Why did this happen to my hamster?

Question

My little syrian hamster Toffee was about 2 and a half years old (she was a rescue so we dont know for sure). Over the past couple of months she had lost a lot of fur from her hip area and by using crushed yeast tablets it seemed to be getting a bit better. She had also lost some weight but not so much i was worried about it and put it down to old age. She was eating and drinking normally. Up until last night she was still really active, bright eyed and seemingly happy.

Last night i heard this really loud banging coming from her cage and noticed she was having some kind of fit or seizure. She was flipping and banging against the sides of her little house so violently the roof had come off. After a couple of seconds she seemed to come around and began to move around rather feebly and then the fit started again and she wasnt coming out of it. My mum took her out of the cage and broke her neck, i know some people think its cruel, but we agreed it was he most humane to do because she wasnt coming out of it and she kept hurting herself. Her eyes were all swollen and she had bitten my mum so badly through the fitting we didnt know what to do it was sooo distressing for everyone.

After everything that had happened i checked her cage to see what if anything was unsual and i noticed she hadn't put her bedding in her little house and she hadnt buried her food in the little corner like she normally did.

Can anyone please explain why this happened to her? Why was she having fits? Did we do the kinder thing by breaking her neck? She wouldnt have known anything about it... If someone can tell me what happened to her i'd be so grateful because obviously i'm really upset. Thanks x*x

Answer 1

I'm very sorry for your loss... Rest In Peace little Toffee! <3

Sadly, Syrian hamsters, in general, only live about 2 and a half years.

(Please note, I am NOT a vet.)

The convulsions and swollen eyes may have been caused by swelling in her brain.

She was at the end of her natual lifespan, so, it's likely that she died from an age-related illness.

Personally, I would have tried to get her medical attention... and if nothing could have been done for her with medicine, I would have asked the vet to put her to sleep. However, considering that Toffee was a very old hamster and that her fits were so violent (and probably very painful and scary for her!) I think it's unlikely that should have survived long enough to actually get to the vet.

I can't say if snapping her neck was really the best option (I would never be able to do that!!) but, I do believe in euthenasia... no animal should have to suffer, and if there was no reasonable cure available to her, I realize you and your family did what you could to stop her suffering.

Once again, I'm very sorry for your loss. *hugs* I'm sure Toffee was very happy being part of your family, and now, she's running in the great big Wheel in the Sky.

Answer 2

i had 3 syrians one died on a friday then next friday another, then next friday the other. Then i got another syrian and it died the following friday. Maybe friday is my unlucky day!!. i now how loosing your hamster can bee u did the right thing by breaking her neck to put her out of her misery. I personally could not have done it myself. but breaking ur hammys neck does not make u a bad person. just think, if u were in tht muck pain u would what 2 b put out of it. Anyway i rekon tht was a fit

Answer 3

i feel so sorry for you and i think that some of the people on here are disgusting and very rude and disrespectful. maybe you could ring a vet or look it up on the internet. my hamsters eyes got swollen when i was younger and the vet said that it had a eye infection and my mum said it could have the operation to help it but sadly she had to be put down after that as she was no well at all I'm not sure if maybe that is part of the reason for yours, i am very sorry to hear what happens it can't have been nice for any of you. like i said maybe try looking on the internet under hamsters health or vets or something i hope this helps and good luck try nit ti feel to bad you totally did the right thing at least she is not in pain now. keep smiling  

Answer 4

This is what happens if you keep putting your hamster in the microwave.

As far as 'humanely' breaking the hamsters neck.... i think death by firing squad would have been more fitting..

Answer 5

i actually dont feel very sorry 4 u at all i feel sorry 4 the hamster im not trying to be rude but its kind of murder to brake a hamsters neck right ? i mean how would u like it if u had a fit and someone just snapped ur neck :| i mean come on even if it seemed the best thing to do it probaly wasnt theres a thing called the vets u could of just called them very quickly and asked what to do she could of survived and u wouldnt feel so upset. im sorry if this seems rude but its just the way i feel about this. but i know the pain ur going threw my puppy died 2 days ago and im still trying to get over it its weird not seeing her jump around the house but gd luck x r.i.p little toffee

Answer 6

Firstly, pay no attention to that first moron who answered your question!

Secondly, so sorry for your loss - you obviously loved little Toffee very much.  I know how sad a quiet peaceful death of a hamster is so this experience must have been utterly horrendous.

I think that the person who suggested that a swelling in the brain may have caused her seizures is probably correct.

And I think that it must have taken some courage for your mother to do what she did to put Toffee out of her misery.  In my opinion it was exactly the right thing to do - it would have been quick and painless and put an abrupt end to the poor creature's suffering.

Now that she's gone, please try not to dwell on her suffering.  Insttad, focus on the important thing which is that you loved her, cared for her and gave her a wonderful life which is a lot more than some hamster owners can say!

Answer 7

Poor thing, breaking the neck seems horrendous but it's obvious she was in a lot of pain and well it put her out of her misery.

I think your hamster was probably quite old and this was her body giving up on her, like a complete failure of all of her organs. It seems terrible but killing her was probably the kindest thing to do.

Sorry about your little friend. Give her a good send off.

Answer 8

You did the right thing death was eminent it was probably an age related stroke also you do not know the life she had before you so R.I.P little one if you decide to get another get a baby 1 and 2 do not get one that looks the same the new one should be his own not a memory

Answer 9

Well I am terribly sorry for your loss. My hamster is ill too and I am so worried. I know what it feels like, hun.

As for the fit or seizure, I'm so sorry but I don't know. I really don't and don't want to give you wrong advice.

But as for the breaking of her neck, I don't think that would've been the most humane thing to do. That happens to chickens and other things but I really don't think that would be good for a hamster...At least it put her out of the pain she was going through. I agree with the person above me and I think her body was giving up on her. You say you don't know her actual age, but she might even be 3 years or more. My hamster is only becoming 2 this Boxing Day and 2 is about the average age of a hamster. It's such a shame these lovely little buddies don't live long. They are so much fun to look after.

x*x ♥ David Tennant Lover ♥ x*x