My 6 month old hamster was not eating then stoped moving and hardly breathing.How could I take his temprature?What does he have?
PLEASE HELP
2007-02-19 07:02:14 · 16 answers · asked by snugglesgirl71405 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I can't take him to a Vet.
2007-02-19 07:05:06 · update #1
Thank you I am calling a vet.
2007-02-19 07:10:13 · update #2
Given the recent cold spell hitting the US, your hamster may be trying to hibernate. What you've described is typical of a hamster entering hibernation. I'm a breeder in Ohio and have a breeder friend in Maryland. We have both had hamsters hibernate in the last three weeks. Unfortunately both the Maryland breeder and I have never had a hamster successfully come out of hibernation on their own. I do what I can to "pull" them out of it myself. I warm some juice and put it in a syringe then I hold the hamster sideways. I slowly trickle a bit of juice across the hamsters tongue making sure it drips out the other side of its mouth and not down the back of its throat. I do this until the hamster swallows a few times. Within a half hour, the hamster is usually out of hibernation.
Since yours hasn't entered into it, still use the warm juice but hold the hamster upright and put one drop into its mouth. After it swallows the first drop, give it another. Do this until the hamster rejects it. The warmth and sugar will tell the body to stop preparing for hibernation. You should see a difference in a half hour to an hour if that is what is happening to your hamster.
If you hamster has entered hibernation, its very hard to tell a hibernating hamster from a dead hamster. The one difference is that a dead hamster will be stiff from a few hours after death until a few days after death from rigor mortis. A hibernating hamster will be somewhat flexible. If you straighten it out, the hibernating muscles will pull the hamster back into the ball form. A hibernating hamster only have 3 heartbeats a minute and take what looks to be a strained breath once every two minutes. A hibernating hamster will be cold to the touch and may have discolored extremities as the blood isn't being pumped to them. If your hamster has entered hibernation, then use the warm juice method I've outlined above.
Note: Only Syrian hamsters hibernate. None of the dwarf species have been know to hibernate.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER warm a hibernating hamster from the outside in (heaters, blankets, warm air, etc...). This will cause the hamster to go into shock and die. The hamster needs to be warmed from the inside out, just like a person suffering from hypothermia. This is why the warm juice method works so well.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-02-19 11:34:20 · answer #1 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh I am so sorry about your hamster! Unfortunately I doubt you can take his temperature and without more information, nobody (not even a Vet) could determine what is wrong with your little hamster. I had one once that went lame (long story) and we did take him to the Vet. The Vet told us they are very delicate (healthwise) and that there is little one can do for them most of the time. I am sorry once again!
P.S. Maybe if you make a phone call to a vet and ask and tell them your finances don't allow for a visit, but you would like to know if there is anything you can do. Most Vets are VERY nice and VERY helpful.
2007-02-19 07:08:23 · answer #2 · answered by La_Liona 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
YOU NEED A VET NOW! Forget his temperature, you wouldn't know what it should be anyway or what to do for it. Hamsters metabolisms are so much quicker then ours, whatever is going on could kill him soon (in hours). In the meantime, hold his water bottle near his mouth so he doesnt dehydrate. If you can get him to drink, then take a pellet of food to his mouth. He might have injured himself or had a heart attack, try this but also go to the vet quickly!
2007-02-19 07:08:38 · answer #3 · answered by dgm 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
did you feed him a lot of green food? maybe he has wet tail....try to give him some protein but by the sound of it it seems that he is going to die...small creatrues don't live so long especially hamsters, they have a short life, consider taking it to a vet. good luck
2007-02-19 20:00:06 · answer #4 · answered by Hamster-Club.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a vet. Seriously, if you did take its temperature, how would you know if it was normal?
The hardly breathing part is what makes me think it's probably too late...I mean what do you think they're going to do for it? Still...6 months...so young.
2007-02-19 07:07:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure what YOU should do, but I suggest taking him to the vet! The same thing happened to my friend's hamster and his mouth got red and he died. It might be because it's cold! Hurry!
Why can'r you take him to the vet? It's going to die!
2007-02-19 07:05:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take it to a vet
2007-02-19 07:05:09 · answer #7 · answered by Sven B 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take it to the vet. It is going to die so either you take him to the vet or watch him die and by a new one.
I am sorry.
2007-02-19 07:04:56 · answer #8 · answered by Mystie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you can't take them to the vet you should own an animal.
2007-02-19 07:07:48 · answer #9 · answered by ○•○•Cassie•○•○ 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
try google aroung for some vet websites, but it'd be better it you actually take him to the vet
2007-02-19 07:06:26 · answer #10 · answered by ilovelamp 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