Rescuing Chinese Hamsters - very old/possibly dying

[Char-x]

Well I decided against rats right now since GCSE exams are coming up and I won't have time, and I didnt want anymore pets for now, but I couldn't refuse these two hammies I saw ona rabbit rescue.

A nice member on there had taken them in from someone who has cancer, they have no names bless them. They are both males, about 2 years old, chinese hamsters and aren't very active right now.

One has joint swelling, probabaly due to a bad diet which I can fix and one was described as "...has got much longer left anyway, he keeps falling asleep siting up and then falling on his face"

So I've offered them a retirement home here, to live their last few days out. I will probabaly keep them in the cage they come in, since I dont plan on keeping hammies after these two and they are used to it.

Does anyone know if hay is okay as a bedding for them? I dont want to use woodhshavings as the ones in the UK are really bad unless you start ordering online something I know my mum isn't preparred to start doing. I haven't got a paper shredder ethier . Also whats the best stuff that they burrow in?

Another few questions..

Whats the best feed?
Whats vegetables and fruit do they need to be fed? How oftern?

This is the cage they have (one each)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...bint/cages.jpg

This is one of them (temporally called Sheldon)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...nt/sheldon.jpg

This is the one that keeps falling asleep etc (called Leonard for now)
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...nt/sheldon.jpg

[HeraHero]

Hay is not ideal unless it's a third cutting, also it can be a little dusty. Though it's just fine for nest making. It sounds as if your best bet would be to use ripped up toilet paper or paper towel as bedding, its nice and soft on those old limbs, pretty cheap and it's easy to see if their droppings look funny or anything. I would reccommend hazel or harry hamster mixed with a block food, I don't know what you have where you live but I think harlan teklab makes a fairly soft hamster block, Mazuri is pretty good too (I use it in my hamsters mix) but it's hard as rock. If you can't find those foods easily just don't get anything with ethoxyquin in it. This forum is really great: Hamster Hideout Forum . As far as veggies and fruit go if they have had a bad diet it is possible they are diabetic (not alot of chance that they are, but enough) so you might stay away from alot of fruit. Often? It's really your choice I give Cammie a little everyday some people might think thats too much for a hamster, but she's never shown any sypmtoms of too much fresh food. I'll try too get a list of good veggies for you later. Good luck with your cuties !
HeraHero

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by HeraHero

Hay is not ideal unless it's a third cutting, also it can be a little dusty. Though it's just fine for nest making. It sounds as if your best bet would be to use ripped up toilet paper or paper towel as bedding, its nice and soft on those old limbs, pretty cheap and it's easy to see if their droppings look funny or anything.

Oh ok, sounds easy enough and I can rip that up myself, or do they do that sort of thing at stores?

I would reccommend hazel or harry hamster mixed with a block food, I don't know what you have where you live but I think harlan teklab makes a fairly soft hamster block, Mazuri is pretty good too (I use it in my hamsters mix) but it's hard as rock. If you can't find those foods easily just don't get anything with ethoxyquin in it.

Someone else recommended Harry Hamster mix so I will see about getting that definatly, I'm sure I've seen it...also the lady said that they are being fed Pets at Home Museli right now - would that be okay as part of the block feed? I'm guessing block feed is the plain pellets? *Notes down ethoxyquin as a no no*

This forum is really great: Hamster Hideout Forum .

Thanks I'll join up right away

As far as veggies and fruit go if they have had a bad diet it is possible they are diabetic (not alot of chance that they are, but enough) so you might stay away from alot of fruit. Often? It's really your choice I give Cammie a little everyday some people might think thats too much for a hamster, but she's never shown any sypmtoms of too much fresh food. I'll try too get a list of good veggies for you later.

Ah diabetic, thats fine if fruit isn't necessary then they don't have to have it. My pigs don't really get it unless I feel extra kind because one of the sows has genectic diabetites

Good luck with your cuties !
HeraHero

Thank you!

[HeraHero]

Oh ok, sounds easy enough and I can rip that up myself, or do they do that sort of thing at stores?

Yep, just rip up the tissue/toilet/facial paper or paper towels yourself.

