What would you do?
It's been a couple of weeks now since we took Oliver, one of our dwarf hamsters, to the vet. He was given an injection of steroids and antibiotics and we were asked to take him back if he showed signs of improvement, so we could pick up more antibiotics. I think the idea was that if it was an infection, the injection would perk him up and he would probably react well to antibiotics. We haven't been back yet because we haven't any change in him. His condition hasn't improved, but similarly, it hasn't worsened and he's acting pretty normally.
The symptoms he had before are still present: weight loss (he's lost another three grams, and hasn't put any weight on since we started hand-feeding him) and soft poo. His bum is looking dirty and a bit sore, and he's reluctant to let me clean him, but other than that he's eating, drinking, exercising, grooming himself, everything. I'm wondering if it's just old age (he is 20 months old) and he'll gradually decline and then pop off when he's good and ready, or if he needs us to take him to be put to sleep. I really don't know what would be best, and I'm worried about Benjamin (his brother) as well. They sleep curled up together and always eat dinner together. I don't think he'd like being without Ollie.
What would you do? He doesn't squeak or cry in distress and he just seems to get on with his usual day-to-day activities. He comes out to eat when we feed him. Maybe more antibiotics would be worth a shot? Or would it be kinder to let him go? It's hard to know what these tiny little creatures are thinking. The vet said he didn't seem to be in any distress but how can you tell? It's such a hard decision to make. :(
The symptoms he had before are still present: weight loss (he's lost another three grams, and hasn't put any weight on since we started hand-feeding him) and soft poo. His bum is looking dirty and a bit sore, and he's reluctant to let me clean him, but other than that he's eating, drinking, exercising, grooming himself, everything. I'm wondering if it's just old age (he is 20 months old) and he'll gradually decline and then pop off when he's good and ready, or if he needs us to take him to be put to sleep. I really don't know what would be best, and I'm worried about Benjamin (his brother) as well. They sleep curled up together and always eat dinner together. I don't think he'd like being without Ollie.
What would you do? He doesn't squeak or cry in distress and he just seems to get on with his usual day-to-day activities. He comes out to eat when we feed him. Maybe more antibiotics would be worth a shot? Or would it be kinder to let him go? It's hard to know what these tiny little creatures are thinking. The vet said he didn't seem to be in any distress but how can you tell? It's such a hard decision to make. :(