The day we realize our pets starting to age is a sad one for all of us. Unfortunately it can mean we only have a limited time left with our furry friends, but it’s important to cherish that time and enjoy the remaining companionship.
However, it’s important that you start to notice signs of aging and even signs when a beloved pet is close to dying because we want to make their lives comfortable. One of these potential signs is eyesight degeneration.
While a hamsters eyesight will start to decline near the end of their life, going blind isn’t a definitive signal that they are dying. It could be a result of any number of potential illnesses.
Hamsters overall health will start to decline as they age and they will tend to become more lethargic, become confused more easily, eat less, and see degeneration in muscle and eyesight. But there’s more to know about your hamster and the end of their life.
That’s why in the following article we’re going to cover more topics that you can help you be more informed and make the right choices for your furry friend.
How to Know if Your Hamster is Dying?
It’s a difficult to read about the end of a beloved pet’s life, but it’s important to be able to identify the signs of your hamster nearing the end of their life. You want to make them comfortable and be prepared for the inevitable.
There are signs when a hamster is dying and the most obvious ones are lethargy and becoming less active. Hamsters naturally have a ton of energy and as they get older that energy starts to wane and is a common signal that their body is beginning to shut down.
Other signs include weight loss, patchy or thin fur, and they may begin to tremble when you hold them. Their breath can slow down and they may use their toys less, including wheels, tubes, tunnels, and more.
The weight loss is indicative of a hamster not eating as much, but it may be hard to tell that they are losing weight due to their naturally small size. So a better way to tell if they are losing weight is if they aren’t eating. If you refill their food bowl once a day, but start to notice you’re only filling it up once every few days this can be a sign that they are losing weight.
Finally, while blindness isn’t completely indicative of a hamster being close to dying, their eyesight will start to decline as they age. It may be hard to tell that their eyesight is deteriorating, but you start to notice them running into walls or other items in their cage.
If you start to notice any of these signs, it’s important to take them to a veterinarian to get a full check up and a professional diagnosis. Only a trained vet can give the most accurate assessment of your hamster’s health.
What to Do if Your Hamster is Dying?
When you start to notice the signs of your hamster dying, it’s important to take action right away. The first thing you should do is take them to your vet to get a professional diagnosis. Only a trained veterinarian with hands-on experience with your furry friend can make the right diagnosis and recommendation.
Sometimes a hamster may not be dying of old age, but rather a curable illness that is better caught sooner than later. If your hamster does have an illness, such as wet tail, your vet can provide antibiotics or other treatments to reduce the risk of serious complications.
However, if your vet provides the sad diagnosis of old age, the best thing you can do for your hamster is to make the end of their life comfortable. Make sure to clean their cage regularly, remove any items in their cage that can cause injury, and provide them with a healthy well balanced diet and maybe a few additional treats to make them happy.
Always monitor your hamster’s health over time and make adjustments as needed. While hamsters will inevitably age, they still need mental stimulation to keep them as active as they can be. Taking them out of their cage to be held is always a good idea so they can feel comfortable and happy.
And finally, take extra steps to avoid any additional stress in their lives. Keep them away from other, large animals that may exacerbate stress and anxiety as those can make their condition worsen at a faster rate.
While the death of a pet is always tough, you should be prepared for the end of their life by talking to friends or family if necessary.
Fatal Hamster Illnesses
As mentioned earlier, a hamster’s health will begin to decline with age, however it’s important to get the right diagnosis because many fatal illnesses share similar symptoms with old age. And if you can prevent an illness and increase the longevity of their life, you will absolutely want to do that.
Common hamster illnesses that share similar symptoms with old age include:
| Hamster Illness | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Old age | Lethargy, eyesight degeneration, weight loss, patchy fur, and trembling |
| Pneumonia | Difficulty and rapid breathing |
| Wet tail | Diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, stress, and anxious behavior |
| Malignant tumor | Bump underneath the skin, redness, and swelling |
| Diabetes | Excessive thirst, weight loss, and lack of eating |
| Parasites (roundworm) | Anemia and weight loss |
Hamsters are delicate animals with gentle immune systems and they can fall ill to a number of different sicknesses listed above. However, sometimes old age can be mistaken for a curable illness since the symptoms are very similar to other types of diseases and sicknesses.
That’s why it’s so important to take your hamster to the vet as soon as you start to notice any of the symptoms listed above. Only a trained vet can provide the correct diagnosis with a hands on exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some other questions that are often asked in relation to the topics we covered earlier.
Why Has My Hamster Gone Blind?
Hamsters can go blind or experience macular degeneration for a number of different reasons, including old age, genetic conditions, infections in the eye, and even physical injuries. If you start to notice your hamster’s eyesight declining, it’s important to take them to the vet to get a check up.
Is My Hamster Dying or Just Hibernating?
Hamster’s hibernating and dying can seem very similar to the untrained eye. If your hamster is in the same position as they normally sleep and they are cool to the touch, they are likely hibernating. Conversely, if they are more limp than a normal sleeping position and warm, they may be dying.
As a result, if you are asking this question and starting to wonder, a trip to your veterinarian is warranted.
At What Age is a Hamster Old?
Hamsters have a lifespan of 2 – 4 years, so they are considered old and halfway through their life around when they are 2 years old.
How Many Years is a Hamster Year to a Human?
Since a hamster’s average life span is 4 years and a human’s is 75 years, one year of a hamster’s life is equivalent to approximately 20 human years.
Additional Reading
If you’re interested in reading more about hamsters and their overall health, check out the following related articles:
- How to Determine if Your Hamster is Blind – WikiHow
- Eye Problems in Hamsters – The Spruce Pets
- Are Hamsters Color Blind? – Hamster Geek
Conclusion
When a hamster’s health starts to decline and they near the end of their life, it’s important to take the appropriate steps to prepare for the conclusion of their life. It’s a difficult process to go through, but be happy for all the good times you had with your furry friend.
While macular degeneration occurs as hamsters age, blindness isn’t a definitive sign of a hamster dying. It could be a symptom of a common illness or a physical injury, which is why it’s so important to get a professional diagnosis from a trained veterinarian.
It’s difficult to consider the end of your hamster’s life, but important that you get the right diagnosis and make them comfortable near the end.