haven't posted in awhile.
note: i have never had hamsters before this one!
Jumper was purchased at the pet store as a youngling (around 8 weeks old) august 2003.
almost 2 years later, he's deteriorated rapidly in the last few days.
here's the thing: he shakes like katherine hepburn (! sorry about the really politically incorrect description but that's what he looks like!) when he's trying to walk or scratch or pick up something! he moves really really slowly (except when i accidentally startled him and he "popcorned" 180º degrees around) and when he tries to run in his wheel it looks so sad he walks a couple of steps then rests, walks s'more then rests. he also breathes like he's OLD and tired and worn out; his sides bellowing in-and-out rapidly.
is he on his last legs?
he still looks plump and healthy. his fur could use a bit of a 'lick wash' but his eyes, although 1/2 closed all the time like he's sleep walking, is clear.
i put two extra food dishes (one with 3 softened hamster block and rice) (the other with two carrot sticks and two softened green vitamin block) in his cage. i manually cracked a few seed shells for him and gave him the meat just-in-case he is too weak to do this himself. he normally has two water bottles in there with him because he is a heavy drinker (diabetic perhaps?) but i added a water dish just-in-case he is dehydrated.
his diet is normally Mazuri hamster feed (hamster blocks with the occasional seeds) and green vitamin block with the occasional carrot stick, spinach leaf (once every two weeks) or dried cranberry (once every 3 months!) he gets a tiny bit of the same supplement i give the chinchillas (oats, barley, flax seed, wheat germ) once a week.
is he sick? did he have stroke? is he showing the signs of old hamster-age? if so any ideas how i can keep him comfortable in his fading weeks?
i have never seen an older or sick hamster so i don't know what to expect!
i don't know what else to do! i
will take him to the vet tomorrow to make sure he didn't have a STROKE or the beginnings of a cold or flu!
p.s. this is devastating! i always knew the average lifespan for a hamster was around 2-3 years. Jumper has had a wonderful comfortable life full of adventure and love and kisses all over! going to hate to see him go
FAQ 
~Sue~ 
~Pablo 
~Lucia 
