Why did my hamster die suddenly after showing strange, sick signs?

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.

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.

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.

Sorry to hear about Midnight. Intestinal infections, liver disease, and other possibilities can lead to diarrhea. A veterinarian can probably perform a necropsy to determine a cause of death, if that would help. Sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry to hear that. If she hasn’t been breathing for several minutes then she is likely deceased. Hamsters lifespan is 2-3 years so she may have died of natural causes. Another common problem is respiratory infections which are difficult to see until they are almost too sick to treat. I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

I am worried that Milo is very sick. Certainly with small animals this could be a sign that he is going to pass away soon. Sometimes a veterinarian may be able to figure out what is wrong which may save him, but this doesn't always happen. I would recommend to take him into the veterinarian's office asap for an examine. If it is determined there is no hope, they can relieve his suffering painlessly. I'm sorry Milo is so sick.