Please Answer! How long does she have to live?

Question

I discovered my hamster had rectal relapse 3 days ago, and now the intestines have hardened outside of her body. She appears to be in extreme discomfort. She is a black bear hamster, but she is grey. She is only 1.5 years old. I cannot afford euthinasia, or surgrey. How long does she have to live, if you know. I just feel awful, and I want her to get out of her misery quickly. Please help.

Answer 1

I don't know how long your hamster has to live but it must be in extreme discomfort and pain and should be humanely euthanised.

If you can't take your hamster to a vet or to a local animal shelter, then carbon monoxide can be quick, particularly for an animal that small. When we raised birds, we occasionally used that approach or placed them into a small container and then into the freezer. Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) helped them to pass quickly.

Try a vet's office even if you can't afford it. Since it's a small animal many will do it for free to end the animal's suffering.

Answer 2

Well I dont know about Hamsters but I do know about humans.
If you have a rectal prolapse the worst thing you can do it to let it dry out, become black and necrotic (dead) as the bowel will die. It is extremely painful and you end up with sepsis from the dead tissue becoming infected.
Your poor little Hamster. She must be in so much pain.

If it had only just happened you could wrap it in warm wet cloth and gently push it back in very slowly with the hope that it would stay there (well we do that with humans anyhow).

Please please don't let her suffer. It could be a week or longer. You know this sounds so awful but the nicest home euthanasia would be to do something with car exhaust (carbon monoxide) - it is odourless and painless - you just get sleepy until you become unconscious then die in your sleep. Think of something but don't let her to suffer - it would be immensely painful.
Can't you go to a RSPCA vet or animal welfare place that would do it for free?

Answer 3

She will go pretty quickly, they are fragile, and the slightest ailment will take them fast- Hamsters live about a year or so- my daughter's hamster died when she was 1 yr and 6 months old, the vet said that was a long time for a hamster.
Pray that she goes- and she will.

Answer 4

anything over the age of 1year is old for a hamster

Answer 5

Thats awful. Once I had a kitten with a birth defect where it was rotting. So I wrapped it in a walmart bag then I buried her after she died. Better than smashing its head in or shooting it.