43 replies to this topic

[Rachel1995]

What a great post!! My friends dad once said to me why would you spend 112 euro in your hamsters vet bill when you could get a new hanster for 100 euro less than that? I couldn't believe someone actually thought that way..

"Taking a sick or injured hamster to the vet should not be about keeping the hamster around for the owner's benefit. It should be about what is best for the hamster"

I really like this quote too. I've been in several situations where the vet has said we can keep the hanster going a little longer but I've had to say no. It's cruel to do that. It's not for my benefit it's the hamsters benefit. It'd be selfish of me to keep her going when she is clearly suffering. The vet always agrees but of course she can't out the hanster to sleep without my consent and I always consent. A couple of times I left the decision up to the vet and asked her to do what is best for the hamster and depending on the situation usually it's euthanasia. I may be heart broken but at least my little further baby is no longer suffering. With hamsters as well it's very hard to even tell if they are suffering. But when you can tell then uts truly bad because hansters are very good actors and can hide pain very well. If they show pain then it's VERY bad. It's usually that stage the vet and I agree to put the ham to sleep.

I'll forever miss my fur babies xx

[CallaLily]

What other states is it illegal to refuse vet care to any animal?

Delaware defines cruelty to animals as:

(6) “Cruelty to animals” includes mistreatment of any animal or neglect of any animal under the care and control of the neglector, whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused. By way of example this includes: Unjustifiable beating of an animal; overworking an animal; tormenting an animal; abandonment of an animal; tethering of dog for 18 hours or more in any 24-hour period, except on land owned or leased by the dog's owner that is not less than 10 acres; tethering any dog for any amount of time if the dog is under 4 months of age or is a nursing mother while the offspring are present, except on land owned or leased by the dog's owner that is not less than 10 acres; and failure to feed properly or give proper shelter or veterinary care to an animal.

(2) “Animal” shall not include fish, crustacea or molluska.

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/de-cruelty-consolidated-cruelty-statutes#s1325

Edited by CallaLily, 02 March 2017 - 04:58 AM.

[MunchiPunchi]

I agree. But what about this. Your hamster unexpectedly get sick and your parents are gone, you can't drive and no one is around to drive you to a vet. You simply can't do anything…correct? Except for try to do your best for your hamster, at home? 

[Karenina]

I agree. But what about this. Your hamster unexpectedly get sick and your parents are gone, you can't drive and no one is around to drive you to a vet. You simply can't do anything…correct? Except for try to do your best for your hamster, at home?

All hamsters get "unexpectedly" sick. No one plans it. Hamsters don't come with calendars that let you know ahead of time. You should always be prepared. If you have no means of transportation should an emergency strike, then quite frankly, you *don't* have access to a vet. And therefore should think twice before getting a hamster, or any animal.

[Emma&Chester]

I agree. But what about this. Your hamster unexpectedly get sick and your parents are gone, you can't drive and no one is around to drive you to a vet. You simply can't do anything…correct? Except for try to do your best for your hamster, at home? 

 

If the child is old enough to be left home alone, I don't see why getting a taxi wouldn't be an option? Or bike it, if it's close enough?

 

I don't drive - I mean, I'm of an age where I could learn if I wanted to, but it's not something that I want or plan to do. I live in the city where everything's either easily accessible by public transport, or it's within walking distance so I don't see the point. If for whatever reason one of my animals need to go to the vet and I don't have anyone who can give me a lift, I just get a bus or call a taxi. I don't rely on people, because that's just not a secure option - plans fall through all the time, things pop up, etc. When I live away from home, I'm lucky enough that the vet is within walking distance from my apartment. Even if it wasn't, i'd just ring up a taxi to get there instead - none of the drivers I've dealt with have ever had a problem with a hamster in a carrier.

Edited by Emma&Chester, 23 May 2017 - 06:51 AM.

[MunchiPunchi]

All hamsters get "unexpectedly" sick. No one plans it. Hamsters don't come with calendars that let you know ahead of time. You should always be prepared. If you have no means of transportation should an emergency strike, then quite frankly, you *don't* have access to a vet. And therefore should think twice before getting a hamster, or any animal.

 

If the child is old enough to be left home alone, I don't see why getting a taxi wouldn't be an option? Or bike it, if it's close enough?

 

I don't drive - I mean, I'm of an age where I could learn if I wanted to, but it's not something that I want or plan to do. I live in the city where everything's either easily accessible by public transport, or it's within walking distance so I don't see the point. If for whatever reason one of my animals need to go to the vet and I don't have anyone who can give me a lift, I just get a bus or call a taxi. I don't rely on people, because that's just not a secure option - plans fall through all the time, things pop up, etc. When I live away from home, I'm lucky enough that the vet is within walking distance from my apartment. Even if it wasn't, i'd just ring up a taxi to get there instead - none of the drivers I've dealt with have ever had a problem with a hamster in a carrier.

