My female WW produces pieces of meat, and does not get pregnant

[londonhamsters.co.uk]

Hello,

I have been for several months trying to get offspring of two of my Winter Whites, a Pearl female and a Sapphire male, both with pedigrees from different breeders of the UK.

Because the female never got pregnant, I started putting the two of them in a different "mating cage" when she was on heat, and I saw them mating several times in the last month and a half.

The problem is that, two times already in two weeks, I found a wierd piece of meat in the mating cage after returning the hamsters to they normal cage. The two times the pieces of meat were identical, they are globular and have a bit of blood around them. I have not any idea what they are. Foetus? Miscarriage? Eaten baby that was on the female pouch?

I'm posting the picture of the piece I found today, real size. Anyone know what it is, as seen something like that, or knows what the problem with my hamster is?


Kind Regards

[HollyHamster]

First of all, hamster's don't have pouches. They have wombs ( complete with a birth canal, a uterus, and a pair of ovaries ) like any non marsupial mammal does.

Your lack of knowledge about hamster anatomy, and those fleshy blobs has me concerned. If I were you, I would stop trying to mate this female. She obviously isn't producing viable pups. Your only making things worse by doing that.

Remember, just because a hamster has a known lineage and genetic history, does not mean they should be breeding.

One more question before I go, how old is the female in question? Maybe her age is a factor in this.

[LoveMyHams]

I agree with HollyHamster, it sounds like you need more research and information before you breed your hamsters. Any breeder should know they don't have a pouch and are not a marsupial. I would start with a vet visit to see if they can determine what these blobs are (take the picture with you) and give her a thorough check over. Maybe there is something wrong with her reproductive organs. As HollyHamster said, just because she's got a pedigree doesn't mean she should be bred.

[Kissa]

(Technically, hamsters do have pouches but if the OP is talking about the ones in their cheeks that's even more bizarre.)

OP: I think a vet visit is in order too, to be perfectly honest.

[Angelhamster]

I think that the OP was probably asking about the pouches as in that's where the mother had stored the 'meat' as hamsters obviously do have pouches to store food and other bits!

But I agree, it's probably best to stop trying to breed her until she's seen a vet. Have you had experience of breeding before?

EDIT - just looked at your website and have seen that you do! Hopefully someone on here can help you though

[HollyHamster]

I assumed she was talking about a marsupial like pouch for young when she said 'female pouch". I guess I was mistaken. My apologies.

[souffle]

They look like products of conception. For whatever reason, be it genetic incompatability, partial resorbtion of the embryos or stress related miscarriage she is not keeping these pups. There could be an infection in the womb or even the chance of a tumour with pieces shedding off which might explain the tissue being expelled.
Not sure what you mean about 'on the pouch'? females do sometimes move pups by carrying them in their pouches but if they are in there too long they can die. They would be bigger than this though if they were full term. If she had pups and culled them there could be evidence of placental tissue or the amniotic sac around.
I would see a vet with her and avoid mating her again. If it is an infection it could be transferred both to the male and to other females via the male if you mated him to another female.
Are you also certain it is coming from the female? Does she show any discharge? Check them both for bowel issues, bites wounds etc that could have caused some blood clots to be shed.

[Angelhamster]

Originally Posted by HollyHamster

I assumed she was talking about a marsupial like pouch for young when she said 'female pouch". I guess I was mistaken. My apologies.

Don't worry - we know you knew they had cheek pouches! There's been so many threads about breeding by inexperienced people, so it's easy to assume the worst

[londonhamsters.co.uk]

Lol about the pouches thing. I mentioned it because the original breeder suggested that could be a half-eaten baby, though most probably is not that, it is a full thing.

Thanks for the other answers, altohugh I was hoping to hear from someone that at some point saw something similar.

They are 5months old. I didn't find any evidence of the discharge, but then again, if never found any proof on normal births either (appart from the pups themselves) (they don't waste anything)

I'll take her to the vet, see what happens.

[Angelhamster]

Best of luck