my hamsters tail has gone purple

Question
my hamster is fairly old now, she seems to constantly shake, shes not nervous shes recently developed this also i have notice her tail now is a purply colour what can i do to solve this problem.

Answer
Hi Heidi

Unfortunately when hamsters get to around 2 years of age they can start to display signs of old age.  Their fur can get thin, their weight can change and they can become quite frail and shaky.  In many ways this is a normal process for them.  Has she lost any weight?  What does her body condition look like?  What is her fur like?  Is she eating/drinking normally or has there been a noticeable change in this?  When she walks, is it just that she is trembling or is she struggling to walk?

Sorry for all the questions.  If this is purely down to old age and her body starting to shut down then the best thing is just to make sure that her cage is easy for her to get around.  Make sure her food and water are close by so that she doesn't have to go far for them.  I usually remove the wheel, and any platforms/tubes so that the hamster doesn't hurt themself when they become frail.  I suspect that her body temperature is lower than usual - when you pick her up does she feel cold compared with how she used to feel.  Perhaps the change in colour of her tail is due to circulatory problems.

If she is struggling to walk and her body is more of a 'pear' shape, then this could be an abdominal tumor that is putting pressure on her legs/spine etc.  Sadly these are quite common in elderly hamsters and as the tumor grows it starts to affect their balance etc.  Unfortunately there is no cure or treatment as such for this as due to the hamster's age, surgery is not an option.  The only thing is to make sure that the hamster isn't suffering at all - if there is a discharge or blood coming from their rear end, some vets will prescribe antibiotics and pain relief, others recommend euthanasia.

You might want to check her teeth to make sure they aren't overgrown, and perhaps give her some baby food in addition to her usual hamster food.  I buy a packet of the powdered creamy porridge oats and mix a little of this with water for my elderly hamsters as they find it easy to eat and it is nutritious.

I would suggest you try and examine her and see if there are any other symptoms.  If all that is wrong is the tail and the trembling, then it is important to try and make sure she is warm in her cage, has plenty of bedding and can't hurt herself.  If you think that she has an abdominal tumor, if you notice any blood or pus coming from her rear, if her tail swells or is clearly getting worse, or if any other symptoms appear then it would be adviseable to get a vet to have a look at her.  They will then be able to advise you on the best option for her.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila