Coco was an argente campbell. We got him together with Yoyo from my uncle's friend slightly after chinese new year, on 26feb13. His breed is quite rare, I have never seen his type at pet shops. He was the most unique hamsters of all I have ever cared for as he had these pretty bright amber eyes. He was also the most loyal because he only bit strangers! He bit the guy at the pet shop when my mum brought him to check his gender. He also bit the vet when he was forced to eat his medicine.
He was so gentle and tame, he has never bitten us even though pet shop workers told us that his breed is vicious and fierce. He was really active, always climbing and biting the cage bars. He likes to lick water off our fingers too. He would climb onto our hand from the cage and could stay out really long, exploring here and there. He was the friendliest hamster, and smelled every other hamsters we have. It was a pleasant surprise when he smelled Nana through her cage but did not bite.
He was the first hamster we brought to the vet. About two weeks ago, he started behaving weirdly. He was not as active as usual and would stay still while his body was shaking as he was breathing fast and heavily. His right eye also became more protruded. Then, he started opening and closing his mouth widely, looking like a frog. It was scary and we were worried for him. I guessed it was either a breathing problem or maybe he had something stuck in his cheeks. I urged my mum to bring him to the vet and she did so on 20mar.
The vet diagnosed that there was poison leading a lung or heart problem. He gave her two syringes of medicine, one antibiotic and one painkiller. They were to be taken twice per day. If it were a lung condition, the medicine would help to recover. If it were a heart condition, the problem could not be solved. Unfortunately, that day was the last day I saw him alive.
When I reached home on 22mar14 around 12.40pm, apparently he just passed away. My mum was feeding him his second dose of medicine and he struggled till he passed away on my mum's hand. It was probably due to stress leading to a heart attack. I came home to see him still on my mum's palm. She was shaking him telling him to wake up. It must have been quite shocking for her. She cried for the first time. His body was still soft as though he was just resting or "freezing". It was too fast too soon, we thought he would survive longer. R.I.P Coco, you were the best, we will always love and miss you ❤
