My hamster is passing out often. What's wrong and should I see a vet?

I am so sorry to hear that tour Syrian hamster is not well. It sounds like he is possibly in pain and may have an infection. Unfortunately with prey animal species like hamsters, they do not tend to show signs of being unwell until they are actually very sick. They tend to hide signs their body is not well longer, then other species. For this reason I would advise taking your hamster to your veterinarian. It is very likely they will be able to provide medication, such as antibiotics to try to help him recover. The vet will also be able to provide medication for pain relief and healing. Best of luck to you both and please feel free to ask as many questions as you may have here on the forum. We want to support you through this time.

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.

I can see that your hamster is hunched and her fur is raised. Her labored breathing is cause for concern. It can be caused by infections or masses, and requires veterinary attention right away. The blood you identified can be caused by bloody stool, or even a rectal prolapse, both of which are serious medical conditions. She should be seen by a vet as soon as possible, as she may require supportive care to be stabilized. I hope all is well!

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.

Chewie sounds very sick, and I am so sorry that this is happening. From what you are describing, she needs to see a veterinarian immediately. She can then be evaluated to see if there are any possible treatments for her, and if there are not, they can assist with euthanasia if that is needed or desired by you to ease her suffering. 18 months is an older age for a hamster, so that may be related to why she is getting sick. The material around her nose may be making it hard for her to breathe as well - if she tolerates it, you can clean the material off with a warm, wet cloth, but be careful so that she doesn't panic or struggle when you do it since she is already having a hard time breathing. The veterinarian can also clean this off for you as well. I am so sorry again - it is never easy to have a pet get sick.

Hi, This is a difficult one to answer without seeing the behavior or at least a clip. If he is otherwise well, eating and maintaining weight then he us probably fine, but if still in doubt - a visit to the vet is recommended.

It sounds like Red may be having seizures. Make sure he is eating and drinking normally. If he continues to do this then I would recommend to contact your vet for an exam to ensure there is nothing wrong that could be causing the seizure like low glucose, an infection, diabetes, and more.