WW care help please!

Rach210 · 10-29-2013, 01:00 PM

Today I adopted a WW, she was left at P@H adoption by her previous owner, they didn't tell the staff her name or age or even her gender. Apparently she was given up due to her 'personality' which I assume to mean too skittish because she's terrified of people.

She's hugely obese but I'm going to fix that!

She is now called Annabelle, thanks to my husband.

I've never had a WW before, I've had a syrian in the past though. Do WWs have different needs from syrians?

Rach210 · 10-29-2013, 01:04 PM

Also will she be ok alone or are Russian hamsters happier with a friend?

skrutt · 10-29-2013, 01:15 PM

She will be ok alone. It is good if you can try to get her a friend, but it isnt sure they will get together.
But from what I know there arent much that are different between them. But I have never had an syrian though.

Clairealex · 10-29-2013, 02:05 PM

Hi Rach210!

Are you sure she's a WW and not a hybrid? Did her old owners buy her from p@h? Hybrids are prone to diabetes so, in the absence of knowing for sure, I'd feed her a diabetes safe diet. So looking for mixes without molasses etc and avoid sugary treats. I feed my hybrid a mix of Burgess Supahamsta Dwarf and JR Farm Dwarf basic mix (one teaspoon per day) with one treat per day of either of cucumber, broccoli, egg, wholewheat pasta, mealworms or a little tiny piece of Apple. I also include a millet spray in his cage. This diet would suit a pure WW too but I don't think they're as prone to diabetes so more fruits could be included.

Regarding another hamster, I absolutely wouldn't risk it. She's been very used to living on her own and intoducing a new hamster would likely end in fights, possibly very serious ones. Plus, it would likely stress her out very much. My little hybrid is with me because he was fighting with his brother and he loves life on his own so don't worry about her being lonely! As long as she has a fun cage environment and interaction from you then she'll be very happy.

I'm so happy you've given her her very own forever home

well done you! And what a lucky little Annabell

Babycakes · 10-29-2013, 02:06 PM

Is she definitely a ww? Often pet shop hamsters are hybrids. If she is used to living alone its best to keep her that way. I will post a pic of my ww and my hybrid x pics 1 and 3 are my ww, she is lighter in pic 1 as winter is approaching. My hybrid is pic 2

Rach210 · 10-29-2013, 02:15 PM

She might well be a hybrid although she is completely white, the shop staff had no information about her at all, they had to get the in store vet nurse to check whether she was male or female.

I bought her Harry Hamster, is that OK? I was also wondering whether she could have the same mix as my rats: No8 Complete No Garlic - Elderly Kidney Friendly - £0.96 : ratRations.com
I will buy some millet though and see what treats she likes.

Are there any symptoms of diabetes that I should look out for?

Babycakes · 10-29-2013, 02:19 PM

Drinking lots and weeing lots. Well done on the rescue, do u have some piccies so we can see her x x x

Rach210 · 10-29-2013, 02:23 PM

I will take some, I do have one that I sent my husband while I was in the shop to persuade him to let me adopt her. Not that he needed a pic when I explained she'd come in without even a name, had been there 5 months and was obese, he told me to bring her home so we could look after her.

I need a pic that demonstrates how ridiculously round she is!

She seems to like her wheel anyway.

Clairealex · 10-29-2013, 02:59 PM

Yeah Harry hamster will be great for her. My wee guy got a huge piece of corn stuck in his cheek pouch because he was so stressed after a vet visit which is why I switched but he was on HH up to that point and had no problems so your wee one should be fine!

There's loads of diabetes info on here but as babycakes said main symptoms are drinking more than usual and peeing more than usual. Theres also: urine smelling differently, like nail polish remover or unusually sweet, increased/decreased appetite, increased/deceased activity, hunched over position and a few more but if you read up on some of the threads here it should point you in the right direction. From what I can gather, the symptoms are very obvious when they start.

That's great that she likes her wheel! Can't wait to see pics!

souffle · 10-29-2013, 03:06 PM

The rat mix won't be suitable for a hamster so I would stick with the Harry Hamster. It has no added sugars and if very good for WW or hybrids. Her tummy will be used to it too.