Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
I think I may have killed my hamster?
one hamster died of wet tail before I knew what was wrong. Then 2 more hamsters got wet tail. I had to force feed them special liquid food and pedialyte and their antibiotic. they fought me with it of course. They were beginning to improve, but last night as I was giving the older hamster her medicine, she was fighting me and was really strong, then just went limp in my hand and stopped swallowing and stopped fighting. I tried to stroke her throat to help her swallow but she wouldnt, the medicine just ran out of her mouth. I leaned her over to get it back out of her mouth because I didnt want her to choke on it. Then she was dying, but then I placed her in her old bed she shared with her male mate and she perked up ALOT so I would stroke her and encourage her to breathe because I thought I had accidently got the medicine in her lung and I was hoping she would cough it up or breathe enough to clear it out. She was up walking some, weak, but able to walk. She then went downhill quickly. She gasped for air for approximately 20 minutes. I stroked her and talked to her so she didnt feel like she was alone. I didnt bother her though. I wanted her to die in peace. I loved her so much. My heart is broken. The other one who was sick is now much better. If I had only not forced her to take her antibiotic but the vet told me to make sure she took it. I feel so bad. Please no one say mean things to me, Im already devasted. Anyone with experience with hamsters, what do you think happened? She was about 1 1/2 years old, I know thats kinda old for a hamster. She also had a nonhealing ulcer on her right side but it wasnt infected.
I did not house them together, they did have a bed they shared in their playpen when I let them have playtime. That did not contribute to her death. and yes, its VERY rare for a hamster to share a cage with another, but these two were best friends and never fought, but I did separate them for sleeping because I didnt want multiple litters of hamster babies. there was no "lack of care" provided, I took great care of them. When I got them, I researched alot so that I could provide the best care I possibly could and when they got sick I didnt hesitate to take them to the vet. And no, I didnt squeeze her too hard, I was very gentle and careful. One time I had her in my hand and fell down the stairs and hurt my back really bad because I was making sure I didnt hurt her, and hurt myself in doing so. Thank you all who have responded, except the one who told me to eat her. Im very upset and miss her terribly. I had her for almost a year and a half, with no problems until they
7 Answers
- 9 years agoFavourite answer
Do not blame yourself! What happened was out of your control. You were doing the right thing by obeying the vet's orders, and you did not intend to hurt your hamster. This is not your fault. I had a hamster who I took immaculate care of, spoiled, and loved, and he lived for 5 years! I felt very guilty when he died because he lived so much longer than normal, and became very unhealthy. He was a teddybear hamster, and by the end of his life, he had dry skin (which I treated every day by rubbing olive oil on him for a year. By the end, it became uncontrollable.), loss of appetite, and heavy breathing. He died when I was not home. I felt very bad for not being there, but I just had to remind myself that I did my best to care for him. Just like you did! :)
Source(s): Hamster owner <3 - Anonymous9 years ago
I have to give you credit. There arn't many people who take such great care of their hamsters, let alone bother taking it to the vet. They are such small critters and easy to replace that I know many people who just 'get a new one'. Im proud that you went that far. Now, I have never dealt with wet tail - although I did have an old hamster we took to the vet once, he was 3 1/2 years old and potty trained! Best little guy ever. 1 1/2 years old is about half their life. Most hamsters I had lived to be 2 - 2 1/2 years. Now im sure you didnt mean to harm your hamster and I am sorry for your loss. But from experience - Hamsters are fragile. It is possible that you probably over exerted the little fella and he just had no energy left. Unless you where squeezing him too hard when you were trying to medicate him, I assure you - It was not you that caused his time to run out.
Source(s): Previous Hamsters - AlexaLv 69 years ago
Possibly she did get some in her lungs and effectively drowned but it wasn't your fault. You were trying to help her, if she hadn't taken it the wet tail could have killed her. Poor hammie, I'm sorry for your loss.
It was an accident, you did the best you could and really you have been pretty unlucky because its quite unusual for dwarf hamsters to get wet tail, they aren't as prone to it as Syrian hamsters. At least I'm assuming they were dwarfs because you say they lived together and dwarf hamsters are the only ones that should do that.
- ?Lv 45 years ago
both you began your era and he's in basic terms lost someplace, or you probably did probable kill him. No you gained't bypass to detention center. i'm hoping the little adult adult males o.k.. EDIT: Unfortionately, if a hamster fell into the bathroom, he would or ought to no longer be able to get himself out and hence would were drowned by technique of the time you arrived.:(
- Anonymous9 years ago
You didn't kill your hamster. She likely died of wet tail.
- Summer SunLv 69 years ago
wate did you jsut say she shared a cage with a male!!
NEVER house female and male hamster together
im sorry for your lose but this lack of care could of helped in her death
