I'm a first time hamster owner and the little guy is only two months old. They've been making a weird sneezy noise for two days. It's only now and then and it only lasts a bit but I'm scared they have a respiratory infection. They used to be really easy to coax out of hiding by just rustling a bit of bedding but for a few days they've started hiding way more. I heard him do the noise under the bedding again but I can't get him to come out to inspect him. It's around 8pm around here so around the time he should start being active.
I am terrified. I don't have a car so taking him to the vet would require going out in the cold with him in his carry-on and it's 10°C outside and half an hour of walking. Or two buses if they're still moving and about an hour in that. If they allow me to take a pet on board.
It's also incredibly expensive especially since there's only one place that takes care of hamsters here. I'm terrified of the bill but even more terrified of something happening to him.
I have a friend who has had over five hamsters and I sent them a message and I'm hoping they'll reply and be able to come over and assess the situation. Especially since they have a car in case I do have to take him. I am genuinely terrified because I researched so much about hamsters after getting him and I tried my best to give him the best life possible and now he might be sick and I don't know what to do.
I know you're not supposed to take pets you can't afford but he was originally my friend's. They had him for a bit over a week before they admitted that they weren't fond of him and I took him in. I've always wanted a pet but I was scared of something like this but then I saw the empty aquarium he was in and how bored he looked so I wanted to give him a better life. I researched everything and I got all the original owners supplies plus the friend who has had hamsters gave me a lot of stuff so he actually has a really nice environment. I even got him a massive playpin and he seemed so happy.
I knew this was a risk but I thought I'd have more time to save up money in case of an emergency. So if something like this would happen I'd be prepared but I've only had him for less than a month so I haven't saved anything yet.
What do I do? How do I know if he genuinely needs to be taken to a vet? What is a normal hamster sound? How do I know if it's even wheezing?
My little bro is a russian dwarf hamster. He seems to be eating and drinking normally. He sleeps most of the day but comes to take a few snack breaks during the day. I haven't seen him in like 8 hours tho when he last took a snack break.
