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Old 01-13-2019, 12:12 PM   #1
Stuart
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Default Sneezing New Hamster

Hello, today i have gotten a new Russian Campbells Dwarf Hamster. He has a white coat and red eyes and i named him Snowy. When i arrived home i put him straight in his cage and instantly i noticed he started sneezing. This was repetitive but then calmed down. He then dug a little burrow and went to sleep for a while. Now he seems to be ok but every couple of minutes he sneezes. I am using wooden aspen shavings which i always use for hamsters. The shavings i used were from a couple of months old bag that was stored in the shed.Could this be a cause that it got too dust? If it is i have a brand new unopened bag i can use but I don’t want to upset him as its his first day.

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Stuart.
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Old 01-13-2019, 12:20 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Was the bag sealed & dry in the shed? If it could have got damp at all that could be a problem.
What substrate was he on where you bought him from? Some hams do react badly to shavings & he may do better on a paper based substrate like fitch or Kaytee.
If he keeps on sneezing then it would be better to change his cage sooner rather than later to avoid problems & before he gets too settled.
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Old 01-14-2019, 09:22 AM   #3
Stuart
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Thank you for responding. I noticed that my old shavings were darker than the new bag and they were’t used at all. So they must have been damp. While he was sleeping yesterday (he’s a really deep sleeper so I didn’t wake him) i changed them to the new bag and later that night, when he woke up, the sneezing seemed to have drastically reduced. He might give an odd sneeze every now and then (because I wasn’t able to get all of the old ones out). I’m going to keep an eye on him for a few days and see and if the sneezing starts again, I’ll try to get wood based bedding.

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Old 01-17-2019, 03:07 PM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Apart from that - hamsters can be allergic to any kind of wood - even hardwood - I would suggest changing to a hypoallergenic paper based substrate like Fitch (Uk) or Kaytee Clean and Cozy or Boxo (US).
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Old 01-18-2019, 02:19 PM   #5
Stuart
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Hi, I got the KAYTEE Clean and Cosy today and I also have just gotten the BARNEY Cage which I put the clean and cosy into. I had loads of toys in it and when I put him in for the first time, he was like the happiest hamster on earth. He was even chirping which I read can mean if they are excited.After about 60 seconds he got into a sneezing fit! It was hard to watch because I was helpless! The minute it happened I put him in his old bin cage (which still had the wooden shavings in it) and he instantly stopped. He seemed to have gotten used to those shavings so he’s currently in there. I am going to go to the pet shop in which I got him in and get the small wooden pellets that he was on for a few months (he was on his own and 2 months old). Then I think I’ll split the Barney in two with a long bendy bridge. Pellets on one side and his current shavings on the other for burrowing. Hopefully this will help as I know hamsters can have allergies as Erin’s Animals Long haired Syrian Iodine had to be kept on pellets as she has allergies.
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Old 01-18-2019, 04:51 PM   #6
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Some hamsters can have really severe allergies. My Stephano’s allergies were so bad that eventually he could only have torn up cardbord as substrate. I made my substrate myself but it’s very similar to Finacard which can be bought on RatRations. I prefer it to pellets because its a softer and more stable for them to walk on.

Be careful using pellets because a lot of them contain cellulose or silica crystals. If you haven’t already, you’ll need soak some in water to see how they dissolve and if any absorbing gel crystals appear (they’re usually undetectable when dry).
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Old 01-18-2019, 10:09 PM   #7
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

I doubt very much the Kaytee clean & cosy would have caused a sneezing fit as it really is virtually dust free, pellets don't make good substrate so I wouldn't use those.
It's possible he was digging around a lot & getting excited which may have set off the sneezing but I think it would be better to leave him a little longer & see if it continues or not.
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Old 01-19-2019, 02:13 AM   #8
Stuart
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Thank you for responding! Yes I tried to put him in again and there was only a bit of sneezing a after a half an hour it stopped so now he’s in his Barney cage and he loves the space. He’s very energetic and loves running around. With the Barney I also ordered loads of tubes,bridges, houses and the trixie 28 cm wooden wheel. After he figured out how it works he ran on it all night! And he was the type of hamster that would go on and off his wheel. Now he’s non stop running and he loves it.

Thanks for all the help and I’ll try to send pictures of his set up
Stuart
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Old 01-19-2019, 03:00 AM   #9
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

Dealing with severe substrate allergies is not fun so I’m glad he seems okay with the Kaytee now!

My russians’ love their wooden Trixie wheels as well
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Old 01-19-2019, 07:56 AM   #10
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Default Re: Sneezing New Hamster

That's great, sounds like one happy ham now!
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