The 'Death' and the 'Revival'

History:

Yesterday, while I was cleaning my hamster cage, I took out 2 young hamster (1+ months old) onto my bed when I suddenly noticed one of them is not moving and breathing very slowly.
I tried to poke that hamster which was called Five (5), but he gave me NO RESPONSE.
He's still alive but was very inactive.
Thus, I tried to move him here and there,
but still, he just open his eye for a while, and move a little bit before closing its eyes back.
Damn. Don't tell me this one is gonna....
well, I gotta do something, then I remembered ABC.
I then recorded the data.

"His RR dropped from 100 to 52 bpm. His HR was 104 bpm. (normal is 300-400) Inactivity, low RR and HR.
No nasal breathing noticed. Cheek pouch filled with seeds. more than 4 in each pouch when counted. Eye closed. Give no response when lifted up. Tend to hide under beddings slowly. On the inspection, found out the water bottle is not functioning. Repaired.
There are no more seeds in the cage when the cleaning was done."

It was then I grieved silently.
Realizing that I couldn't do anything.
I've seen many of this thing happen in my ol' hamsters last time.
Yet I couldn't do anything.
I returned the hamster back into the cage with his pair back after I settled my cleanings.
Goodnight my hamster (who only got number as a name.)













































































































































On the next morning,
I saw him running on the wheel and bite my hand as usual.
eating seeds on my hands and running around on my shoulders.
"What the heck", I thought. and tried to discuss it with my friend and do some readings.

After readings,
i think it just went into hibernation. ( but i preferred to call it 'aestivate.' since there's no winter here, only hot and humid weather. )
Maybe because of the water bottle was malfunction for the whole day, forcing it to hibernate.
and yesterday was quite a cold night too.
maybe that's why it diggn' through the beddings.
The cheek is filled with seeds, plus with the cage has no seeds left, which may also trigger hibernation.


Hibernation:
Hibernation is the slowing or stopping usual activity during the winter for some animals. Usually it includes the slowing of the animal's metabolism.
While they hibernate, their metabolism, heart rate, breathing, all slows down so they do not burn as much energy
Mesocricetus auratus (Yes, your well known Syrian hamsters) however, are not so good at hibernating since Syrian hamsters are originally from a very warm part of the world, SYRIA!

In my readings, hamster can fall into hibernation by many factors :
1.drop in temperature. However, even a slight change in temperature
2.lack of food or water
3. uncharacteristically large nest/ hidding itself under the beddings.

Symptoms :

1.Many people remark that on first glance, the hamster appears dead.
Looking closely, you will notice that it is still breathing, though not very strongly.

2.The hamster will be very limp, as opposed to the stiffness that occurs soon after death.
It will also be very cold to the touch.
Check feet and noses and ears- places with less fur- and they will be quite icy.

3. reduced pulse and respiratory rate
(like I experienced before, the HR can even dropped to 104)

Referrences:
1. http://www.hamsterific.com/HamsterUniversity/HamsterHibernation.html
2. http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/longevity.htm
3. http://www.hamsterific.com/illnessguide.cfm
4. http://www.myhomepet.com/kinds-hamsters
5. http://books.google.com.my/books?id=Y2b8D6t658gC&pg=PT77&lpg=PT77&dq=hamster+disease+inactive+dull&source=bl&ots=jmL-h-uxSI&sig=iPZyvI4s6FzRv8KQyrnPsw3I7BI&hl=ms&sa=X&ei=H3TwTo6GO83IrQe_w9HjDw&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=hamster%20disease%20inactive%20dull&f=false