my hamster is not breathing right??

Question

he is wheezing and it sounds like gagging or hickups. but i dont know what to do help

it is really late and i cant take him to the vet. i have researched and i think he has a respiratory infection. can anyone tell me how to care for him?!?!?!?!

he is eating right and i just cleaned his cage but it has been getting cold and the room i keep him in has been cold i moved him to a warm place and tomorrow i will be taking hin to a vet. i just need to know what i should do until tomorrow. and he is not old...1.5 years so just help...

well he is still alive and he does not have anything stuck in his throat it is a lung problem i should be taking him to the vet soon. he will mot die i will keep you posted on his symptoms. if anyone can give me more info it would help a ton.

Answer 1

things to do for your hamster until you can get him to a vet.
1. Provide humidification with a humidifier, or stay with rat in a closed steamed bathroom at 10 to 15 minute intervals, to loosen secretions.
2,. Provide additional warmth using a hot water bottle or heating pad on a low heat under one half of the cage (ensure hamster does not overheat and become dehydrated).
3. Provide additional nutritional supplement , such as Soy baby formula, Ensure, Boost, NutriCal paste (for dogs and cats found in pet store), mashed avocado, and baby foods. If the hamster is not willing to eat on its own, provide feeding in an oral needless syringe every 2 hours being careful to prevent aspiration.
4. Place food and water close and on same level with the hamster to prevent from exerting itself. Over exertion in a rat who already has difficulty breathing will prevent the hamster from wanting to eat
5. Provide fluids to prevent dehydration. If the hamster is willing to drink on its own or by syringe (using needless syringe), the following are suggested: fresh water, or a glucose mixture of 3 teaspoons of honey in 1 pint of warm water (be sure water is warm enough to dissolve honey and then cooled just enough so as not to burn rat’s mouth), or Jello water , or electrolyte replacement drinks such as Pedialyte or Gatorade which can be found in local grocery stores. Please note that Pedialyte is only good refrigerated for 24 hours after opened, but can be frozen as ice cubes and kept longer, and then thawed when needed. Care should be taken to prevent aspiration when giving fluids with an oral syringe. If the rat is not drinking discuss providing warmed SQ fluids with your vet

These are from the Rat Guide, but are also applicable to hamsters.

Answer 2

I strongly supect your hamster is either choking or has intestinal blockage due to ingesting his bedding. What kind of bedding do you use? my daughter just lost her hamster TONIGHT due to intestinal blockage from CAREFRESH ULTRA bedding.

I hate to tell you this, but if this is the case, your hamster probably wont make it through the night. you can try seeing if there's anything lodged in his throat and pull it out, but if it's got intestinal blockage, i'm afraid there's not much you can do except make him as comfortable as possible.

i'm really upset about this as she's already lost one hamster to the same problem, except that the culprit was "FLUFFY" brand 'safe' bedding. We were so careful about trying to get the safest bedding possible for the new guy and now he's gone the same tragic way. Both hamsters died within 8 hours of onset of symptoms. both hamsters exhibited the same symptoms you described. i am so sorry.

There's a gazillion reviews out there that say how safe this CAREFRESH stuff is. That's why we thought we bought the right thing. Well, that's pure baloney, for hamsters anyway. Bottom line, if it won't dissolve in water, then it won't dissolve in your hamster's tummy either if he swallows it.

i wish you the best of luck,

Answer 3

Could be a lot of things, you must go to the vet ASAP.

It could be abdominal pain or even a back injury. If your hamster has no diagnosed diseases from the past, you shouldn't worry too much unless some other symptoms are present:

Aside from the breathing issue, does it move without any trouble?, is it eating properly?, what about the toilet matters?.

You must tell us this things if you want to remotely know whats going on with your hamster. In other words, even if I could diagnose exactly what's wrong with it, you must still send it to the vet if you want to save him.

Good luck.

Answer 4

if you can't call the vet there's not much you can do. they only live for about three years, and my hamster had a similar problem. you've done pretty much all you can do so as soon as possible take him to the vet. he'll hold up as long as he's eating and drinking. if not try feeding him a little bit of water through a syringe.
so sorry i couldn't help more :(
best wishes

Answer 5

hi, take her to the vet, it really is not any longer familiar in any respect. I honestly have 2 dwarf hamsters and characteristic also had an similar situation. Mine became out to having a plague and had an antibiotic injection.

Answer 6

Call the vet or take him to Petco or Petsmart. He could have something lodged in his throat. Make sure he has water. Try holding him and stroking his tummy or the top of his neck. That may release it. If he is still doing it in the morning take him to a pet store or a vet right away. It may cost you money but you don't want him to suffer...

Answer 7

He has an upper respiratory problem, and you'd need vet assistance immediatly, if you don't have a vet who can look at him just keep him cozy, cuddle him and give him lots of love, he may not last much longer.

Answer 8

Your probably not going to get a diagnoses here. I would take the hamster to a vet, small animals are very fragile and don't live very long when sick.

Answer 9

have you heard of the VET, a animal Doctor? take the poor thing to the vet. and read up up the animal that you are planning on caring for before you bring it into your home/apartment..animals like human need to be cared for properly..

Answer 10

what kind of bedding do you use? if you are using pine or carefresh the dust could very well be the problem. switch to aspen or aspen crumbles and you will see a tremendous improvement!! good luck!