Dwarf looks like she's retching?

Hanhanboban · 07-17-2014, 04:15 PM

Hey everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, my laptop broke & I had to wait for some money to get a new one! My hammys are doing great & my adopted Robo is growing in confidence everyday! So proud of them all (:

Anyway, about half an hour/hour ago I noticed my little hybrid dwarf hamster, Gimli, looking like she was retching/heaving, just like a dog looks like when they're gagging before they throw up.

Other than this she seems absolutely fine, I gave her some food, fresh water and new bedding but she still seems to be doing it. Anyone know what is wrong?

Thanks in advance (:
Hannah B

NiceCrocs · 07-17-2014, 04:23 PM

Is something stuck in her pouch? That's all I can imagine causing such a response, as hamsters don't have a gag reflex.

Hanhanboban · 07-17-2014, 04:31 PM

Possibly! She won't let me near her to check tho ): She let's me handle her but she doesn't like too much attention, so how would I check?

Thanks

NiceCrocs · 07-17-2014, 05:17 PM

There's no real way to check without touching her, but you can gently squeeze around her neck and see if you feel any lumps, but everything I've read about an impacted pouch says to have a vet clear it out.

connv39 · 07-17-2014, 05:22 PM

I think the pouch is the best bet. I know when my hammies stuff their cheeks they look like they're gagging when they're pushing their stash back out. If she's been doing that for a long while something could be stuck.

racinghamster · 07-18-2014, 05:52 AM

Hanhanboban, if she`s standing hunched and looks like she`s irritated by something and this behaviour doesn`t stop, or she starts pawing at her mouth or pouches with no resplution, I would see a vet. She may have something stuck somewhere between her teeth/pouches/throat.

Keep watching her behaviour and if this is on going, I would definitely have her checked by a vet. How long has this been happening?

_nod · 07-18-2014, 06:08 AM

As the others have said a vet visit is best if she can't clear the obstruction.

Has she had anything large or sticky to eat which may have become stuck in her pouch? Does she seem to be 'pawing' at the pouch at all?
What bedding/nesting material do you use, some hamsters have been known to ingest the fluffy style bedding.

Hanhanboban · 08-12-2014, 11:49 AM

Sorry for the such late reply! Had trouble with my laptop. I have been keeping an eye on it and it hasn't persisted, she didn't seem too irritated and wasn't pawing at it. Every now and then she has seemed to do it, but never for long and not very often. Maybe she worked out a way of fixing it herself, is this possible?

I use ripped up tissue for the bedding.
If I notice it again I'll deffo take a trip to the vets but so far she seems just fine (:

Thanks everyone for your hell!!! xx

NiceCrocs · 08-12-2014, 12:07 PM

It sounds like she may just be putting a bit too much in her pouch and maybe it's a bit difficult for her to clear. I wouldn't worry unless she does it for a prolonged period or if she starts acting like she's in pain, as an impacted pouch could lead to a painful infection.

It just happens some times