Today I had to have "Grandpa" our adopted elderly hamster euthanized. She was quite old, but she had a good three weeks here in our home.
She was as active as a three year old hamster could be and liked her carrots, but in the last week she began to fail.
We have an obligation to our animals to put their needs ahead of our emotions. It is hard to put an animal down, but it is the human and humane thing to do.
I like to think that Grandpa is in heaven with a full coat of fur, no itchy patches and all of the energy she needs to dig, run and play.
God bless,
Pam
Showing posts with label elderly hamsters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elderly hamsters. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Elderly Hamster
Found out that our adopted elderly hamster, "Grandpa", is a girl. We would call her "Grandma", but I don't think my mom would be amused.
Grandpa is doing well, but my heart goes out to the little girl. Old age is hard.
God bless,
Pam
Grandpa is doing well, but my heart goes out to the little girl. Old age is hard.
God bless,
Pam
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Elderly Hamster Retirement Home
Yesterday my house became an elderly hamster retirement home. An elderly hamster that has lost her fur, has eczema, and appears to be partially blind and deaf (maybe totally). She was the class pet in the third grade at my daughters school, but didn't appear to be doing well, so she was removed from the classroom.
After much thought, and after explaining to dear daughter that this hamster was about 100 human years old, couldn't be handled and might die at any moment, I decided to take her.
First I researched and read what I could find on hamster care, elderly hamsters, hamsters with eczema and allergic hamsters. I could see that I need to change her bedding (wood shavings baaaad), diet and environment.
She needs hypoallergenic bedding, hamster feed augmented with particular fruits and veggies, and a quiet, calm environment. No stress allowed!! Olive oil massages were also recommended, but I don't think so (the mental image of me massaging an old hamster with oil is haunting me).
Dear daughter and I have discovered that she loves a few paper towels to arrange into a nest and julienned carrots. She has quite a stash of sunflower seeds that she breaks out when no one is looking. And while she is quite feeble, she is still able to take care of her day to day basic needs.
Her name seems to be involving, but I am leaning towards "Grandpa". Dear daughter pointed out to me that dear hamster looks remarkably like my father did during the last year of his life. Sort of bald and wrinkled, but with a pleasant, serene expression. My dad had a great sense of humor and would have loved this.
So Grandpa has settled into a happy routine of sleeping, bathing herself, eating, chewing and you know what. I hope her last weeks or months of life are easy and pleasant.
After much thought, and after explaining to dear daughter that this hamster was about 100 human years old, couldn't be handled and might die at any moment, I decided to take her.
First I researched and read what I could find on hamster care, elderly hamsters, hamsters with eczema and allergic hamsters. I could see that I need to change her bedding (wood shavings baaaad), diet and environment.
She needs hypoallergenic bedding, hamster feed augmented with particular fruits and veggies, and a quiet, calm environment. No stress allowed!! Olive oil massages were also recommended, but I don't think so (the mental image of me massaging an old hamster with oil is haunting me).
Dear daughter and I have discovered that she loves a few paper towels to arrange into a nest and julienned carrots. She has quite a stash of sunflower seeds that she breaks out when no one is looking. And while she is quite feeble, she is still able to take care of her day to day basic needs.
Her name seems to be involving, but I am leaning towards "Grandpa". Dear daughter pointed out to me that dear hamster looks remarkably like my father did during the last year of his life. Sort of bald and wrinkled, but with a pleasant, serene expression. My dad had a great sense of humor and would have loved this.
So Grandpa has settled into a happy routine of sleeping, bathing herself, eating, chewing and you know what. I hope her last weeks or months of life are easy and pleasant.
"Grandpa"
God bless,
Pam
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