Hamster died while I was on vacation. How to know its time of death?

I am sorry for the loss of little Dolores. Unfortunately, without a post mortem exam, the cause of her passing is difficult to determine. She may have been ill at purchase or suffered a trauma or toxicity in the time between purchase and her passing. I would suggest you contact PetSmart and inquire about their health guarantee and what to do next.

Oh no, I'm so sorry you don't know what's going on with Humphrey! Rigor mortis can take up to six hours to begin after death, and it can take up to 12 hours to affect the whole body. Check for signs of breathing, as if he's hibernating he will still be breathing. If he's not breathing, then he unfortunately has passed. The best way to know for sure is take him into the vet now. The vet can diagnose if Humphrey is hibernating or has passed.

I'm sorry to hear that! I don't see Theo's age. Typically hamsters live about 2 years. So depending on how long you've had him, he may have been reaching the end of his natural life span. These little guys can take a turn for the worse very quickly, so its not unusual for them to seemingly die suddenly. There is no way to know the cause of death without doing an autopsy and having a little more information on how he was acting and doing in the hours and day or 2 before he died. If you just found him dead in the last 12 hours, you can all a veterinarian local to you and ask if they'd be willing to do an autopsy. I would recommend that you clean the cage and change the bedding for the other hamster, just in case it was something potentially contagious. I'm so sorry for you loss. Thank you for trusting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question.

Hi, it is difficult to tell what could have happened. Was she eating and passing feaces fine ? Did she eat anything unusual ? Hamsters can be quite delicate and in absence of obvious signs it can be tricky to find a cause for sudden death. Sorry she passed away so suddenly and soon, I hope your next friend will have many happy days ahead. Hope this helps.

First off, I'm very sorry you lost Princess Babycakes. It is always horrible to have a pet pass away, and please accept my condolences for your loss. You can bury her body if you'd like in your yard, and create a little memorial for her. You could also take her body into the vet, and they can create her for you for a price, and you could get the ashes back. I hope this helps, again I'm sorry for your loss!

Sorry about your hamsters. Heat stroke would be a possibility as hamsters with heavy coats are unable to cope with excessive heat, especially if over 80 F. A veterinary visit could perform a necropsy in an attempt to determine cause of death. Sorry again.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Killer. It will take time for an animal to become stiff after dying. It does not happen immediately. I would check for any breathing and see if you can feel a heart beat. If so, you need to see veterinary care right away. I hope this information helps.