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About Sheila Adby
Expertise
Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com

Experience
I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com

Publications
Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)

Education/Credentials
Educated to A Level standard in the UK.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Exotic Pets > Gerbils & Hamsters > bloated hammie

Gerbils & Hamsters - bloated hammie

Expert: Sheila Adby - 11/5/2009

Question
My 4 year old male Syrian hamster nibbles has been sick for a while, I took him to the vets and got him antibiotics for a cold, but a few times he stopped eating and drinking and got dehydrated, each time this happened i liquefied food for him which he ate used his syringe from his antibiotics to give him some water, each time i checked there was no air bubbles in syringe. this was working and it helped him build up enough strength to feed himself again for a while. the last few days he seemed to go downhill rapidly he lost a lot of weight and i noticed that he was dehydrated and cold so i gave him some water through his syringe, almost as soon as he had it one of his pouches started to puff out like it was filling with air everytime he breathed then his abdomen swelled and turned blue then he went to sleep on my belly and about 30 mins later he died there what could have caused this was it something i did. also i left him with my sister while i went to get a hot water bottle and because he had a blocked nose she decided to spray my nasal spray by his nose as she thought this would help it was only a small amount but could this have caused him to die. he already had a swollen blue belly by this point and his cheek was filling with air. he had also been sleeping all the time for about the last month. please answer my question do you know what could have caused my hammie to die and could i have done anything else help him.

Answer
Hi Becky

I'm sorry to hear about your hamster.

This is incredibly old for a Syrian hamster. I'm afraid I can't say for sure why he died other than from old age. Any time from around 2 hamsters can show signs of old age. They are very prone to getting tumors, kidney and heart problems. The fact that he swelled up and went blue could suggest kidney or heart failure.

It is safe to put Olbas oil near an animal as this helps unblock noses. I'm not sure about the nasal spray but I doubt very much that this would have done him any harm. From what you have said it sounds as though you did everything possible for him. You took much greater care of him than most people would have.

I'm sorry I can't say for sure why he died - and this is something you will never know but at least he had you taking care of him and trying your best. At this age sadly the body starts to shut down and I think that your care and attention probably helped him live much longer than he would have without it.

I hope this helps you.

Regards

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