Yes, yes, but in my country honestly, if I took a taxi it wouldn't be safe. Even though I live in America I could never go alone…. 

[Taxonomist]

I agree. But what about this. Your hamster unexpectedly get sick and your parents are gone, you can't drive and no one is around to drive you to a vet. You simply can't do anything…correct? Except for try to do your best for your hamster, at home? 

 

In that case, yes, for the time being.  But the idea is that you would take the hamster to the vet when you are able to, correct?

 

This article isn't referring to situations like that.  It's more referring to people who can never take their animal to the vet for any reason.  There's a major difference between:

 

"I can't get my hamster to the vet today, but I can get an appointment for tomorrow"

 

and 

 

"I can't get my hamster to the vet at all ever."

 

All hamsters get "unexpectedly" sick. No one plans it. Hamsters don't come with calendars that let you know ahead of time. You should always be prepared. If you have no means of transportation should an emergency strike, then quite frankly, you *don't* have access to a vet. And therefore should think twice before getting a hamster, or any animal.

 

 

If the child is old enough to be left home alone, I don't see why getting a taxi wouldn't be an option? Or bike it, if it's close enough?

 

I don't drive - I mean, I'm of an age where I could learn if I wanted to, but it's not something that I want or plan to do. I live in the city where everything's either easily accessible by public transport, or it's within walking distance so I don't see the point. If for whatever reason one of my animals need to go to the vet and I don't have anyone who can give me a lift, I just get a bus or call a taxi. I don't rely on people, because that's just not a secure option - plans fall through all the time, things pop up, etc. When I live away from home, I'm lucky enough that the vet is within walking distance from my apartment. Even if it wasn't, i'd just ring up a taxi to get there instead - none of the drivers I've dealt with have ever had a problem with a hamster in a carrier.

 

So, basically, if someone doesn't have access to a 24/7 vet, they shouldn't have a hamster?     What if the hamster gets sick when the vet's office is closed for the night / weekend / holiday?  What if there are no open appointments immediately?

 

Look, I'm all for prompt vet care for hamsters.  And I'm not saying it's okay to put off treatment for days and days, especially considering hamsters' lifespans.  But I find it a little absurd to suggest that if you cannot get to a vet within minutes of your hamster getting sick, you shouldn't own one.

Edited by Taxonomist, 23 May 2017 - 08:46 AM.

[Emma&Chester]

So, basically, if someone doesn't have access to a 24/7 vet, they shouldn't have a hamster?     What if the hamster gets sick when the vet's office is closed for the night / weekend / holiday?  What if there are no open appointments immediately?

 

Look, I'm all for prompt vet care for hamsters.  And I'm not saying it's okay to put off treatment for days and days, especially considering hamsters' lifespans.  But I find it a little absurd to suggest that if you cannot get to a vet within minutes of your hamster getting sick, you shouldn't own one.

 

 

Nah, not what I was implying at all. Perhaps I'm interpreting this situation differently to you. My issue isn't with how quickly they can get there - it's being able to get there, period.

 

I was replying to MunchiPunchi's original post, where she gives the situation involving someones parents being gone (assuming they're working), them not being able to drive, and the lack of ability of any other way to get there. So they're essentially entirely dependable on other people to get to the vet - people who have their own things to do and will not necessarily be around to bring them to said vet, and people who have not been around in past emergencies to bring them. That's an unreliable situation. In which case, I see nothing "absurd" about suggesting that if one does not have a reliable mode of transport to get their pet veterinary care, then perhaps it's not advisable to bring an animal into that situation.

 

Having no way of getting to a vet is not the same (at least it certainly is not to me) as a vet being closed. Those are two entirely different scenarios that are not in the slightest bit comparable.

[Taxonomist]

Having no way of getting to a vet is not the same (at least it certainly is not to me) as a vet being closed. Those are two entirely different scenarios that are not in the slightest bit comparable.

 

Maybe I'm not getting it.  MunchiPunchi's post seemed to imply that the person would be able to get to the vet later, just not right at that moment.

 

I don't see how they're different.  Either way, the hamster isn't getting immediate treatment - the outcome is exactly the same.  If one is bad, the other should be considered equally bad.  You can consider shorter vet office hours "unreliable" as well, no?

 

(A) "I can't get to the vet until tomorrow because they're closed for the night."

(B) "I can't get to the vet for a few hours because I have to wait for my mom to get home to drive me.  But I can get there later tonight."
 

So (A) is totally fine and okay, but (B) is not?  Even though the hamster in (B) is getting more prompt treatment?

