hamster euthanasia - an ethical question

hamster euthanasia - an ethical question

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Original Poster:

22,508 posts

200 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
serious question!

i have a couple of chinese hamsters, who must be about 2 years old now.

the other morning i noticed that one of them was sat motionless in the middle of the cage. this is unusual as they are always asleep during the day. i took him out the cage and picked him up as though he was inanimate - again strange as chinese hamsters aren't too keen on being caught, this one especially so.

since then its pretty obvious he's about to kark it, as he can't walk and just sits there shaking about. when i move him he tries to fight me like i'm a predator and gets quite disturbed.


now i've kept various rodents for years so am used to this, but my usual experience is that they slip away pretty quickly when they reach this stage.

its been 2.5days now though and it is getting upsetting for the OH as its not nice watching anything die. i am very suprised he is still clinging on tbh.

i have had him go torpid before [hibernating due to the cold] but i know its not this.

so, my question is whether you think he's in pain or simply slipping away, and if the former whether i should help ease that pain.

have only ever euthanised a deformed koi carp so i wouldn't know how to go about it. what should i do?


ps - am expecting pisstake/humorous answers but nothing too harsh in case the OH reads this as this one is 'her' hamster and is upset enough already.

ta.


DOOG

1,905 posts

245 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Shoebox..

12 bore...

Bob's your uncle...


ETA Seriously though.. The poor little fella sounds shocked/ traumatised...

Has Richard Gere been spotted in the area recently?

Edited by DOOG on Friday 12th September 13:31

phumy

5,671 posts

236 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Big 7lb hammer, but keep your thumb out of the way hehe

Vesuvius 996

35,829 posts

270 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
phumy said:
Big 7lb hammer, but keep your thumb out of the way hehe
rofl

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

216 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Grill. No, fry it. What was the question again?

GreenDog

2,261 posts

191 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Invite Richard Gere round hehe

GilbertGrape

1,226 posts

189 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
What about taking it to a Vet?

That's what I would do..

davido140

9,614 posts

225 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
phumy said:
Big 7lb hammer, but keep your thumb out of the way hehe
That or a shovel... less chance of hitting a thumb then.

Get the pressure washer out and blast the remains into the closest drain.

H2DaE

1,338 posts

205 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Park
Rock
Drop
Done

(/Gorden Ramsey)

Edited by H2DaE on Friday 12th September 13:31

bob1179

14,107 posts

208 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Stamp on it?

muppets_mate

771 posts

215 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Take it to the vet to get it checked out or have it PTS properly if necessary?



Well you did ask for sensible answers...



Stu247

811 posts

245 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
On its way out by the sounds of things...not worth taking to a vet at that age as its pushing the upper limits of its life span.

Bucket of water would be my method of choice

Munter

31,319 posts

240 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
GilbertGrape said:
What about taking it to a Vet?

That's what I would do..
If it's upsetting the Mrs enough get her to pay for the vet to gas it to death in a lunch box. It'll probably be about £40 I guess given it cost us £28 just for a vet to go. "Yep thats a sick hamster". Mind you it took them 30 mins to come to that conclusion.... nice vet though

L4URA

543 posts

197 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
The vet is always my first port of call for any problems with my pets. I wouldn't leave it any longer. 2½ days... the poor little fella!

merc_man

1,926 posts

201 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Flush it down the toilet (or is that fish, never can remember). Anyway either way you'll find out if it's determined to hold on to life by how hard it tries to swim.

Flintstone

8,644 posts

246 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
GilbertGrape said:
What about taking it to a Vet?
What would he know about hamsters?


merc_man

1,926 posts

201 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
bob1179 said:
Stamp on it?
Why on earth would he want to do that for? He's trying to kill it not post it to Rolf Harris FFS!

GilbertGrape

1,226 posts

189 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
Either way, it's not fair to let it suffer.

HundredthIdiot

4,414 posts

283 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all

zcacogp

11,239 posts

243 months

Friday 12th September 2008
quotequote all
20mins at Gas Mark 6 should sort it out.

Or go the other way - overnight in the deepfreeze.

(Should this be moved to the "Food and Drink" forum?)


Oli.