Russian Dwarf Strong Pee

[RolyRocks]

Hi Guys,

I have had my adorable Russian Dwarf for 2 weeks now and I have a question about his pee. He is definitely doing it in his wheel every night but the smell appears to be getting stronger. I have to wipe it down roughly every other day but this morning it smelt like very strong popcorn, is this normal? To be honest I have no idea if he is doing it elsewhere, he probably is, but since having him he has made about 3 different nests and I really don't want to disturb them just yet.
I have also noticed the last few days he hasn't really touched the food from his bowl. By the morning the food I have scattered appears to be gone and his Naturals Mini Rodent stick is definitely being chomped on, along with his Whimzee.
I am a little worried that me taking his wheel out so often to clean is possibly making him stressed. I do it during the day when he is sleeping but if it is a little damp I leave it out for a while to dry before putting back in.
Also, he appears to love wanting to climb onto my hand or arm but he also wants to have a good nibble! Nothing hard and he has never punctured my skin, but is this friendly behaviour or is he trying to tell me something? He was already 8 months when I got him and used to being handled.

I will try and get a picture soon as he really is a super cutie! And I have named him Loki (as he was in lockdown at the pet shop!)

[cypher]

I wouldn’t worry about taking the wheel out if he’s asleep it’s not going to bother him & even if he wakes up while it’s out as long as it’s not for too long I doubt he’d stress too much.
The smell does sound a bit odd though, I haven’t really noticed a smell from any of mine, is he drinking much? I really don’t want to ring alarm bells but it may be nothing but sometimes that kind of smell can be due to diabetes, if he isn’t drinking loads & is eating ok, they often tend to eat more with diabetes so the eating doesn’t sound like a. problem anyway, then it may be nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on him & see how he goes.
It is possible he has a urine infection too but again I think you would see other signs not just the smell.
If he’s made a hoard he may not take as much food now & just be eating what’s scattered around plus some from his hoard.
Nibbling on you is just exploratory behaviour & nothing to worry about, they tend to grow out of it as they get older & more used to things.

[RolyRocks]

It is really hard to tell how much he is drinking. He was only used to a water bowl when I got him and I now have both in his cage, a bottle and a bowl. Neither appear to go down very much. Do you think it would be worth me checking him for Diabetes? What are the other signs of a urine infection? I don't tend to see him much during the day, he is usually in one of his nests. Yesterday he wasn't up in the evening but I could hear him shortly after I went to bed running in his wheel. As he has only been here for 2 weeks I haven't wanted to disturb him too much but I wonder if I should now start looking in his nests to check for anymore urine.
It is a strange smell, in between popcorn and toast I would say. He doesn't smell himself, just the urine. I really really hope he doesn't have diabetes...

[cypher]

If they drink a lot it is usually pretty obvious, the level in a bowl will go down noticeably & you would most likely spot him coming out for drinks during the day so if you haven’t seen that it is unlikely I would have thought.
If he had a urine infection he would probably show signs of being unwell, again maybe drinking more, ears flat, that sort of thing, it’s hard to describe really & difficult when you’ve only had a ham for a short time & don’t know exactly what is normal for them. Possibly but not always blood in the urine.
The only way to be sure of either is to test the urine but that can be stressful so it may be better to wait a while if he seems ok although I think after a couple of weeks it would be fine to check his nest for pee, he’s probably been used to that if he’s used to being handled so a quick look shouldn’t stress him too much.
It definitely sounds like a strange smell but I can’t really think of any other reasons for it, maybe someone else will have some ideas or experience of that.

[RolyRocks]

Thanks for your help Cypher. Fingers crossed there isn't anything wrong with him!

Just a thought, I wonder if the smell is getting worse because I have a Trixie Wooden Wheel. I did plastikote it but I have noticed when I wipe it down with water there is still a small odour left behind. Maybe the odour is building up the more it gets urinated on. I'm sure cleaning plastic would be better so maybe I should go ahead and purchase a silent runner...?!

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by RolyRocks

Thanks for your help Cypher. Fingers crossed there isn't anything wrong with him!

Just a thought, I wonder if the smell is getting worse because I have a Trixie Wooden Wheel. I did plastikote it but I have noticed when I wipe it down with water there is still a small odour left behind. Maybe the odour is building up the more it gets urinated on. I'm sure cleaning plastic would be better so maybe I should go ahead and purchase a silent runner...?!

I gave a wooden shelf two coats of plastikote but when my baby hamster peed on it it did leave a smell even after wiping it with a damp cloths. All my hamsters wheels are plastic because my wheel piddling dwarfs especially seem to save themselves so they can pee on their wheels! Little monkeys.

I'd go ahead and get the silent runner.

[RolyRocks]

Thanks Ria, I have just ordered one! I definitely think it will be easier to clean and hopefully not smell as bad.
I will continue to keep a very close eye on him though and fingers crossed he doesn't have a urine infection or diabetes.
I will let you know how he gets on with his new wheel (or should i say toilet!)

[Ria P]

Yes, please do let us know how he gets on.

I had a diabetic Dwarf and his pee smelled sweetish rather than offensive. He drunk an awful lot of water and was on the bottle what seemed like ages. He came out to drink several times during the day. I bought keto sticks on Amazon to test his pee. I think you'd know if he were diabetic.

My late Syrian had a suspected UTI and symptoms were excessive urinating with a very strong smell and than traces of blood in his pee.

It could also be that your Dwarf is scenting along with peeing which can cause a stronger smell.

My youngest Syrian is scenting like mad when he free roams and i can actually smell it in the room but i do have a rather large and sensitive nose.

[RolyRocks]

Thank you, from what you have both said it thankfully doesn't sound like diabetes or a urine infection.
When i first got him he made a nest in his house, but I haven't seen him in there for a few days as his new favourite place is his coconut. I checked his house and found an area where he has stored a small amount of food and used it as his toilet as well. That just smelt like normal pee, no strange odour! I have spot cleaned that area but wasn't sure whether to still leave a bit of food even if it has been peed on? I think he most likely has another hoard in his coconut as I have seen him taking bits in there. I don't really want to disturb that area just yet as he looks like he has made himself a lovely little comfy bed.
I definitely think the wooden wheel is the problem and my new one should be arriving early next week. I guess its a vicious cycle really, the more I clean the wheel the more he wants to put his scent back on it!!

[Ria P]

I'd take the peed on food out and replace with the same amout of new food but put it in exactly the same spot, that way he wouldn't feel robbed.