New hamster with big cheeks

Sandra75 · 05-01-2015, 09:09 AM

I got a new hamster yesterday. They said its a dwarf but seems a little big. But thing is that I've had the hamster for 24 hours now and he still has his cheeks full of food. Is like a peanut size on each side.

Could the food be stuck there? I have pics if its easier by seeing?

Thin Lizzy · 05-01-2015, 11:30 PM

Hi Sandra and Welcome!
It would help to post some pics.

cypher · 05-02-2015, 12:53 AM

Hi Sandra welcome to the forum
It would help to see some photos when you're able to post some but meanwhile I wouldn't worry, hams can get a lot of food in their pouches & can look really stuffed sometimes! It's quite unlikely that something is stuck there although that can happen.
Photos would help show if you do have a dwarf or not too!

Sandra75 · 05-02-2015, 04:15 AM

Here are a couple pics. I kinda doubt is a dwarf ... if it was a baby, I think it would be a lot smaller. But he's the one who stole my heart. I had no intentions of buying any pet ...

I hope these pics can help ... if not, please let me know how I can take better pics. thank you!

souffle · 05-02-2015, 06:16 AM

He is a dwarf and looks to be a Russian hybrid. That is not a standard colour and only seen in hybrids. He is very cute.
The pouches are very full there and this is often associated with him being stressed and tense about the new home which again is normal. He does look a little under the weather though to me as the ears are down and the eyes a bit half shut. I think you need to leave him very quiet and alone for 24hrs and see if he settles and empties them as they should not be that full for prolonged periods. If he doesn't then he may need to be seen by the vet in case there is something up there. If you can smell his breath and it smells horrid then he likely has impacted pouches and he will need these emptied and flushed by a vet. Don't give him any soft or gloopy food that might stick. What bedding did they have in the pet shop? He will likely depouch given time to settle very much alone.

Sandra75 · 05-02-2015, 06:48 AM

Yes, his eyes are mostly half opened .... at night when I peak on him, his eyes are more opened.

Ok, so the pic of the hamster drinking is when he was at the pet shop. You can see his bedding there.

You have another pic of the bedding I bought and how the cage is set up at home. That is only a temporary cage.

also the hamster is so nice. Whenever I have my hand in the cage, he comes to see me. He lets me pick him up. Im worried about him tho as I also did notice the eyes half shut. His poops are formed but seem sticky... is that how it should be?

cypher · 05-02-2015, 07:59 AM

His pouches do look very full there, a bit bigger than a peanut!
I'd think souffle is most likely right about him just keeping his food in there as he hasn't had time to settle in yet & may feel a bit insecure about hiding it away, his cage is small too so that might add to his problem with hoarding, should be ok for a while though if it's only a temporary cage, they do tend to be very active & need a fair bit of space to run around with lots of toys & hideouts.
Having his ears down & eyes closed a bit could also be a sign that he's nervous, even though he seems keen to come to you I'd leave him in peace, just talk to him quietly when you're around the cage, & give him some time to settle in.
If he doesn't depouch soon though I'd follow souffle's advise & get a vet to have a look.
The bedding looks ok, I'm not sure if the carefresh plus is the one with baking soda? If it is I'd try to find the plain one if possible. I'm only really familiar with the plain one so I'm not sure what the other bags look like!

souffle · 05-02-2015, 08:24 AM

The cage will be fine for a bit as he is on;y tiny just now. It is quite open so he may be scared to depouch in case someone steals his stash! If possible maybe you could shelter half the cage with a big box or something so he could feel a bit less exposed.
The bedding should be all right as it looks fine. Does he chew the bottle spout at all?
Lets see if he unloads the food in a day and if not maybe an idea to have this checked out.

Sandra75 · 05-02-2015, 08:34 AM

He doesnt chew on his water tube part. Ill get a towel to cover half of his cage. That will do?

Since Thursday that I got him, his pouch is full like that. for now, Ive see him eat at 2 corners of the cage. Yesterday, he picked up a pumpkin seed from the dish, and started to run everywhere with it in his mouth.

I hope he wil be ok.

cypher · 05-02-2015, 08:43 AM

His behaviour with the pumpkin seed definitely sounds as though he's trying to find a safe place to stash his food.
Don't put a towel over his cage, he could chew on it & that would cause problems.
Could you find some cardboard to use instead? That would be a lot safer.
You could put more substrate in the cage too & shred some plain white toilet tissue for him so he can make a nest, that would probably make him feel a lot safer.