 

 

I don't see the difference.  As long as the hamster is getting reasonably prompt treatment, I just don't see the logic in discriminating the reason.  

[Emma&Chester]

Maybe I'm not getting it.  MunchiPunchi's post seemed to imply that the person would be able to get to the vet later, just not right at that moment.

 

I don't see how they're different.  Either way, the hamster isn't getting immediate treatment - the outcome is exactly the same.  If one is bad, the other should be considered equally bad.  You can consider shorter vet office hours "unreliable" as well, no?

 

(A) "I can't get to the vet until tomorrow because they're closed for the night."

(B) "I can't get to the vet for a few hours because I have to wait for my mom to get home to drive me.  But I can get there later tonight."
 

So (A) is totally fine and okay, but (B) is not?  Even though the hamster in (B) is getting more prompt treatment?

 

 

I don't see the difference.  As long as the hamster is getting reasonably prompt treatment, I just don't see the logic in discriminating the reason.  

 

Yeah, see like I said in the first part of my post - we've both interpreted this different ways.

 

I interpreted the situation as their parents not being able to bring them to the vet most days (due to work commitments or whatever else have you). Not it being that they simply couldn't get to the vet until later - but that they couldn't get to the vet at all whatever days their parents were gone. That'd be a situation that I would class as unreliable, and is a situation entirely different to the scenario's you've described above. 

 

Clash of understanding, I guess - likely on my part. 

Edited by Emma&Chester, 23 May 2017 - 09:41 AM.

[MunchiPunchi]

All hamsters get "unexpectedly" sick. No one plans it. Hamsters don't come with calendars that let you know ahead of time. You should always be prepared. If you have no means of transportation should an emergency strike, then quite frankly, you *don't* have access to a vet. And therefore should think twice before getting a hamster, or any animal.

 

Yes, but imagine this. Of course they don't mark the calendar. But you personally can't help it if you can't get your pet to the vet immediately. And saying that just because of that ONE situation you can't get another pet? Its not like YOU yourself plan for the hamster to get sick. And you can't help it that you can't drive. Honestly, then no one should get a hamster if this is your viewpoint. Because sometimes lets say your hamster unexpectedly gets sick and there is a big blizzard outside and you can't get anywhere, just don't get a pet because of that one time? 

[Taxonomist]

Yeah, see like I said in the first part of my post - we've both interpreted this different ways.

 

I interpreted the situation as their parents not being able to bring them to the vet most days (due to work commitments or whatever else have you). Not it being that they simply couldn't get to the vet until later - but that they couldn't get to the vet at all whatever days their parents were gone. That'd be a situation that I would class as unreliable, and is a situation entirely different to the scenario's you've described above. 

 

Clash of understanding, I guess - likely on my part. 

 

Yeah, that would explain it.      Based on the wording of the post, I interpreted it as a one-time emergency, not as an ongoing issue where they were never able to get to the vet.  As in, the person (with no transportation) finds their hamster in an emergency state and cannot rush out the door that second to get to a vet.

[nebit]

I'm going to find as situation where parents routinely leave their minor child for long stretches of time home alone without supervision or another adult to call for emergencies to be really questionable.

 

I think the scenario was a bit vague. I see 3 interpretations-

 

1. The parent is at work, nothing can be done IMMEDIATELY but can be done with the next 24 hours.

 

2. The parent can NEVER drive, or so rarely it's not really reliable transport

 

3. The parent is out of town for the weekend, or away on a week long business trip and has left the child alone.

 

#1- This scenario seems completely fine to me. As an adult there are situations where I can't drop everything RIGHT THEN, but can make arrangements for the pet to be seen within a day or two.

 

#2- this is a problem that you need to figure out before you get the hamster

 

#3- as I said above, I think this is highly questionable parenting. In most areas it is illegal to leave a minor home alone for this length of time. Even for older adolescents, parents should be leaving an adult emergency contact in case something like this (or worse) happens, and that adult should be checking in regularly.

 

Re: Taxis- in many areas of the US, there are no taxis, or buses, or even a convenience store within walking distance. It's certainly an option for some folks in cities or suburban areas, but not an option at all for huge swaths of the US. Even if there WAS a taxi, in some places it is literally an hour or more to the nearest town.

[Mommomkris]

A question; how often should one take their hamster to a vet? I know with dogs and cats they have to have regular visits like once a year or so. BTW, very informative blog, tax. Thanks.

[Strong Brew Hamstery]

A question; how often should one take their hamster to a vet? I know with dogs and cats they have to have regular visits like once a year or so. BTW, very informative blog, tax. Thanks.

I take them when I have a concern. They don't normally need checkups.