Is my hamster dead?

Question

I'm a little worried about my hamster. I came downstairs to find her pretty motionless, but still moving. She wasn't moving properly however and just dragging herself about. I gave her some fresh bedding and got her to lye in her bed. She now isn't responding to me and feels very boney. She almost seems dead - apart from the fact that she is DEFINITELY still breathing and has been for the last half hour. Can anyone help? It has been a bit cooler over the last week and we haven't had any heating on - so i have put a radiator on and moved her cage closer to it in case that's the issue. I'd rather know what was going on one way or another, so all suggestions are welcome. Roger.

Answer 1

i think you should call a vet and tell them how your hamster is behaving and see what they say. but untill then, since it does sound like she is going to die, dont pick her up or wake her when she falls asleep cause i know that i would want to die peacefully.

i hope she doesnt die though and good luck.

Answer 2

I have a fancy dwarf hamster.When i got my first one now it's dead but when it was dying it was not moving breathing for a whole day so maybe your hamster is dying sorry :(

Answer 3

well they will be colder and you wont see breathing..... its just dying slowly. Call the vet hopfully they will help

Answer 4

Well you could have shocked it. Mine had like a stroke or something cause of shock i think and half of its body didn't move.

Answer 5

call a vet and tell them how your hamster is behaving. and if you have to, bring her there. hopefully she'll be okay.  good lucky with her, i really hope she's okay.

Answer 6

It sounds as if your hamster is going to die. The same thing happened to me a few months ago with my hammy Harvey. Your ham is most likely going to die and though bringing her to the vet its expensive and usually not succesful. Try to get it to eat if you can if not dont force the food. You can pick her up kiss her and say good bye but in the most part you should leave the ham alone. Play soft music if you want and lower the lights making the atmosphere more peaceful in the end you are just trying to make her more comfy.

Answer 7

If she's breathing, she might just be dying, but not dead.

She might be dying. If she stops scurrying around a lot, and just lays there all the time, even if you take her out, then she's proably about to die.

Get a puppy. They last for a good sixteen years. x)

Answer 8

That hapend to my hamster he wouldent walk but drag himself and so i left him when i came back from scool he was very thin and not moving breathing but just lying there. i called the pet store and asked them what to do and they said he was in alot of pain and its best just to put him in the freezer so he would die quicker and without pain, you should call the pet store and ask them if the freezer is right

im so sorry if thats the end :(

Answer 9

You mentioned it being cold.  Hamsters will hybernate if they get too cold.  We learned this the hard way.  Our central heating system broke and my daughter's hamster hybernated.  They can survive but there is a proper way of waking them up, once you start, you cannot allow them to go back to sleep, if you do, it will die.  Check out the site I added.  Good luck.

Answer 10

She may be dieing or hibernating cuz when it gets to cold for them they hibernate & they seem almost like their dead.

Answer 11

i think she died by now

Answer 12

I would her to a vet just to make sure that she is ok?

Answer 13

My gerbil got pneumonia and this sort of sounds like what happened to her. She didn't move and only breathed. The bonyness might be because she can't eat on her own. Take her to a vet, they can help!

Answer 14

I had Pygmy Dwarf Hamsters, and they lived to be about 2 years old (my age).  I would question how old they are and realize that the life span of these is NOT like that of a dog or cat.  Just keep the animal comfortable, and show the love you have ALWAYS done.  This is the best thing for ANY animal.  Love...maybe quiet music, and comfort.  I hope this helps you--in some way.