What is my hamsters Illness?

Question

I have a chinese dwarf hamster who is a year and a half old, i know his life is about at it's peak, but i'm just curious as to what this might be.

i just got back from vacation and i noticed that he is skinny. (he was before very chubby.) he's not using his front two paws as he should when he eats, and when he runs in his wheel his back seems to be hunched up. also on his neck it looks like someone is pushing his neck down so he head points up. (only when running in wheel does this happen with his back and neck.)

to me it seems like he is losing muscle control. because sometimes he'll just flip over on his back...almost like he's just had a muscle spasm or something.

any thoughts as to what this might be?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

I honestly do no not know. However, you may be able to find a vet that takes care of small animals. When my hamster was sick I took her to Banfield Animal Hospital(clinic). They were great. You may be able to find a Banfield office in you local PetsMart if you have one near you.

Answer 3

Loss of muscle use and even limb use, including lose of balance, would indicate a stroke, common in older animals. Even his hunched position would indicate it, whereas the skinny-ness is usual in elderly animals.

Answer 4

The wheel problem isn't anything to worry about. My hamster does that same type of thing and she is still really young. He's only scrunched up like that probably because the wheel is too small for him. If that's the case go buy a bigger wheel or a running ball.

I don't know what to say about the the second problem but to me it sounds like you're right about that, it does sound like he has muscle spasms or probably he get a little slow on things, so afterwords his reactions will seem a little off.

Answer 5

it looks like death will be visiting ur hamster soon, when u see him tell him he Owz me money :)

Answer 6

I have 3 year and half old chinese dwarf hamsters.

They too have lost considerable weight.....in their youth they also were chubby....although they do not have the problems you described when playing and are pushed onto their backs they do have something you could describe as a miny spasm when trying to get back up....this was always the case however.

If it really does worry you however I suggest simply bringing it to a small animals clinic.

Hope it helps.