My 3-year-old hamster is suddenly hyperactive. Is this a bad sign?

These signs could be signs that Cookie is not feeling well but it could also be a sign of aging. Hamsters typically live about 2 years so Cookie is middle aged and slowing down is normal. monitor his eating and drinking very closely. If he is showing signs of illness, find a veterinarian who sees pocket pets. Please post again if you have any further questions.

Two years old is considered "old age" for a hamster. These may be age related changes, but you would need to have him physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any infection or injury. The clicking while breathing is concerning as it could be a respiratory infection.

Hello, I'm so sorry to hear your hamster is not feeling well. The photo looks like she may have some diarrhea, which may help to explain why she has been lifting her bum up (tender) and has been lethargic. Her increased breathing rate may be a sign of pain. Unfortunately, two years old is considered elderly for a hamster so we also need to think about cancer as a possible cause as well. I would take her to a hamster-friendly vet as soon as possible. They may be able pinpoint a cause, and at least to provide medication to help with the diarrhea and pain, and fluids to help rehydrate her. I hope this helps.

Hamsters are naturally nocturnal, so it is normal to be active at night and early in the morning. Hamsters may also pace back and forth if they are bored or stressed, so making sure Phish has plenty of fun things to do such as burrowing in bedding, running on wheels, having a toy to chew, etc can help. If he's however losing his balance, has a strange head tilt, or is showing other strange behaviors in addition, then it could possibly be an underlying illness and should be checked out by a local vet.

I’m sorry to hear about this with your hamster. As you mentioned, 2 is quite old for a hamster so we have to take that into consideration. His increased vocalizations are likely due to discomfort, probably from his illness. I would recommend taking him back to your veterinarian for a recheck just to make sure nothing else is going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Stig. If he is in a warm room and we are sure the shaking isn't from being chilled I would be concerned about his health. Unfortunately hamsters do have a short lifespan and some can live to 3 years, 2 years is a common age. I would consider bringing him in to a vet that sees exotic pets for an exam, in case there is something that can be done for him based on his examination.

It sounds like Brizzo may be having diarrhea - which can be caused by intestinal parasites, or bacterial and viral infections. I recommend having Brizzo seen by a vet to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. While Brizzo is older, hamsters can live up to 2-3 years, and would benefit from treatment. I hope this helps and that Brizzo gets well soon!