Someone else recommended Harry Hamster mix so I will see about getting that definatly, I'm sure I've seen it...also the lady said that they are being fed Pets at Home Museli right now - would that be okay as part of the block feed? I'm guessing block feed is the plain pellets? *Notes down ethoxyquin as a no no*

I really don't know what the pets at home muesli is made of (I live in Nebraska of the USA) The block food "lab block" is not like a guinea pig pellet which are small and relatively bite size. Hamster blocks are sold separately and are usually sized in diameter from a large pencil to the size of a large persons thumb. I have never seen or heard of blocks being in a seed mix. Of course that doesn't mean they aren't there, I've just never seen them . The plain pellet looking things in the mix are probably something very different.

Thanks I'll join up right away

See you there! What name would you be using there by the way? I'm HeraHero there too.

Ah diabetic, thats fine if fruit isn't necessary then they don't have to have it. My pigs don't really get it unless I feel extra kind because one of the sows has genectic diabetites

Okay, by the way this list is just copied off an earlier post, mainly 'cause I'm lazy.

Veggies

• Asparagus
• Bean Sprouts
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Limited amounts)
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chestnuts
• Chickweed
• Chicory
• Clover
• Corn on the Cob
• Cucumbers
• Dandelion Leaves
• Endive
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Radicchio
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet bell Peppers
• Swiss Chard
• Turnip
• Water Chestnuts
• Water Cress
• Zucchini

Meats and Proteins foods

• Cooked Ground Beef (Rinse well in hot water to remove any grease)
• Cooked Chicken or Turkey (Steamed or baked)
• Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Fish Cod (Cooked removing bones and skin)
• Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)
• Mealworms (Pet Shop)
• Crickets (Pet Shop)
• Bread(whole grain no white bread) soaked in milk ( Low Fat, Skim, Soy)
• Eggs ( boiled or scrambled)
• Plain Tofu
• Plain Low Fat Yogurt
• Dog Biscuits (No Garlic, onion, or onion powder)
• Monkey Chow
• Lab Blocks

Other foods

• Buckwheat
• Baby Food(low sugar and no onion or garlic)
• Cheese (mild cheeses in moderation)
• Cooked Plain Brown Rice
• Cooked Pasta(Wheat or Spinach would be better)
• Dry toast(Also helpful for diarrhea
• Flax seed
• Low or Sugarless Cereals
• Pumpkin Seeds (unsalted)
• Nuts (No almonds)
• Sesame Seeds
• Soybeans(Roasted no salt)
• Squash seeds
• Lentils
• Oatmeal(dry or soaked in skim, soy or lowfat milk)
• Nutritional Yeast
• Bran and Wheat Germ (Refrigerated goes bad fast)
• Peanuts (unsalted)
• Alfafa
• Unsalted Popcorn (no butter)

Foods To Avoid

• Almonds (Contains Cyanic Acid)
• Apple Seeds
• Canned food
• Chocolate
• Candies
• Chips and Junk food
• Pork Products
• Potatoes (Raw)
• Raw Kidney Beans
• Eggplant
• Fool's Parsley
• Grape Seeds
• Avocado (Contains Cardiac Glycosides)
• Raw Rhubarb
• Tomato leaves
• Oranges or Tangerines(no citrus fruits)
• No watermelon (the water content is high causes diarrhea)
• Cherry Stone
• Peach Stone & Leaves
• Apricot Stone
• Lemon or Lime
• Jams and jellies
• Spices
• Garlic
• Onions
• Leeks
• Scallions
• Chives
• Pickles

Oh and by the way the Nutritional yeast flakes really help reduce stress and hamsters love them! You can find them at health food stores and sometimes at large well stocked super markets. (it's not the stuff that comes in the packets for bakeing) Also since they are old they are probably lactose intolerant so I wouldn't give them a lot of dairy. If you were to give them mealworms be sure to squish the heads (if you don't they might surive and eat your hamsters stomach lining). Whew! I think thats all for now.
HeraHero

[HeraHero]

Oh ok, sounds easy enough and I can rip that up myself, or do they do that sort of thing at stores?

Yep, just rip up the tissue/toilet/facial paper or paper towels yourself.

