Loud noise coming from Syrian hamster

[Starbuck_80]

Hi everyone,

I was woken up this morning by a very loud noise coming from my Syrian hamster. It sounded like she was braying and I've never heard anything like it coming from a hamster. She will be 2 in May and has not shown any signs of illness (she was happily rolling around in her ball yesterday). When I went to her, she woke up and stuck her head out of her next and when I put her hand to her, she slight went to bite me.

She's never done anything like this before and I was wondering if anyone else has had a hamster that has made these types of noises? When she is happy or annoyed she makes a chirping sound but this was completely off the scale.

Thanks

[souffle]

Any change in behavior can indicate an illness so I'd try and get her out for a full health check this evening. You often get that squarking noise with babies when they fist go to a new home. It sounds like they are crying! It can be a sign of pain though and she is an old lady at 2 so check her out as soon as you can. I hope she is OK.

[jesterdesu]

The biting suggests possible discomfort too

[BrainGirl]

The only similar noise I can think of is one I've heard from another "old lady" but this one a cat. We're not entirely certain whether it's due to pain from a recurring bladder infection or just fear because she sometimes forgets where she is. It sounds like what you described, though perhaps I might have called it "crowing" because she does it over and over again. She gets treated for the bladder infection but the psychological aspect is more difficult. All that can be done is to keep her world as unchanging as possible, but she still forgets occasionally and will stand staring at nothing while making this incredible sound.