Hamster doesn't wake up on her own

Tjibbe · 12-26-2018, 02:28 AM

Hi everyone,
Yesterdag morning I noticed that my hamster didn't eat any of her veggies and dry food. That's odd since she always finishes her veggies in one night and at least eats some dry food. I also didn't hear her run in her wheel. So she probably slept through the entire night. I had woken her up in the afternoon the day before, because I had to remove some newspapers from the bottom of her cage because she was excessively chewing them.
By half past 8 in the evening she still had not woken up, which is pretty unusual for her. I was so worried that she had passed away or gone into torpor (even though it's 19 degrees celcius in the room she's in) so I decided to look for her. I found her sleeping in a pretty unusual spot and I accidentaly woke her. She didn't seem particularly sleepy or confused. She walked to her food dish and ate some food, about the amount she eats when she wakes up during the day for a quick snack.
This morning I found that she didn't wake up once again. I'm worried because she's not eating and drinking. I don't think she has hoarded any food into the house she's currently sleeping in. I saw her very briefly this morning when she went out of her house to pee in her sand bath.
Maybe I'm overreacting but I'm very worried about her. I'm planning on weighing her tonight if she wakes up. She's 14 months old and has always been a pretty active hamster so this is very unusual behaviour, especially because this change happened overnight.

Is there anyone who has dealt with something similar? Is there something I can do?
Thanks in advance!

edit: forgot to mention that she's a winter white dwarf

buttercuplols · 12-26-2018, 02:42 AM

I was going to say sounds normal. My baby sleeps loads but then I saw she is 14 months and I would be a little concerned about a sudden change like that. I'd consider taking her for a check up but you might want to see what some of the experts on here say.

As a side note I'd seriously reconsider the newspaper as the ink is very strong and even makes me sneeze and they've only got teeny noses! I hope you don't think that's rude of me to change subject!

By the way, what is your little hammy called?

Tjibbe · 12-26-2018, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buttercuplols

I was going to say sounds normal. My baby sleeps loads but then I saw she is 14 months and I would be a little concerned about a sudden change like that. I'd consider taking her for a check up but you might want to see what some of the experts on here say.

As a side note I'd seriously reconsider the newspaper as the ink is very strong and even makes me sneeze and they've only got teeny noses! I hope you don't think that's rude of me to change subject!

By the way, what is your little hammy called?

thanks for your reply. I'm probably taking her to the vet if this behaviour stays for a couple more days.

I normally don't use newspapers in her cage, but I recently built her a bigger cage made from IKEA shelves (the white ones). There was a small line of exposed wood down the middle of the cage and I didn't want her to pee on it or chew on it, so I decided to cover it with newspaper. She didn't touch the newspaper for weeks up until last week, so I decided to take it out. The ink used on newspapers should be safe where I live, but I didn't want to risk it. Don't worry about being rude, it's very important to spread knowledge like this!

She's called Tjibbe, it's a dutch name that is probably impossible to pronounce in English lol

Pebbles82 · 12-26-2018, 05:44 AM

It's always worrying when their veg hasn't gone the next day. How old is your hammy? If you've done any cleaning in the cage recently it can affect their routine but you're right it's unusual for veg to be left. Unless it was a new kind of veg and she didn't like it! Although with our robo it's hard to tell he's had some veg sometimes as he just nibbles at it and doesn't eat all of it. Keep an eye on her.

cypher · 12-26-2018, 06:36 AM

I would be a bit concerned about the newspaper tbh, if you have exposed wood you need to paint it with Plastikote water based enamel if you can get it, not sure what other non toxic paints you may be able to get where you are if you can't get that.

Has there been much going on over the Christmas period, more noise, people around, that sort of thing? That kind of thing can stress them & cause a change in normal behaviour.

It is unusual to see sudden changes like this & she's not that old so if she doesn't change back to a more normal routine & eating soon I think you'd be right to get her checked at the vets.

Tjibbe · 12-26-2018, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

I would be a bit concerned about the newspaper tbh, if you have exposed wood you need to paint it with Plastikote water based enamel if you can get it, not sure what other non toxic paints you may be able to get where you are if you can't get that.

Has there been much going on over the Christmas period, more noise, people around, that sort of thing? That kind of thing can stress them & cause a change in normal behaviour.

It is unusual to see sudden changes like this & she's not that old so if she doesn't change back to a more normal routine & eating soon I think you'd be right to get her checked at the vets.

I'm planning on using aquarium silicone for the exposed wood, because I know for sure that that's pet safe.
Nope no extra noise these days, she's in my bedroom.
I'll most certainly keep an eye on her and take her to the vet if this behaviour stays for a few days.

Tjibbe · 12-26-2018, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

It's always worrying when their veg hasn't gone the next day. How old is your hammy? If you've done any cleaning in the cage recently it can affect their routine but you're right it's unusual for veg to be left. Unless it was a new kind of veg and she didn't like it! Although with our robo it's hard to tell he's had some veg sometimes as he just nibbles at it and doesn't eat all of it. Keep an eye on her.

She's 14 months old. I gave her carrot and chicory and I know for sure that she likes chicory. I'll keep an eye on her!

Tjibbe · 12-26-2018, 09:27 AM

Quick update: I noticed that she moved a piece of dried carrot and a piece of a snack I gave her yesterday. I think that she moved the piece of the snack into her house because I heard that she was eating something. I don't think she touched her food bowl though. I just gave her some fresh dry food and clean water and put it next to her house so hopefully she'll eat some of it. I'll keep you posted!

buttercuplols · 12-26-2018, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjibbe

Quick update: I noticed that she moved a piece of dried carrot and a piece of a snack I gave her yesterday. I think that she moved the piece of the snack into her house because I heard that she was eating something. I don't think she touched her food bowl though. I just gave her some fresh dry food and clean water and put it next to her house so hopefully she'll eat some of it. I'll keep you posted!

Yes, please do! I'd like to know she's OK.

Tjibbe · 12-27-2018, 09:09 AM

Update 2: I think her behaviour was normal again tonight! She ate her veggies and some dry food and I heard her running in her wheel at around 7 AM. Not sure how long she was awake though, because I was asleep. Haven't seen or heard her this afternoon. I'll be keeping an eye on her to make sure her behaviour stays normal. But for now, I'm very relieved to see that she's doing better!