Someone else recommended Harry Hamster mix so I will see about getting that definatly, I'm sure I've seen it...also the lady said that they are being fed Pets at Home Museli right now - would that be okay as part of the block feed? I'm guessing block feed is the plain pellets? *Notes down ethoxyquin as a no no*

I really don't know what the pets at home muesli is made of (I live in Nebraska of the USA) The block food "lab block" is not like a guinea pig pellet which are small and relatively bite size. Hamster blocks are sold separately and are usually sized in diameter from a large pencil to the size of a large persons thumb. I have never seen or heard of blocks being in a seed mix. Of course that doesn't mean they aren't there, I've just never seen them . The plain pellet looking things in the mix are probably something very different.

Thanks I'll join up right away

See you there! What name would you be using there by the way? I'm HeraHero there too.

Ah diabetic, thats fine if fruit isn't necessary then they don't have to have it. My pigs don't really get it unless I feel extra kind because one of the sows has genectic diabetites

Okay, by the way this list is just copied off an earlier post, mainly 'cause I'm lazy.

Veggies

• Asparagus
• Bean Sprouts
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Limited amounts)
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chestnuts
• Chickweed
• Chicory
• Clover
• Corn on the Cob
• Cucumbers
• Dandelion Leaves
• Endive
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Radicchio
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet bell Peppers
• Swiss Chard
• Turnip
• Water Chestnuts
• Water Cress
• Zucchini

Meats and Proteins foods

• Cooked Ground Beef (Rinse well in hot water to remove any grease)
• Cooked Chicken or Turkey (Steamed or baked)
• Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Fish Cod (Cooked removing bones and skin)
• Grasshoppers (Pet Shop)
• Mealworms (Pet Shop)
• Crickets (Pet Shop)
• Bread(whole grain no white bread) soaked in milk ( Low Fat, Skim, Soy)
• Eggs ( boiled or scrambled)
• Plain Tofu
• Plain Low Fat Yogurt
• Dog Biscuits (No Garlic, onion, or onion powder)
• Monkey Chow
• Lab Blocks

Other foods

• Buckwheat
• Baby Food(low sugar and no onion or garlic)
• Cheese (mild cheeses in moderation)
• Cooked Plain Brown Rice
• Cooked Pasta(Wheat or Spinach would be better)
• Dry toast(Also helpful for diarrhea
• Flax seed
• Low or Sugarless Cereals
• Pumpkin Seeds (unsalted)
• Nuts (No almonds)
• Sesame Seeds
• Soybeans(Roasted no salt)
• Squash seeds
• Lentils
• Oatmeal(dry or soaked in skim, soy or lowfat milk)
• Nutritional Yeast
• Bran and Wheat Germ (Refrigerated goes bad fast)
• Peanuts (unsalted)
• Alfafa
• Unsalted Popcorn (no butter)

Foods To Avoid

• Almonds (Contains Cyanic Acid)
• Apple Seeds
• Canned food
• Chocolate
• Candies
• Chips and Junk food
• Pork Products
• Potatoes (Raw)
• Raw Kidney Beans
• Eggplant
• Fool's Parsley
• Grape Seeds
• Avocado (Contains Cardiac Glycosides)
• Raw Rhubarb
• Tomato leaves
• Oranges or Tangerines(no citrus fruits)
• No watermelon (the water content is high causes diarrhea)
• Cherry Stone
• Peach Stone & Leaves
• Apricot Stone
• Lemon or Lime
• Jams and jellies
• Spices
• Garlic
• Onions
• Leeks
• Scallions
• Chives
• Pickles

Oh and by the way the Nutritional yeast flakes really help reduce stress and hamsters love them! You can find them at health food stores and sometimes at large well stocked super markets. (it's not the stuff that comes in the packets for bakeing) Also since they are old they are probably lactose intolerant so I wouldn't give them a lot of dairy. If you were to give them mealworms be sure to squish the heads (if you don't they might surive and eat your hamsters stomach lining). Whew! I think thats all for now.
HeraHero

[HeraHero]

Oops! So sorry for double (now triple) posting. My computer is acting strange on me. I don't know how if I can delete or edit that post, Again I'm sorry that wasn't intentional.
HeraHero