5 replies to this topic

[lostinspace]

i'm not sure if this is the right topic, but the name is fitting and even though its about my hamster, it fits multiple categories, and i cant post in all of them so

 

i'm in literal despair and i've cried multiple times for the past days

 

my hamster, who i adopted 1 week ago, broke his wheel and as it was attached to the wall, it got loose, so i removed it cuz it might fall on him and hurt him. so he has no wheel now

he seems bored due to the lack of enrichment and now without wheel he's even more bored, doing a lot of pacing

i decided to start free roaming with him to compensate for the wheel loss but he seemed stressed after his very first free roaming session, which i guess its normal, but it still worries me, maybe he doesn't like free roaming and if thats the case then i just cant do anything for him to get exercise

he got diarrhea and i'm afraid it might develop to wet tail if he's stressed enough

i also can't take him to a vet because we can't pay and because we don't have anything to carry my hamster inside, no traveling cage, no box, nothing

i think the lack of wheel is causing his activity to decrease too and i'm afraid it might actually be a symptom of wet tail

i also can't buy ANYTHING. i'm 15 so i depend on my parents, and they have NO MONEY and my dad will only receive his salary NEXT WEEK. tonight my sister will see if she can find a new wheel in the petshop we bought him but i doubt that they will have the proper size. the online store we use the most to buy our items is slow in delivery, and my hamster can die in the meantime before the items arrive. i can't give him enrichment, wheel nor new supplies, so he'll keep bored

im also not sure if i can ask my sister to take me to places or buy me stuff cuz she and/or her boyfriend might refuse and complain

I can't clean his enclosure because i have no new supplies, no new bedding, no new sand, nothing

and my parents, especially my dad, don't take anything seriously cuz they think that because its a small pet, its insignificant and i'm being "ToO cAreFuL". im just completely sure that if i tell them my hamster is ill and needs a vet, they will refuse to take me there cuz they dont think its necessary. my dad literally told me to prepare my heart cuz these animals die when i said my hamster might have gotten diarrhea. who says that?

 

i've had a hamster before and it was a disaster, she suddenly died one day (she was terribly treated because she was a surprise pet my mom gave me, so i was 0% prepared). i think it created a trauma inside me.

 

i think he's going to die. i think i'm doing everything wrong and it's all my fault.

i don't think he's going to last not even a month if this keeps going. he'll either die from an illness or over-stress. i feel completely helpless and worthless and i'm just so stressed. this is making things worse for my anxiety and it's making me have rather triggering thoughts. i don't know what will happen to me if he dies. everything feels like a time bomb and every time i wake up i expect to find him laying dead.

 

...what do i do?

[Kikya]

Do you think would be able to make your own wheel? Erin's Animals on youtube, shows a tutorial on how to do it. You could possibly use pieces from the old wheel to make one. Also, you can DIY your own bedding too. She has a tutorial for that, as she lives in a country where sometimes hamster supplies are hard to get.

 

You can wash sand and reuse it too! I do it all the time. Sift out the poop and then rinse the sand in cold water and then put it in the oven in a glass baking dish at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until dry. Or you can put it out in the sun until dry, if oven is not an option.

 

Also, take a deep breath, there are hamsters who have lived in a lot worse conditions. I rescued two hamsters who had nothing but 1 inch of smelly bedding, terrible food, and no wheel. They were like that for several months. It's just temporary and you are doing the best you can. Count all your blessings and your hamster's, he has a loving home with someone who cares about him.

 

If you hammy is bored, some boredom breakers could help, and you only need some toilet paper tubes to do some of these things.

 

If you need more ideas, there are tons of helpful members on here who can answer questions!

Edited by Kikya, 29 January 2022 - 01:57 AM.

[lostinspace]

Do you think would be able to make your own wheel? Erin's Animals on youtube, shows a tutorial on how to do it. You could possibly use pieces from the old wheel to make one. Also, you can DIY your own bedding too. She has a tutorial for that, as she lives in a country where sometimes hamster supplies are hard to get.

 

You can wash sand and reuse it too! I do it all the time. Sift out the poop and then rinse the sand in cold water and then put it in the oven in a glass baking dish at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until dry. Or you can put it out in the sun until dry, if oven is not an option.

 

Also, take a deep breath, there are hamsters who have lived in a lot worse conditions. I rescued two hamsters who had nothing but 1 inch of smelly bedding, terrible food, and no wheel. They were like that for several months. It's just temporary and you are doing the best you can. Count all your blessings and your hamster's, he has a loving home with someone who cares about him.

 

If you hammy is bored, some boredom breakers could help, and you only need some toilet paper tubes to do some of these things.

 

If you need more ideas, there are tons of helpful members on here who can answer questions!

 

thank you for replying! i'm trying to make him some toys, and i'll watch some wheel DIYs too. i didn't know you could wash sand, thank you so much!! i'll definitely try it. 

[Lillias]

You may want to post in the Hamster Care section, for more hamster-related responses.

 

How long has he had diarrhea? Is it liquidy? Is he a dwarf? What is his diet like?

The specific bacterial infection that causes Wet Tail is a Syrian hamster disease. Dwarf hamsters can get other digestive bacteria.

 

I suggest spot cleaning the cage. Just take out the bedding that is really dirty (peed on) and leave any that is relatively clean.

 

Since free-roaming was scary for him, you could try using a plastic storage bin or a large box as a play area for supervised playtime.

 

Are there any jobs you can take on to earn a little pocket money (like walking the neighbor's dog)?

[lostinspace]

You may want to post in the Hamster Care section, for more hamster-related responses.

 

How long has he had diarrhea? Is it liquidy? Is he a dwarf? What is his diet like?

The specific bacterial infection that causes Wet Tail is a Syrian hamster disease. Dwarf hamsters can get other digestive bacteria.

 

I suggest spot cleaning the cage. Just take out the bedding that is really dirty (peed on) and leave any that is relatively clean.

 

Since free-roaming was scary for him, you could try using a plastic storage bin or a large box as a play area for supervised playtime.

 

Are there any jobs you can take on to earn a little pocket money (like walking the neighbor's dog)?

 

he has had diarrhea for a day, approximately. it's not liquidy, his poop are just a little wet in texture but theres no liquid scattered around. he's a dwarf. his diet is a petstore seed mix (i want to use all of it before changing to a better mix, so our money isn't wasted) and pellets. I think it happened because i gave him too many fresh treats in a week.

 

I did what Kikya said and washed his sand, now i'm waiting for it to dry as i suspect he only pees in there. Most of the mess he makes is just him playing in the soil or carrying moss around.

 

I'll try using the storage bin! I thought he might get stressed cuz its not a big space, but i'll still try.

 

I don't think there are any jobs :( I was thinking about opening art commissions (I draw) but I'm not very popular out there so i might don't get any client. My dad and sister will both receive their salary in february 5th, though, so it's just a week away. Or is it too much time?

 

And next time i'll post it on the hamster care section. Thanks! 

[Lillias]

The occasional soft but solid stool is normal.

 

He'll be okay without a wheel for a week. Just try to keep him occupied with what you have.