Hamster has died - advice please

Sorry if this should be in a different forum but I really need some advice. We thought our hamster had died on Wednesday - he was curled up in a ball and not moving, one eye open (he hadn't been out of his house or eaten for 2/3 days), then I noticed a tiny movement of his paw. On Thursday we noticed him breathing slightly. On Friday he was rock solid, ie dead. Today he feels soft. He is obviously dead but we daren't bury him just in case.............. Do they change from rock solid to soft? His position hasn't changed at all in 4 days.

Oh no Jo I don't know hun though at a guess maybe he has just gone soft as to the warmth in the room, but would say if he hasn't moved for 4 days probably gone. xxx

Sure its not this Jo have a read
http://www.hamsterific.com/HamsterUniversity/HamsterHibernation.html

Oh gosh thank you - just going to have another look at him.........

Well I had a quick read and it seems they can go cold and stiff like being dead before hibernation, I hope so Jo xx

Hope thats it hun x

I think he's gone   No sign of breathing and his little face is swollen and blackish. He's in a warm place for tonight.

Oh Jo poor little fella, yes just keep him warm for tonight miracles do happen xxx

Well before I read Inez's link I'd have said he was dead.  Hamsters don't live very long I believe (2 or 3 years?) and all animal bodies (our included) go soft again after rigor mortis.  If his extremities are going black, he is stone cold and especially if his eyes are open or partially open (and glazed) and if his lips are drawn back from his teeth, then I would guess, I am afraid, that he has gone to Rainbow Bridge.  It's too late to do anything about him tonight anyway, and if you keep him warm tonight you will certainly know by tomorrow, one way or another.

Sorry to be blunt, but these are short lived little creatures.

    

Hamsters can hibernate, many a hamster has been raised from the dead. Was he in a cold room?   

don't forget when an animal dies rigor mortis sets in on the body within X amount of hours, once the rigor leaves the muscles the body then becomes soft again and then decomposition sets in.

Sorry about your hamster

Aww no Jo

How's things today jo? Xx

Once the body has gone through rigor it then does go soft again. So sorry for your loss Jo RIP little fella

Thank you everyone for all your advice and lovely comments. He is, I'm afraid, gone. We'll bury him today. Poor little thing    

Aww Jo rip little hammy xxxx

Poor little thing, hope you have a little burial for it

Aww no rip little fella.