How much is too much?

[ristole]

Hello all,
I've has my russian hybrid, Willow, for about a month and a half now- and being from Pets at Home that would put her at around 4 months. In the last couple of days I've noticed her drinking quite a bit more water (resulting in weeing more), and I know this can be a sign of diabetes so I'm getting worried.
In terms of diet, I was aware from day one that there was a diabetes risk so have avoided high sugar treats. I gave her a tiny bit of strawberry once and she barely ate a pinch. I guess about once a week I snap off an inch of a millet stick that's got a light coating of petals or dandelion and she sometimes has a shelled walnut to tackle, but only eats a quarter over a couple of nights before she goes off it. I started her off on the Pets at Home basic food and planned to wean her off into Burgess Dwarf Superhamster, but after probably week 3 I just mixed them together and removed the high sugar pieces after watching the ErinsHamsters video.

My question is how much water is "excessive"?
I'm measuring exactly how much she's drinking tonight, but on a basic level I would guess that she'd spends roughly a minute at the water bottle when I'm aware of it, which would be every coupl of hours and I'd assume she'd be drinking more while I'm asleep. Her food and water is up on a platform and I've noticed a lot more poop around the bottle. Previously, barely any and now, a couple a night.
The thing is, I've noticed her drinking more but to me it doesn't seen like what I would call excessive. Its not to the point that some have described as being up to half a bottle a night (not sure if they were exaggerating). I guess the water level used to go down roughly 5mm a day, and now its 10mm.
Again, I've also only had her for 5/6 weeks and I don't know if it would be unusual for the onset of diabetes so quickly in still a young hamster that (hasn't had a perfect sugar free diet) has had a pretty low sugar diet.

I know its not very helpful information now, but I can give you numbers of how much she's been consuming in the morning.
My partner is type 1 diabetic so he says he can easily get testing strips from the GP, but I'd prefer not be looking after *two* insulin-dependent people in my life! (I get enough problems from a grown man who apparently can't regulate his own glucose levels, hahaha)

Edit: Just adding that I haven't noticed any changes in behaviour aside from drinking/weeing. She seems to be getting a good amount of sleep and exercize. Eating normally. I can't weigh her at the moment (students don't own weighing scales, hah), but I can check her weight next week when I'm home for christmas. By look and feel she doesn't seem to have changed.

[cypher]

It doesn't sound as though she's drinking huge amounts & probably not diabetic but if you have easy access to some test strips why not check her out anyway just to put your mind at rest.
Is she anywhere close to a radiator or other heat source, I'm just wondering as the weather gets colder & we put the heating up they can get a bit warm & thirsty if they are a bit to close.
Does she have any veg at all? I give mine fresh veg daily & they seem to drink very little really.
You said there's more poo but is it still normal?
Her diet sounds ok on the whole so I don't think you have too much to worry about but keep monitoring her & see how she goes.
I would weigh her when you get the chance, they are such fluff balls I find it really hard to tell if they've lost or gained a bit of weight without weighing.

[ristole]

Yeah, that's what I thought. She's drinking noticeably a lot more, but its not to the extent that others have described...
She's adjacent to the radiator in my room, about 2 metres away, but (student house) the heating only goes on for a few hours a day. I would be actually more concerned that she would be too cold rather than hot(!)

I do give her broccoli and spinach when I have it, and sometimes a little piece of carrot. She doesn't really eat that much of it though. I cut off the smallest branch of broccoli I can get, then chop that in half and she will only nibble at it. Spinach she will only eat half a leaf before its wilted and needs chucking. I'm not sure if that's a normal amount for hamsters to eat, or if she's just not into her greens? Most treats I give her, like the walnuts, she only really has a nibble for a few nights before she's bored with it.

The poo is completely normal, there just seems to be more than usual around the water because she's been spending more time than usual around it.

Thanks again cypher

[NiceCrocs]

The water consumption you described sounds pretty normal to me. On average, a hamster will drink about a teaspoon of water a day, but this can vary.!

From what I've heard from people who have dealt with diabetes in hamsters, a diabetic hamster will show a very dramatic increase in thirst: one particularly rough case had the hamster drinking a full 4 oz bottle within a few days.

Hopefully that info will help you tell where the line is between 'the weather's dry' increased drinking and 'possible diabetes' drinking. good luck!

[cypher]

It certainly doesn't sound as though she's too warm then!
Try & experiment with some different veg & see if you find something she likes, they all vary in what they fancy!
A little cucumber or lettuce, not too much lettuce, or pepper are often enjoyed, just try to avoid sweet veg like carrot, pea or corn.
She sounds as though she's doing ok really though.

[ristole]

Thanks guys, you've assured me that I was being paranoid :P
I'm going to ask boyfriend to grab some test strips for me when he next goes in, so I can just test her straight away if I get worried again!

Surprising that they would be fond of peppers, I would have thought that the taste wouldn't be nice for most animals... I'll try lots out and see what she likes

[NiceCrocs]

Make sure you only give them BELL peppers, the sweet kind. Any pepper with spice are too dangerous.

[ristole]

Don't worry, NiceCrocs, Jalapenos aren't on the menu for Willow or myself... I'm terrible with spice!

[ristole]

Quick update:
Gave her a weigh and she's 53g. I've read that adult russians should be 40-60g, so I'm guessing that's fine for a 4 month old?

Being at the family home for christmas means a full fridge, and I found bell peppers and cucumber... I put some in her food bowl last night, and she completely ignored both! Not even a nibble! I think maybe due to yesterday being stressful for her (I had to bring her home on a 3 hour bus/train/car journey...) so I will change it for fresh pieces tonight and see if she will try it now she's settled in.

[cypher]

Her weight sounds fine.
Poor girl must have been stressed out after that journey, hope she enjoys her new veggies once she's settled down again, I have yet to own a ham that ignores cucumber!