Why did my hamster suddenly stop moving and struggle to breathe?

Question

My hamster was 100% active and normal and I was holding him when he stopped and he wasn't moving and struggling to breathe. I held him and stroked him to make sure he was okay. I took a brush with a small end tip (opposite of the brush) and put water on it and he was moving his head away but it took a whole 10 minutes for him to finally be back to normal. He doesn't have a head tilt or anything. I would like to have a diagnosis as he has had health problems before. Thanks in advance. Pet's info: Small Animal | Hamster | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 9 months old

Todd Cecil · Accepted Answer

Thanks for reaching out about Biscuit. By the description, he might have had a seizure or cardiac event. Dilated cardiomyopathy is relatively common in hamsters. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and listen to the heart for any arrhythmia or murmur. Not all heart disease is detectable via a stethoscope, therefore radiographs might be recommended to visualize heart size. This is not curable but could be managed with medications if diagnosed. Good luck.

Why did my hamster suddenly stop moving and struggle to breathe?

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