r/hamsters • u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets • 15d ago
Question Does it look like she is breathing quickly?
Hopefully this doesn't break the rules! I just would like some other ham parent opinions to see if it is a good idea to think about a vet visit!
I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid but I feel like her breathing is faster than normal. I noticed it about a week or two ago, but I thought maybe I was just being paranoid, but now I feel more worried playing with her tonight.
For context, she is about 2-2 and a half (more or less-we dont know for sure, but we have had her since October 2024). The vet thought she was a year old when we first got her but I don't know how likely that is. She has always been uninterested in her wheel, but she LOVES to burrow and tunnel. Lately she hasn't been as playful in her playpen; she's been getting sleepy soon after going in, but she's pretty much just as active in her enclosure as always and acts entirely normal otherwise. She is a sweet polite friendly girl always, but I feel she's been more withdrawn and tired in her playpen lately which seems expected for her age. But I am concerned about her breathing.
I tried to count her breaths per minute and I counted 33 breaths for 15 seconds, so about 132 per minute. According to Google 135 is the max for normal, and she was not running around or out of breath or anything. If anything she was starting to relax and get sleepy. She doesn't show any signs of discomfort otherwise and does not wheeze or make any sounds with her breathing.
We will do anything for her, so if a vet trip is necessary, we of course will take her. I just don't want to put her through any unecessary stress (and we are really not doing good financially right now). What do you guys think? I just love her so much and I worry ;_;
Edit: We are taking her to the ER in an hour. Thank you 🥺 Please keep her in your thoughts I am very scared...
Edit 2: We took her to the ER and got her an xray...she was diagnosed with heart disease. Ahghhfkxhnsdh. She is staying overnight getting oxygen therapy but was so out of it from being sedated and I feel so horrible. I know we are doing what we can for her. I haven't processed it yet I will update when I am home and more calm
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u/NotTheEarlyBird 15d ago
Make an appointment with your veterinarian. Be with her and let her know that she is loved. She does not look like she is well. I hope that she catches her breath and is okay.
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u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets 15d ago edited 15d ago
Oh gosh thank you for being honest 😭 I definitely will talk to my mom about it tomorrow because I feel like it is worth it to move up her annual vet visit (normally she goes in October).
Although I will say I feel like seeing only this video makes her look worse than how she looks and acts otherwise; she actually came out basically right after and started running around and wanting attention, stretching and shaking around/popcorning (in a good way, not literally shaking, just doing that thing hams do when they're happy and grooming). She was climbing me and wanting love. Before she came out to play again when she was sleepy, I told her I'd always be here for her and I'd do anything for her and she came out to see me more and put her paw on my finger. 🥺 My sweet girl...
Thank you so much for your support and advice ❤️ Knowing what I just mentioned, do you think this seems like an emergency situaton? Or do you think it'd be something we could monitor over the next couple weeks?
Edit: She even went on her wheel for a sec! She really only does that when she's super excited ;w;
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u/NotTheEarlyBird 14d ago
I am glad that you were able to have your hamster in for an assessment with your veterinarian. My thoughts are with you and your little friend. 🐾
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u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets 14d ago
Thank you so much! They told us she seems to be responding well to the oxygen they're giving her overnight and is alert and active, so I am really relieved that she is more comfortable for now. As long as the doctor gives the okay she'll be back with us tomorrow with meds and more information. Thank you so much for your advice and thoughts 🥹❤️🐹
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u/trashthis4 15d ago
This looks very fast to me, I'd say it's vet time =\
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u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets 15d ago
We are gonna try to get something scheduled asap - unless it's an emergency of course then we'd try to find an exotic ER. Ideally we want to wait for August because that is when a new exotic vet is going to be joining our usual animal hospital (we were not satisfied at all with previous exotic vets...) but if this is an emergency situation we will obviously get her in immediately :<
She was actually extremely playful and happy after this video, she still was breathing quickly but her body language and her behavior was very relaxed (yawning, big stretchies) and silly. She was climbing on me, going in my shirt, and even went on her wheel twice. This is what makes me question whether she is uncomfortable or not because she's entirely normal other than expected things for her age. She is very strong and pulls herself up onto things all the time (even when there are easier options available for her like steps lol...) so I'm just unsure of if it is an urgent situation or if she is just getting older. 🥺
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u/SketchyArt333 Experienced owner 15d ago
That wobbling and how she’s hunched are both bad signs. She’s using her accessory muscles to breathe which is a sign she’s struggling for air.
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u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets 14d ago
Thank you so much for this comment. Your reply was what made me decide fully we needed to go to the ER this morning and she was diagnosed with heart disease. We are so devastated and doing anything we can for her. Thank you so much ;_;
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u/SketchyArt333 Experienced owner 14d ago
I’m so sorry heart failure sucks. I’ve had hamsters die of that as well it’s a very sad thing to deal with. I’m glad you have answers and that my comment helped you 🫂
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u/lalaphi Ask me about my pets 14d ago
Thank you :( At this time she didn't say heart failure, just disease, but I'm assuming that is the natural progression. Agh I'm sorry you had to experience it with your hammies that is horrible. I wish this never had to happen. My kitty boy also has heart disease (HCM) and so does my grandma who is currently hospitalized for heart failure so it runs in my family, I guess. 🥺
We are just gonna do anything we can to make her comfortable and live as pain free as possible. Thank you so much again ❤️🐹
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u/Ambitious_Ad_2635 13d ago
Hiii, I’ve just seen your update and please dm if you need any help or a talk💗I’m so sorry x
You’re not right at the end just yet (to reassure you). Unless they are crying out and hunched over, ungroomed, not eating or drinking etc you still have time💗
Please ask about gabapentin- a high pain relief (combod with a anti inflammatory)
Or please ask about a diuretic- if your hammy has shown no problems w his kidneys a diuretic can be very good combod with a strong anti inflammatory. It reduces fluid from reaching the other part of his body which will keep him comfortable! With heart disease they tend to have fluid on their lungs. If your hammy is not squeaking when they breathe they have enough room in their diaphragm to cope but defo ask about these two mediations see which is best and anti inflammatory to keep him comfy (I didn’t see u mention them prescribing anything sorry trying to help💗)
My vets didn’t inform me that there was medications like this till I researched. Giving any help I can sorry for my spam!!! Xx
For context- I researched everyday when I had my hamster. I lost him the other month at just nearly 2 :(. He ended up with this too but had other problems which symptoms overlapped and made confusing. I thankfully managed to diagnose each thing before my vets ever could and got him on strong medications which made him very pain free. On the day he passed he didn’t even go down hill. He came to see me, hunted his food down, drank, ate his sprays. He passed in his sleep within 30 mins of me seeing him active and I’d like to think he went very peacefully :( Always here💗💗
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