/begin post
I nursed my precious senior hamster, Hidayah, almost 24/7 for three months before her eventual passing on the 5th of February 2022. She lived to about 2 and half years old, and was truly a guidance, as her name means, and an angel. This post is about what she taught me, and I hope this contribution helps someone out there who, like me, isn't ready to give up, who has a little fighter who means the world to them. If you needed this, and you're reading this, this is a gift from Hidayah.
Your hamster will probably not pass away directly because of their illness. They are more likely to pass away because of lack of energy and hydration because their illness is limiting their appetite and mobility. It doesn't matter how old they are, or how sick. There's always hope, and don't ever listen to a vet who tells you there isn't. Don't make a life and death decision at 2am a random emergency vet that you went to only because it was close by, who has minimal knowledge of hamsters. A good exotics vet is crucial. For SG pawrents, Beecroft Birds and Exotics has been the best, in my experience.
On a side note, a common misconception I keep on seeing is people bringing their pet to the vet ONCE and going "oh it didn't work, there's no point going back". Do you see your GP once and never again? No. You go back. You get a second opinion. Your pet deserves the same. Also note that with their small size, diagnosis is often not through medical testing, but trying a plethora of medications. So there probably is more that your vet can try. If you don't like the first vet, see someone else. Don't let your hamster die of an eye infection, for goodness’s sake, just because you think eye drops and one type of antibiotics are all that can be done.
But vets aside, you need to be supplementing their care. Supplement. This is not a replacement for vet care and advice.
Here's some things you can do for your senior or sick hamster to help keep them comfortable:
- Feed them a critical care mixture. You may do this using a syringe (good for measuring intake) or your finger, depending on your hamster's preference. Try to do this little and often. They may struggle to eat or lose their appetite, and a hamster with no energy and nutrition will decline very fast. Use an appetite stimulant such as Appelin from your vet if necessary to keep your hamster eating. Some mixes I've used are Mazuri, EmerAid, VetArk and Oxbow, and different hamsters will like different ones, so try to experiment with mixes ahead of time and keep a pack of their favourite on hand.
- Give them water, again by syringe (good for measuring intake) or on your finger. Mixing in electrolyte or glucose powder may also be a good idea for more energy. Water is crucial, so ensure you continually give them sips throughout the day.
- Let them rest. Make sure they are in a quiet area and move their cage if you need to. When checking on them, as you will be sure to do, try to do so without waking them! Place them in a hideout with a removable roof so you can quietly peek in. Watch their breathing, and then leave them be.
- Keep checking. Without waking them, pop in as often as you can to make sure they are comfortable and safe. Yes, even at night. One or two quick checks won't kill you, but it just might save your hamster. The number of times I have walked in on truly harrowing scenes is too many to count, but I am glad I was there.
- Keep them warm. They may struggle to maintain body heat, so ensure they are in a warm area. If they feel cold, hold them in your hand or against your body, or use a heat pack. If they get wet, soak up the excess water with a tissue (it's more absorbent than towels, and more maneuverable against a tiny body) and dry them completely with a hairdryer. Keep the setting on low and hold it fairly far from the hamster.
- Keep things within reach. The water bottle may be replaced with a shallow dish, like a saucer, but ensure the water is not too deep. Sometimes, fresh veggies are preferable, especially moisture-rich ones such as cucumber.
- So long as it is healthy, give them whatever they will eat. If it's cheese and watermelon from your lunch, so be it. As long as it won't be a detriment to their health (diabetes, kidney disease, diarrhea), just encourage them to eat.
- Keep them clean. They may struggle to groom themselves, so use chlorhexidine solution to gently wipe their bottom every few hours, to protect against diseases such as UTI and similar. As needed, use a warm, slightly damp tissue to wipe their body.
- Keep their cage clean. Spot clean whenever you see soiled bedding, and deep clean every week.
Things to keep at all times:
- Appelin B12
- Syringes (0.5 ml is best)
- Critical care formula
- Glucose powder
- Electrolyte powder
- Chlorhexidine
Critical care reviews (based on my own hamsters and opinions)
- VetArk: It resembles baking soda and has no smell, which doesn't do wonders for my perception of it. Hidayah didn't think much of it either, but I've seen reputable sources mention it positively. This was obtained from The Animal Doctors.
- Oxbow: Very fragrant, and as a perk, it's fairly easily purchased online. My hamsters love it, and I use it to increase or maintain weight for new hamsters. For weak hamsters though, it is important to note that it is a bit fibresome. This was initially obtained from Mount Pleasant and purchased online thereafter.
- Mazuri: It comes powdered, and smells like a delicious cereal. Makes a smooth porridge, and my hamsters adore it. This was obtained from Beecroft Vets. Seems fairly hard to self-source.
- EmerAid: It comes powdered and makes a smooth porridge, and in the case of the Omnivore Intensive Care I obtained from my vet, smells like chicken and a little extra. To be honest, it isn't exactly a mouthwatering scent for me, but my hamsters think far differently, and love it. It really boosted Hidayah's weight, and it was her main food for 2 months. She then understandably got bored and got on the Mazuri train. This was obtained from Brighton Vets, although it is pretty expensive there. The Intensive Care range is impossible to self-source save for private sellers (Carousel and the like) but the Sustain range can be purchased from Amazon. Only thing is that Omnivore Sustain doesn't actually exist, so you'd have to get Herbivore Sustain, which isn't quite enough for hamsters, who are, to the surprise of inexperienced owners, omnivores.
- Fatpouches Instant Porridge Blocks. Those who know.
It is a little more "fibrous" than I expected, so weaker hamsters might struggle. All my hamsters like it, either wet or dry, but it is an SG based shop so overseas owners may not be able to get this as easily. Also, it's always sold out, so you need to allow a week or two for pre-order.EmerAid and Mazuri are my definite go-to formulas for serious cases, although I also keep Oxbow on hand as a vitamin of sorts and for use doing taming.
I hope this post is helpful.
/end post
