r/hamsters • u/Lanky_Crazy_8386 • 2d ago
Question Did I do something wrong?
Both my female Syrian hamsters just died from what appears to be a similar cause within two weeks of each other. One was two, the other was 1.5.
We have owned at least two hamsters at a time for the past four years, none of them have died like this. No change in routine or feed or bedding with any of them.
Both of these recently deceased hamsters had rapid breathing, eyes got larger likely from some sort of internal pressure but one also had vaginal bleeding the day we euthanized her.
Fairly rapid onset, 2-3 weeks from onset to death. We euthanized both animals and each was examined by exotics vets a week to a couple days before we had to bring them back for euthanasia. The vets found nothing but rapid breathing, and neither had eye or nose discharge or sneezing.
I’m cleaning out the cage of the last one, which is a large Niteangel. The amount of dust is massive. I cleaned their cages regularly but mostly spot cleaning. even then I’m finding a lot of dust in the Niteangel. I used the most expensive bedding - the Kaytee one - and both had sand baths.
Did I do something wrong??? Was it the bedding!?
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u/BenHas456Bones 2d ago
I have heard that Kaytee can be pretty dusty, but i really don't think it's your fault. Especially if it's been the same routine for all of your hamsters and only now has something like this happens. I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't imagine the grief you're going through. Are they of the same litter/breeder?
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u/itsswhitneywhspr 2d ago
Yeah I've seen a lot of people saying kaytee is super dusty too. Its wild how much buildup happens under the surface even with regular cleaning. It really creeps up on you. Def doesn't make it your fault at all. Hope op is hanging in there. Also good question about the same breeder point might matter too if they're from same source. Either way loss that rough. Glad they had a vet care. Hope op post some peace. Don't over it blame yourself. Dust stuff sneaks up.
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u/Lanky_Crazy_8386 2d ago
No they aren’t from the same litter. I just want to make sure I do everything right so it never happens again. Is there another bedding that you’d recommend?
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u/BenHas456Bones 2d ago
I mean im not an expert when it comes to bedding and i havent used many different types. my main bedding i use is the full cheeks paper bedding which still has some dust with it but its worked fine for me and ive heard people say its pretty dust free. I also use kaytee bedding but only on the surface of the cage because kaytee is super soft and cozy, but because of that i believe more dust comes off of it. Ive also used niteangels bedding which I liked a lot and think is a good option but its quite expensive so ive only used it once.
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u/NotATimeTravel Hamster Artist 🐹 1d ago
I make my own bedding so I haven't tried it, but I've seen people say putting it in a pillow case or cloth bag and beating it outside will get rid of most of the dust
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u/AloneSort1087 2d ago
Ik denk met je mee. Heb je voldoende voer in het bakje gedaan en daarnaast een goed werkend waterflesje? Komkommer is een aanrader en ik vraag over het voer omdat sommigen een theelepel per dag geven en dan ineens is de hamster dood. Een hamster heeft een bakje vol nodig en daarnaast strooivoer. Om natuurlijk gedrag te kunnen vertonen moet het kunnen hamsteren. Verder genoeg schuilhuisjes en graaf mogelijkheden. Katoen vermengd met hennep etc. Kurk tunnel.
Niet overdreven het hok steeds schoonmaken of vernieuwen van spullen. Inderdaad het hok goed reinigen met desinfecterende zeep. Daarna met afgekoeld kokend water goed naspoelen. Om beestjes als bloedmijt te doden. Als je dit alles goed hebt opgevolgd bij de aanschaf van je vorige hamsters dan heb je helaas heel veel pech gehad en dat spijt mij voor jou. 🩷🐹
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u/Lanky_Crazy_8386 2d ago
Yes! Our hamsters get daily feeds of a fruit, a vegetable, a grain like oats, a leafy green, nuts, seeds, commercial mix, tofu or egg or plain chicken. They have plenty of fresh water, too. Definitely not a food or hydration issue!
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u/AloneSort1087 2d ago
I’am sorry. You had bad luck. I hope the next hamster grow old with you. 🙏🏻
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u/Embarrassed-Bunch383 1d ago
It couldve been heart failure. This causes them to strain and can potentially make their eyes bulge a bit. If one was bleeding from her Vagina that sounds like pyometra and it can progress rapidly. It’s an infection in the uterus, it fills up with pus causing bloating, bleeding and extreme pain. There’s open and closed pyometra. Open is when you can see the bleeding and or pus and closed is when the uterus fills up with the pus and doesn’t come out of the vagina or anywhere. Seeing as both of them were seniors it could be a total coincidence that they passed very close together/or declined. One could have nothing to do with the other. If you haven’t heard of pyometra do some research, in the future it would be better for the hamster to get treatment asap! Time is of the essence! It doesn’t seem like the bedding has anything to do with it if they didn’t have any type of wheeze,cough or as you stated discharge from nose/mouth. I just want to say thank you for being able to honor your babies by helping them along to the rainbow bridge. I believe it’s a final gift of love you can give them Be kind to yourself and give yourself some grace. Sometimes things just happen unexpectedly.. I’m so so sorry for both of your losses.
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u/Lanky_Crazy_8386 1d ago
Thank you. I know about pyometra, we had a hamster who got it and we tried antibiotics but ultimately had to euthanize her because she wasn’t getting better. It breaks my heart when they’re suffering 😞
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