Sudden Desperate Bar Chewing Habit!

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

Red stopped altogether and hasn't chewed in the Gabber though she has nibbled a ladder She wa a mad chewer in a bar cage!

I shall try and relax about it - it really is minimal compared to what he was doing this time last week! I'll just keep checking his teeth as you say.

He really does seem happy in the cage as it is now - he spends his days sleeping in the Rotatsak and his nights pottering about in the Gabber

[Holly]

Right, I have had an utter disaster

On Saturday night Mocha seemed to rediscover his bar chewing habit with a vengeance and spent much of the night gnawing on the small bars in the round Rotastak. In desperation I weaved cardboard all the way around those bars and secured it with heavy duty tape yesterday morning. I was a bit concerned about ventilation but thought that less of a worry than him pulling a tooth out/wearing away his fur/annoying the hell out of me

Anyway this morning I arrived home from a night shift at 7am to discover to my utter horror that, overnight, he's gnawed away about a 10cm length of the cardboard and, very worryingly, the tape as well. I don't know how much of the tape he's ingested but I certainly can't find much evidence of it in or around the cage so it could be quite a bit.

He seems perfectly well so far - he's been out in his ball whilst I modified his cage to remove the circular bars completely and I've had him out in the playpen and on my lap - he's totally normal.

I assume that the main dangers are poisoning from the tape or some kind of intestinal obstruction? How long is it likely to be before I see any symptoms? What am I likely to see? Is there any chance that he'll be ok? (I'm really panicking and feel really angry with myself). Is there any point taking him to the vet this morning whilst he's well?

As I said I've removed the bars completely now and secured the lid directly onto the plastic "room", making absolutely certain that he has no access to the tape at all:



Obviously ventillation will be affected but I can't risk him gnawing bars/cardboard/tape again

[Holly]

Quick update - he seems to be ok this evening, he's been out for a run and is eating and pooing normally - phew!

I did phone the vet earlier for some advice - they said as long as he seems ok just to keep a close eye on him and to bring him down if he seems unwell at all.

I'm going to try and get some flexible metal strips to thread through the metal grill so that he can't get his nose through to chew, then perhaps I'll be able to put the grill back - for now his room will be a bit stuffy

[babyboos]

There isn't a great deal the vet could do sadly so best as they say to keep a watchful eye for a few days and ensure poops are being produced as normal

[souffle]

Sorry I have been in Scotland and missed your panic Holly. I would not worry. It is not likely he has eaten any. If you look in the bedding you are more than likely to find it all in little bits in there! When they are just chewing for the sake of it they dont tend to eat it just nibble and spit out. They are unlikely to eat anything that tastes unpleasant like plastic. Paws chewed the cover off a large book before I discovered tiles! I think Mocha may end up in a large deep bin cage where there is no way he can get to the bars!

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

I would not worry. It is not likely he has eaten any. If you look in the bedding you are more than likely to find it all in little bits in there!

Well it seems I may have panicked unnecessarily ...he seems fine tonight (I've been at work all day but I've had them all out for a run tonight and he's lively and looks ok).

Thank goodness for that. It really scared me

[babyboos]

oh they do know how to make us worry :P

[Holly]

I just thought I'd update you all on the Mocha vs bars situation - he's been living in the tape-modified Rotastak attached to the Lux for the past couple of weeks. Nothing metal to chew - or so you mght think

Unfortunately he's now taken to chewing the metal clip that holds the beige plastic stopper in place (bottom right of Rotastak). It's extremely loud and annoying - as he can't rub the fur on his face with this I haven't panicked about it but it is starting to drive me quietly mad.....so I'm now planning yet another cage modification for the Hamster Who Has Lived In The Most Cages Up To Age Four Months :P ...pics to follow when it's done later this week!

It's a good thing we love him so much......

[Holly]

Quick update on Moxy's cage situation - again



(You can just see Moxy peeping out if his wheel )

I was lucky enough to find the Gabber Rex for 18 pounds (sorry no pound sign on this pc) at the farm park we've been visiting - cheaper than the LUX - wish I'd known before. (I got one for our new arrivals as well - more about them tomorrow though )

Hopefully now he's sorted - finally. He does have a huge cage but there might be just one problem in the future - he is becoming a sizeable hammy (unlike our other two) so there's a possibility he might outgrow the tubes and then I'll keep him in just the Rex which will be fine.

[Basia]

That looks a lovely set up Holly. The Gabber Rex looks to be a really good cage. Nowhere sells them around here so I have never actually seen one except in photos. The tubes look a similar size to the ones in the Imac. Basil is huge now - and not just lengthwise - but he still squeezes himself through his tubes quite easily.