How To Care For A Dying Hamster? Let's Find Out -

Hamsters have a short life span and the moment when your pets dies can come very quickly.

Of course, it is a very difficult moment for all hamster owners, but you must be ready and provide the hamster with more care in the last moments of its life.

How to care for a dying hamster?

When the hamster is dying, give him regular access to food and water, let him sleep as much as he wants, keep the temperature in the room optimal and provide him with a quiet environment.

In today’s article you will learn what to do when hamsters are dying, how to make them more comfortable, how to deal with the loss of your pet and similar issues.

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How to care for a dying hamster?

Hamsters age very quickly and the moment comes when they will die of old age or of certain diseases. In those moments, you need to provide your pet with enough care and attention in his last hours.

Here are some things to keep in mind to help make a dying hamster more comfortable:

comfortable temperature
quiet surroundings

give him his favorite food
painkillers
remove toys and objects from the cage

add more hiding places
remove the other hamsters

We will learn about these and other things that you should provide to the dying hamster in the following text.

When the hamster is dying give it a comfortable temperature

Hamsters are animals that do not like either too cold or too hot temperature, so make sure it is set between 65-75 F so that it will be more comfortable when it dies.

Therefore, regardless of whether it is winter or summer, maintain the temperature at an optimal level at least in the last days and hours of your pet.

Make sure the hamster’s cage is not in a draft or too close to radiators.

You should pay particular attention if you keep a cage in a glass case because glass retains heat and the hamster can be too warm in its home.

Provide a quiet environment for the dying hamster

When hamsters are living their last days you need to provide them with a quiet environment because they need it to feel comfortable.

In the last days or hours before they die, the hamsters will be constantly in their shelter and will sleep almost all day.

They will only come out to eat and drink water, although this probably won’t be too often as they will also lose their appetite.

Here are some tips to provide them with a quiet environment in the last moments of their lives:

other pets and children should not be near them.

turn off the TV and music devices near him.
turn down the light in the room
do not shake it in your hands very often

Failure to take these steps can put your hamster under even more stress and die sooner and faster.

When the hamsters are about to die give them their favorite food

When the hamsters are about to die, it is best to provide them with food pleasures, so that they can enjoy it in the last hours.

Hamsters love it when you give them some of their favorite foods, so try to make it possible for them.

Here are some foods that will make a hamster happy in its final moments:

banana
carrot

an apple
cucumber
seeds

nuts

Give painkillers to hamsters who are living their last days

When hamsters are living their last days before they die they may be in pain and therefore need medication.

Whether hamsters are dying of old age or disease they may have pain in their joints or elsewhere in the body. Hamsters need pain medication if you notice the following symptoms and signs:

breathing problems
dehydration
loss of appetite and weight loss

making loud noises of pain
sleep much more often
lethargy

In such situations, you should immediately consult a veterinarian to prescribe painkillers for your pet when it is not well.

Be with the hamster in the last moments of his life

In the last moments of the life of the hamsters, before they die, you need to give them more attention because that way they will feel better.

Sit next to the hamster’s cage and talk gently to him for at least an hour every day, so that he feels that you care about him.

If he allows you, you can also take him in your hands, but don’t try too hard, you will notice for yourself whether he wants to hold him or not.

When the hamster feels that you love him, the hormone oxytocin is released, which will help reduce his blood pressure and generally reduce his pain and suffering in his last moments.

Of course, if he wants to be alone and withdraws and hides in the cage then let him be alone, because you have to respect his wishes.

Ignore the unwanted behavior of the dying hamster

When hamsters die they may act aggressively or try to bite you.

But do not blame your pet in the later moments of his life, because this behavior is probably a consequence of pain.

Some hamsters die more easily while others are aggressive in those moments, but still, they cannot harm the environment, so let them continue with this behavior.

In such situations do not pick up the hamster and just speak to it in a gentle tone to try to calm it down as much as you can.

When the hamster is dying remove the toys and objects from the cage

When a hamster is dying it is best to remove the following items from the cage:

exercise wheel

bridges
pipes
climbing stairs

When hamsters are living the last moments of their lives they no longer have the strength to climb the exercise wheel and other objects in the cage.

So take them out of the cage because they can only hurt themselves further if they use them. In the last days of life, hamsters only need to have enough food and water and hiding places.

When hamsters live last moments they need more hiding places in the cage

When hamsters dying we need to provide them with more hiding places in their cage to make them feel comfortable.

