Approaching death

Question
Hi Charlie,
Just to follow up, Homer passed away this morning between 9:00am and 10:00am.  My son just found out.  He's handling as best as can be expected.
Thank you once again.
Andrew
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello there,
I find myself with the difficult decision of what to do with my 11-year old son's 'first pet'.  His "very much loved and cared for" dwarf hamster, Homer.
Mike has had Homer for nearly two years.  He's a funny little guy, opting never to use a wheel.
It's no great secret that Homer is dying.  His coordination is waning as he often tips over.  He spends most of the time curled up in a ball in the middle of his cage shaking noticeably.  He barely reacts to human touch, often appearing to be startled.
I haven't seen my son cry in nearly five years, but he's taking this quite hard, despite his thorough understanding of the life cycle of a dwarf hamster.

What do I do?  Do I play the waiting game and just wait for Homer to fall over one last time?    he's eating well.  Loves his alfalfa but he's not drinking very much.
It pains me to see him struggling from what appears to be nothing more than old age.  His tail is dry and he appears uncoordinated, stunned and lethargic.
Just the mention of putting him down (if vets do that for dwarf hamsters) breaks my son to the point of begging for another day.
What do I do?  What should I do?

Thank you,
Andrew  (looking for advice for my pal and his pet)
-----Answer-----
Hello Andrew,

Yes, old age is horrible to watch, and can be very upsetting. Do you feel he is suffering and in pain? If you think he is in pain then sadly having him put to sleep maybe the best option, and the best for Homer. If you don't think he is suffering in anyway, then there is no need to have him put to sleep. If he can still eat and move about if he wants to then he still has some quality of life left to live. It is a hard decision to make, and if you are not sure whether he is suffering i would maybe take him to the vets and get their expert opinion, as they will be able to tell you! You may want to visit the vets just to eliminate anything else, as older hamsters are more prone to things like tumors, and strokes, which can be very harmful!

I know it must be very hard for your son, and i hope your hamster is ok, but i would at least visit the vets for a check up if you can! You never know, they may be able to do something for him, or at least you will know it is only old age!!

In the meantime, try and keep him as warm as you can, and make sure the food is always on offer!!

I hope this helps you,
Let me know what happens!

Ask again if you need,
Thanks,
Charlie.

Answer
Hi Andrew,

Oh, i am so sorry!! That must be awful for your son!

At least you know it was most likely old age, and that he had a good life (sounds like he was loved very much), as 2 is old for a hamster!!!

I hope he is coping okay, and again i am so sorry for your loss!!

If you do happen to need anything again please do just ask!
Thank you,
Charlie.