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Old 03-03-2014, 03:11 PM  
celmoy
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 278
Default Re: I'm worried my new hammys aren't drinking their water

I was really paranoid about my ham when I first got him too! As missyme says, it's a good idea to check that water is coming from the end of the bottle, but your hams are probably fine! My boy mostly drinks during the day when he wakes up for a snack and a poo, so i hardly saw him drinking for days.

If they're getting dehydrated, their eyes will look dull and they'll become listless. If they're hand friendly you can do the pinch test- if you very gently pinch the skin at the scruff of their neck, it should be quite elastic and go back into its original position when you let go. If it holds its shape or goes back very slowly they may be hydrated. Providing cucumber is good if you're worried they aren't drinking (although remember that too much can give them upset tummies!), but if they've already sussed that water comes from the end of the bottle, they are most likely fine!
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