My old hamster is very sick. Should I take him to the vet for his symptoms?

It does sound as if Elmo is very ill. If you want to determine what is going on and have potential treatment options then going to the vet will be the best plan. However, it is important to keep in mind that Elmo is a very advanced age for a hamster, normal life expectancy is 2 years and he has already exceeded this. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

It sounds like Kiwi is very sick, and I think she needs to see a vet now. Please take her 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. Best of luck.

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.

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 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.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question your hamster and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. This is a medical emergency, and you absolutely have to take him into a vet immediately. This is known as proptosis, and it is is extremely painful. This will be why he's not eating. You cannot leave him in pain and leaving this untreated can lead to vision loss. 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. Best of luck.

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.