In the last moments of a hamster’s life, they look for places where they can hide and feel safe.

Hamsters before they die do not have the strength to make shelters for themselves, so we need to place a few in their cage.

When your hamster dying remove the other hamsters from the cage

When your hamster is living its last days you should remove the other hamsters from the cage.

A dying hamster should be alone in its cage because other hamsters can only cause it stress and worsen its condition.

They do not have enough energy to run and play like other hamsters, so leave them alone in the cage.

When the hamsters are dying feed them with a syringe or by hand

When hamsters dying they may have problems and not be able to eat. In such situations, you may need to help your pet and feed it with a syringe or from your hand.

In any case, when the hamsters dying, they need to eat and drink water, so help them as much as you can.

You can add more protein to their food as protein will increase their strength in the last moments of their life.

Should you let your hamster die naturally?

One of the most difficult questions for any hamster owner is whether or not to let their hamster die naturally, because the answer is half-hearted.

If the hamster is not in pain, then you can leave it naturally, by giving it timely food and water, maintaining the temperature in the room, and providing it with a quiet environment.

Whereas if the hamster is constantly in pain in its last days then it is really sad to let the hamster suffer until it dies.

When the hamster is in pain for the last few days, consult a veterinarian to help you or suggest what to do with your pet.

Sometimes hamsters will die very quickly after being in pain and suffering, but it is still individual for each hamster.

How do I know my hamster is dying?

Hamsters unfortunately have a very short life span, when they reach two years of their life they are already old and may soon die.

Hamsters have a fast metabolism that quickly wears out their organs, so they don’t live very long.

To know that your pet is nearing the end of its life, it is enough to observe it and pay attention to the signs and symptoms it shows.

Here are some of them:

swelling in the eyes

dehydration
decreased appetite for food
blood appears in the urine

he gets seizures
makes strange noises
his fur becomes greasy and dull

it starts to smell unpleasant

If you notice these signs then you should be prepared that the hamster will soon die.

If your pet is also in pain in the last few days, you should consult a veterinarian who can postpone euthanasia to ease his suffering in the last moments of his life.

It’s a sad moment when you see your hamster and you can’t help it but that’s the reality and you have to accept it.

How long does it take for hamsters to die?

Hamsters can die very quickly in one day, but they can die for several days, it all depends on their condition.

The time in which they will die depends on whether they will die of old age or some disease.

For example, if they have a wet tail, hamsters can die in 2-3 days, while from other diseases they can die after a week or so.

In any case, it is not possible to know exactly how long it will take the hamsters to die, it depends on their immunity, as well as on other factors.

When hamsters are living their last days there is not much you can do to help them other than give them enough care and attention.

Can I hold the hamster when it is dying?

You can hold the hamster when it is dying but you have to be very careful because in the last days of its life, it does not like to be held much.

This is especially true when the hamster is sick, he will not want you to hold him in your hands because he is probably in pain.

If the hamster dying of natural causes then it may allow you to hold it but don’t expect it to allow you to hold it for a long time, as it will use up more energy than usual.

When hamsters do not want to be held in your hands they will run away from you or hide in the cage because they are not well and want to be alone.

If the hamster wants to be alone and does not want you to hold it when it dies, respect its wishes.

How do I cope with the loss of my hamster?

When hamsters die, it is a difficult moment for every owner, but you have to be strong and move on, maybe by buying another hamster, but not right away.

Here are some tips to help you cope with the loss of your pet:

Remember the good times you had with your hamster.
grieve as much as you need to.

you have to understand for yourself that the hamster dying is a moment that must have happened.
Bury your hamster and have a farewell ceremony.
Talk to your loved ones that will help you get over their death more easily.

Sometimes the best way to move on is to buy a new hamster, but first, wait for the amount of time you need to grieve.

Read more interesting articles:

Why Did My Hamster Die With Eyes Open? Let’s Discover

Conclusion

When hamsters dying, it is necessary to take care of them as much as possible, provide them with a peaceful environment, room temperature around 65-75 F, and give them food and water regularly.

If the hamsters are dying and in pain then you have to give them medicines so they don’t suffer before they die.

Talk to your pet in the last days of their life, as this also helps them feel comfortable even though they are living their last moments.

Unfortunately, hamsters have a short life and we have to be ready for the moment when they die, so take care of them as best you can in their last moments.