My hamster is spinning non-stop. What's wrong and what can I do?

She may be painful and dehydrated and undernourished. An immediate check up at your local vet is required to have a better clinical picture and treat appropriately. Pain relief meds and eventually antibiotics (if there is any sign of infection) are possibly required. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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.

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I think you should take the hamster to a vet for an exam. They will be able to give you the best idea as to what is going on. This may be a very treatable problem like skin parasites. Mites (mange) would be my best guess at this stage. The mites can be can be so irritating that they drop on the floor as you described. She looks pretty healthy from what I can tell in the photos. I think you should consider taking her for an exam before electing euthanasia. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I am very sorry that your hamster is not well anymore. You definitely took good care of him as it is rare for hamsters to actually live for three years. If you think he is telling you that he is suffering and would like to have him euthanized humanely, then I suggest you call vets in your area tomorrow and ask for their fees. Vet fees vary greatly depending on location of the practice and also from vet to vet. Again, I am sorry, about your hamster not being well.

Hi Kate. So sorry you are having to deal with this and I sincerely apologize that no one was able to respond to you sooner. If Nibbles had not already passed away and is still showing the same symptoms you mentioned above then I suggest you take her to your vet to be euthanized humanely. You don't want her to suffer. Just letting animals pass at home sounds nice and peaceful but that is not often the case. Usually they are suffering. Again, my apologies for no one responding to you sooner. Unfortunately we are not an emergency service and not all the vets on this forum are comfortable answering questions about hamsters. Best wishes.

Morty sounds really bad, and leaving him like this would be cruel. Dying is not a pain free process. He has to see a vet now, even if it's just to put him to sleep. 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.

Unfortunately it sounds as if your hamster is very sick. The life span of a hamster is 1.5-2 years so Milla is considered an older hamster. If you are unable to take her to be examined by a veterinarian the best thing you can do for her at home is keep her warm and dry and encourage her to eat as much as possible, even if you are able to hand feed her. Also make sure she is still urinating and defecating as well. Best of luck. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!