My old hamster is shaking and struggling to move. Is he dying?

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.

Hamsters do hibernate, but typically it occurs when the temperature drops below 65F. Hamsters live in average 18 months to 2.5 years, so unfortunately it could be that Viker is getting old and reaching the end of his life. I'd recommend a visit with the vet as soon as possible for him. Best of luck.

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.

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!

There are some environmental things that can make hamsters shake, including temperatures, as you mentioned. Ideally, around 70-75 F is a range to keep hamsters in. Also, making sure their cage is not near a window or door to avoid excessive heat and drafts is a good idea. Too little bedding can also contribute to shaking - ideally, hamsters would have at LEAST 3-4 inches of bedding to dig/burrow into. Please avoid cedar and pine shavings as they can be irritating to a hamster's respiratory tract (lungs). Being sick can also make hamsters shake. Unfortunately, shaking is a vague sign, so there are numerous causes - a common one is weight loss associated with disease as they can become skinny which makes it hard for them to keep warm as well. I would recommend making any of the environmental changes above, and if there is no improvement in a couple of days, having Bebe evaluated by a veterinarian. They will be able to see if Bebe is thin, and perform a full physical exam. Depending on what is found, they may recommend diagnostic testing, or may have treatments for you to try. I hope that gives you a place to start!

Those symptoms tend to happen in very sick hamsters, usually due to severe dehydration. most hamsters do not recover from turning that ill but if you want to give her a chance to survive you will have to take her urgently to a vet in order to attempt supportive treatment.

Based on what you are describing it does sound as if Juggie is having some seizure like activity. The cause of the seizure could be from something metabolic (like a too high or too low blood sugar) or he could have a primary neurological disorder. You would need to take Juggie to the vet to determine what is going on and to get some medication to stop the seizures. Keep in mind also that the life span of a hamster is only about 2 years so, if this is close to Juggie’s age, a terminal disease process may be more likely. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.