Change in behaviour advice needed!

[Billy]

The behaviour of my 6 month old Syrian has changed recently and I’d be very grateful for some advice!

Basically, he’s become a lot less active/sociable. I recently gave him a long bridge and he’s stuffed it with toilet roll and made a very cosy bed under it! Previously he would get up in the early evening to rush around, and even if he was in bed, if he heard me around the cage, he’d generally get up to investigate. But recently he’s been staying in bed all evening and only emerging briefly. If I approach the cage, he rushes back into bed! He’s very tame normally. I can’t be sure how active he’s being overnight but he hasn’t been waking me which he usually does.

I’m a bit worried he might have swallowed some plastic – I removed a plastic tunnel from his cage a few days ago he’d been chewing. I also haven’t been able to find much poo in his cage (although it may all be in his bed which I don’t want to take apart.) But, he is still eating/taking treats and when I got him out of his cage the other night to clean it, he behaved normally – rushed around, etc. I also couldn’t spot anything physically wrong with him – ie no bloated belly, etc.

I’d be grateful for people’s thoughts! This has all coincided with the weather getting a lot colder where I live, so I’m wondering if it’s connected to that. I’m now trying to keep my room warmer by shutting the window and curtains.

[pinkneon]

It could be that he'd rather stay in his warm snuggly bed now that the weather is getting colder? Mine certainly is - though he's always liked his bed LOL

[cypher]

It does sound like he's adapting to the colder weather, they're sensitive to the shorter daylight hours too, but keep a close eye on him just in case he has ingested some plastic, he probably hasn't though if he's still eating ok.

[Billy]

Thanks very much for the replies, both.

My hammy hasn't improved and so I took him to the vet at the weekend. He couldn't find anything wrong and thought he was probably adjusting to the cooler weather. I'm quite worried about him though as he doesn't seem to be eating and has lost 25g in weight. Think I'll take him back to the vets tomorrow.

[cypher]

That is quite a big weight loss, did the vet check his teeth? That's usually a good place to start if they're not eating normally or have lost weight unexpectedly although it could be lots of things so probably the best thing to take him back for another check just to be sure.

[Billy]

Arthur's seen the vet twice now. Sadly he thinks he may have wet tail or another infection. He's started on antibiotics today. I've got my fingers crossed.

[cypher]

It could well be that he has an infection in which case the antibiotics should help, they are good at hiding signs of illness or pain so that could explain the change in behaviour, wet tail seems like an odd diagnosis though if you're finding very little poo as they would normally have diarrhoea, often quite severe with wet tail.
Fingers crossed the meds will sort him out anyway.
If you have trouble getting him to take the meds it's often easiest to offer them in a tiny bit of soft food like porridge or baby food.

[Thin Lizzy]

Sorry to hear Arthur's unwell, fingers crossed the antibiotics will help him.

[Billy]

Many thanks, Cypher and Thin Lizzy. We're off to the vet again this evening ...

[cypher]

Good luck with him, keep us posted.