My hamster isn't moving and one eye is bigger. What should I do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could certainly be a sign of sickness. Also, I would be concerned that the other hamster could have died secondary to something infectious and contagious and perhaps Sunflower could be affected by it. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for any possible issue so that it can be addressed on time. Best of luck!

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Biscuit. By the description, he might have had a seizure or cardiac event. Dilated cardiomyopathy is relatively common in hamsters. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and listen to the heart for any arrhythmia or murmur. Not all heart disease is detectable via a stethoscope, therefore radiographs might be recommended to visualize heart size. This is not curable but could be managed with medications if diagnosed. Good luck.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question your hamster and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. This is a medical emergency, and you absolutely have to take him into a vet immediately. This is known as proptosis, and it is is extremely painful. This will be why he's not eating. You cannot leave him in pain and leaving this untreated can lead to vision loss. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

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.

It sounds as if your hamster is very sick. Usually when hamsters become so ill in such a short period of time there is not a good outcome. There could be several different things going on that have caused Comet to become ill so quickly. My best recommendation is to have Comet examined by a veterinarian to give him the best chance of recovery. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, without a necropsy (animal autopsy) it would be hard to say what caused Star to pass. If there was swelling and discharge from the ear, or from a gland on the body, the infection could have become septic and caused the passing, or there may have been an underlying illness or medical condition that caused it as well. It sounds like you were caring owners, so Star had a good life and lots of love while he lived. If you're having trouble coping with his passing, checking out some sources such as the Rainbow Bridge where you can make a pet memorial online may bring you some comfort.