It is common in rodents , their little hearts beat so fast. Your only recourse is to not make the poor creature suffer if you do not have to. Again, I wish I could tell you it will get better, but it will not.

 

[SweetDommes]

if you still need/want advice, let me ask Holly ... she's the animal expert of our house, and she has a particular soft spot for hamsters.

 

[cellis]

Miss T I am wondering how the little fellow is doing?


I have had many animals in my life and we, my brother and myself, even raised hamsters for a time. Actually, if the little guy is as sick as you say, you can certainly put him in a little ziplock bag and he will just sleep and not awake...

Actually a knock in the head is also good for putting small animals down. I know it sounds horrible, but when you raise small rodents and the like for show and breeding, there are times when you have to cull the herd.

I apologize if my frankness upsets anyone.

 

[A Desert Rose]

I wonder what I can do to make him more comfortable.

Now, Scamper, our two and a half year old hamster appears to be struggling. His head shudders when he tries to hold it up and there is dampness around his neck and down the center of his abdomen. He even tried to bite me when I was holding him and he didn't seem to have the strength.

Hmmm

What should I do?

I considered helping him along, but what if he gets well?
And how to explain euthanasia to my six year old?

I think for now, I will let nature take it's course.


Do you have any thoughts or experiences with sick pets?

Or sick pets and children?

I'm sorry... or not... call me heartless but these are rodents... kinda like mice and rats. I'd open the back door and tell him 'bye.'

Tell the kids he chewed his way out of the cage or something...



(You don't have to be told, I'm sure that this was all written tongue-in-cheek, just for you! But I'm sure there are others who just can't figure out my humor.)

 

[A Desert Rose]

And if that doesn't work... refer to cellis' knock-in-the-head idea.

 

[graceanne]

As to burying it, I understand that the humane society will also cremate. Melissa (my sis) chose not to do that because she wanted to let the kids bury it (and unbury it). But if you chose to do this, maybe you guys could go spread them over a flowery field or something. Talk about him running free or . . . I dunno. Recently my daughters cat got killed by the neighbors Rotweiller, and how they deal with it depends on the child. My 18 mo old didn't even notice, and I told the 3 year old that she was in heaven with God, and she was ok with that. My six year old was the biggest issue. She was pretty upset, but that was partly cause she saw the rot get Janie. Also, I suspect she let Janie out when I specifically told her not to cause the dog would kill her. We took Janie up to my mother in laws, and buried her near the woods (and put rocks over the grave). That seemed to help. Then we got another cat. Immediately.

 

[SweetDommes]

As to burying it, I understand that the humane society will also cremate.

Most will, but they also charge $20+ for it, and as someone else said ... it's a rodent. I had my first pet rat put down because she had some massively metasticized cancer, and it was $10 to have her put down ... and if I had had them dispose of her body, it would have been another $25. I loved her, I was sad that she was gone, but that doesn't mean that it was worth that much to me (then again, I was a poor college student at the time, so that scewed my view a bit).

 

[MissTaken]

he is a bit better today.

I did talk to the pet store. They said that they put a bit of starter fluid on a swab and put that with the critter in a ziploc baggie. The critter goes to sleep and doesn't wake up.

So, there is an option , if needed.

My lil girl showed me he is getting better today. She guesses she can dress him up in his cowboy hat tomorrow.

 

[SweetDommes]

OK - expert advice from the wildlife major/hamster forum moderator/animal nut ...

At 2.5 years old, he is already well past the normal life expectancy of a store bought syrian or teddy bear hamster. There could be dozens of things wrong with him - from diabetes to a stroke, to ... anything. In fact, diabetes is pretty likely depending on which species he is .. and my hamster died after having a massive stroke (Holly nursed him for about a week before he finally gave up).

Try giving him some oatmeal, a tiny sliver of apple, applesause ... things that will appeal to him and will make him more likely to eat - but keep them unsweetened, and stick to small portions of things that will keep him hydrated.

 

[canadiancutie]

my cat currently has cancer for the second time (she had it once before and i had to work for months to pay off her vet bill and surgery...it sucked but it was worth it) but now she's 16, and the vet says she wouldnt make it through the surgery, so I deffinitely sympathise. it's probably best to let nature run it's course, just make it as comfortable for him as possible

 

[snowy ciara]

((cutie)) enjoy your time together.. and we're here for you...

 

[graceanne]

Yeah, my kitty's 16, and while she's fine now, I know that her clock is ticking. It worries me.

 

[snowy ciara]

Eeyore's only 8; but that's middle aged for a feline.. Even a feline goddess..

 

[MissTaken]

Eeyore is a very cool name!



Our dog is the same color as Eeyore the donkey. That might have been cute.

But instead, his name is "Blue."