Dye in bedding making dwarf sick?

Erin.R · 12-12-2014, 09:59 PM

I have a hybrid dwarf that is about 16 months old. Up until a couple weeks ago he was a nice round fellow, with plenty of meat on his bones

However he rapidly started losing weight. However I am a little concerned that maybe the dye in his bedding has poisoned him. I was in a store, I don't usually go to, they had blue Katee clean and cozy. It was on sale and I use the white kaytee all the time so thought why not. Smudge has had it in his cage for about 2 months, it has been cleaned out but replaced with the blue for that long. So I noticed his poo was green on his wheel which I thought was odd but I know different food can cause that. Then I noticed the bottom of his feet were blue. It's kind of dark in the hamster room so I brought him out into a brighter light and his fur is tinted blue all over his body. Of course I immediately cleaned his cage out and he is now back in his white Kaytee.
I am wondering is anyone has ever noticed this with the colored Kaytee, or if anyone thinks it is possible that if he had it in his pouches could it have poisoned him?
I am so upset, I should have never bought the stuff but I have bought colored care fresh and used it for a long time and the color never got on the hamsters.
Smudge has an appointment Monday, if he makes it. He is still running around and eating and drinking, and he seems to be still grooming himself, maybe not as well as before but he's just so skinny

Nancy's Hamsters · 12-13-2014, 12:16 AM

Yup I've seen White Hamsters in Pet Supplies plus have Purple paws, Green Paws, Pink Paws, and Blue Paws on the carefresh of the corresponding colors. I don't think the dye would NOT come off in their pouches as once they had a DEW Syrian who had all 4 colors on it's body and that helped sell the poor thing. I pray on Monday he has a good report, and the dye has not caused him harm. 16 months for a mill bred hybrid Dwarf is actually a very good old age so his skinniness may just be from old age.

Thin Lizzy · 12-13-2014, 03:38 AM

Hi Erin, I have my fingers crossed for Smudge.
Have you contacted the place where you bought the blue Katee clean and cosy from?
I really hope it's not the dye, but smudge's health declined at the time you started using it and I can't help but feel it's the cause.
I'll be thinking of both of you on Monday xx

Erin.R · 12-13-2014, 10:18 AM

I actually wrote Kaytee an email, I am sure they don't care about 1 hamster, but I wanted to make them aware that this is happening.
I thought he was a pretty good age. Every dwarf I have had that passed from old age took days to go, all of my Syrians went peacefully in their sleep. It is heart breaking to see his tiny little body like this.
Thanks for the kind wishes.

cypher · 12-13-2014, 10:38 AM

I have no idea about the dye but just wanted to say I hope he pulls through this whatever the cause & you have more time with him yet.
Thinking of you & Smudge.

Thin Lizzy · 12-14-2014, 03:21 AM

I hope the company that supplied the dyed bedding get in touch with you. They have a responsibility to provide safe bedding for small pets and I don't think this will be an isolated case.
Got my fingers crossed for smudge and yourself.
Like Cypher said, I hope he pulls through so both of you have more time together xx

Erin.R · 12-16-2014, 08:36 AM

They did actually reply, they said hamsters are not meant to eat the bedding, he did not eat it, he pouched it which is what hamsters do. They did ask me to send a sample to quality control, but I threw the stuff away as soon as I realized what it had done. I'm sure it was not an isolated incident so really they should just test their colored products. They offered me a refund if I sent my receipt and upc but again I didn't keep that stuff and honestly don't care about the $10, I am just worried about smudge. He hasn't gotten any worse, but no better either. He is still eating, drinking, burrowing and all his other hamsterly things, except running on his wheel, he's too weak for that. The vet thinks it could be from the bedding or just old age as Nancy said but did not see any sign of cancer or an infection. Even though he looks terrible I don't feel it is time to PTS since he is still doing all the things he loves. If he doesn't gain a little weight soon I fear he won't have the energy to do much, then it will be time for me to help him to the bridge

Thin Lizzy · 12-16-2014, 08:52 AM

I'm glad the vet saw Smudge.
The company that provided the bedding don't have a clue about hamsters and that is alarming!
I bet this isn't an isolated incident, can customers comment on their website regarding the products they've bought? Give an opinion? Because if you can, then warn others about the dyed bedding!
That's what I'd do.
I really wish Smudge well xx