Hi Guys,
          I need some help, i have a 3 and a half yr old hamster who is very timid and shy. The propblem is, is that he now needs his teeth cut because they have got really long. But i dont know what to do, he is quite an old hampster and i worried that if i take him to the vets and he doesnt like being handeld then they might have to sedate him and he might died. Please help.

sarah xxxx

Congrats on getting your hamster to such a good age! The thing is, if his teeth are too long he won't be able to eat properly and that won't be good for him. :( I think it's best to take him along to the vet and explain your worries. They are very good at handling nervous animals, and tooth-clipping is a very quick job.
:)

Clipping his teeth isn't too traumatic an experience, so hopefully your hamster will be fine.
Nearly all of my rabbits have had teeth that needed clipping at some point, we now do Willow's ourselves and although she doesn't like it she seems resigned to it now! 
Hope he's ok about it :)

Absolutely, it only takes a few seconds to clip back their teeth, and I'm sure your vet will be sensitive to his age and stress levels.  :)  Also, make sure he has plenty in his cage to help him keep his teeth worn down-I always found that mine (a good few years ago now mind you!) liked apple wood or even dog biscuits!  Hope he's okay :)

Thank you all for you quick replies!! :) I will make an appointment at the vets ASAP. The only problem is, is that charlie eats meat and when i give him some fresh food he wont eat and veg until he has had a bit of chicken or ham. So if i try and give him something like dog buscuits he wont eat them!! Naughty boy!!! :D

sarah xxxx

Spolit hamster! :D  There's lots of different things you could try to help him keep his teeth worn down, as you've seen it is important he has hard things to knaw at to keep his teeth a good length-different types of nuts (brazil, pecan, walnuts, sweet chestnuts etc), as I said, fruit wood is good as well, there are numerous types of different 'treats' you can get from your petshop to try him on-and I'm sure if you cut down on his chicken he'll get bored of waiting and maybe decide to suss out some new things you put in his cage! :)  Funny things hamsters.. I rememer my last one was a horrid natured little thing! :(

Charlie is really funny, because his cage is in near the kitchen when ever im in there he runs on his wheel the runs over to the cage to see where i am and if im not there he runs on his wheel again and the has another look this is all because he knows that i will feed him when he does it. :) And because there is 7 people who live in our house and its quite noise he get up in the middle of the day and will then spend an hour running on his wheel then go back to bed!!! :D
And if i put fresh food in his cage he sits in his bowl and with his front paws, throws the food around the cage!!!

Anyway thanks for you advice i will try and get him eat something nice and hard, wish me luck!!!:D

sarah xxxx

What about cuttle bones? I have given them to my birds, hamster's and rats. Since its suppose to work for chinchilla's and birds why not them I thought.

Congrats over 3 years old wow. Our is just coming 2 or so years old and he is getting skinny and slow, his fur isn't as nice as it use to bebut he still likes a cuddle :)

Good idea!! :D

Our hamster , Sugar , has to have her teeth clipped about every six to eight weeks! Our vet is extremely good though and Sugar now knows whats coming and just stays still. At three months old she developed tumours on her back , neck and sides - all was ok till a few weeks ago ( aged 8 months ) when one burst and bled! She went under anesthetic to have two removed and was bouncing arond her cage wlth a new lease of life just a few hours later!! I know your hamster is a lot older but I think that the chances of animals surviving anesthetic are much higher than they used to be. How is your hamster doing now?

He's ok, he is eating and drinking fine and being as cheeky normal!! :D we are taking him to the vets on Monday so will let you know how it went.

thanks, sarah xxxx  

Had to have Charlie PTS tonight. :( Yesterday I noticed that he had an upset tummy and today when he got up he had a lump on his neck and face, which came up over night. The vet said that it was a tumour and that he would go down hill this week, so I had him PTS. I know that he didn't suffer and that he had a good long life. So this for you cheeky Charlie. Rest in piece sweetie.

Sarah xxxx 

Aw no. I am so sorry dollydaydream.
My two hamsters died of wet tail. the second one....Missie, I went home morning break, lunch and afternoon break when I was at school to feed him re hydration stuff. I did get him to recover, but he died 6 months later. He was about 3!!!!!
Charlie got to a very good age. As old as the hamsters my brother had, and he used to breed them!!!!!!
{{{{{{{{{{{Dolliedaydream and Charlie}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Lea

Thanks lea :rolleyes: :)

Wow! What an old hampster! When you take him to the vets ask for a complete check up. My 2 year old hampster was fine one minute,then the next, she couldn't even walk. :-( She was put down then. Your hampster may be fine! From Fee Fee

I'm sorry to hear about your hamster; I have had guinea pigs and its always very sad when they go :(

Lindsay
X

Fee fee, read above, my hampster wont be fine. The main reason being, that i had him put to sleep yesterday!

sarah xxx

I'm so sorry to hear that. But it's nice to know he's going to a better place. My hampster fludgins will meet your's at hampster heaven! Thinking of both of you. From fee fee

Thanks fee fee :)
How old are you?

sarah xxxx

It's not a good idea to put your age on an open forum Fee Fee so I wouldn't say how old you are :(

I'm not sayinghow old I am. It may not be safe!