Is my hamstwr okay? Am I stressing too much!? - Page 2

Shannonmcn · 07-20-2015, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solaris

She has potty litter she likes to roll about in and nibble on. It comes as tiny pebbles.

Oh I've used that stuff! I don't think it would work as well as finer sand for bathing in but it might help. She will get rid of it herself eventually anyway. Look forward to many "heart attacks" too, I still freak out a bit if my girl sneezes twice in a row or decides to have a sleep in

Lol at Nutmeg too DrK, funny girl :3

**DrKMcK** · 07-20-2015, 04:55 PM

Solaris does look young. She is a beautiful little hammy.

racinghamster · 07-21-2015, 04:59 AM

Hi Solaris, your little Syrian is lovely! My advice? Take the scented shavings back and ask the shop to replace them with a bag of plain wood shavings. Snowflake are the best brand on the market, but the trick is to open the bag, place the shavings into an open storage bin without the lid and give them a good shake about outside and mash them up using your hands to allow the air in. This helps to release any strong aroma. Do this a month before using the shavings, it makes a hell of a difference.

Lift up and smell a handful of shavings before use. The scent should be reduced.

As for the cage spray, it`s not necessary. Neither are any other powders or potions! Many people buy these thinking they are a must have. The spray would be useful if your hamster became very ill or developed wet tail as hygeine is very important when bacterial infections like this happen. But normally spot cleaning around a new hamster reduces the stress on them (preventing wet tail) and just adding a few fresh handfuls of shavings to replenish old. This also saves money/resources and it helps retain the hamsters scent in their cage, which is important to them.

Hop this is helpful. x

Solaris · 07-21-2015, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

Hi Solaris, your little Syrian is lovely! My advice? Take the scented shavings back and ask the shop to replace them with a bag of plain wood shavings. Snowflake are the best brand on the market, but the trick is to open the bag, place the shavings into an open storage bin without the lid and give them a good shake about outside and mash them up using your hands to allow the air in. This helps to release any strong aroma. Do this a month before using the shavings, it makes a hell of a difference.

Lift up and smell a handful of shavings before use. The scent should be reduced.

As for the cage spray, it`s not necessary. Neither are any other powders or potions! Many people buy these thinking they are a must have. The spray would be useful if your hamster became very ill or developed wet tail as hygeine is very important when bacterial infections like this happen. But normally spot cleaning around a new hamster reduces the stress on them (preventing wet tail) and just adding a few fresh handfuls of shavings to replenish old. This also saves money/resources and it helps retain the hamsters scent in their cage, which is important to them.

Hop this is helpful. x

Thanks for the advice.

I am very concerned about her fur looking wet.
Before it was in her back but my boyfriend has noticed it on her neck now. Ill try and get a photo if I can.

Solaris · 07-21-2015, 02:48 PM

Best pictures I could get while she sat and ate some food. It looks a little pink. I hope I am stressing over nothing.

**DrKMcK** · 07-21-2015, 02:59 PM

It doesn't really look too bad. It is most likely the oil and she'll clean it eventually. Sand bath should help if she'll like it. None of my Syrians ever have, only my dwarf hammies. But you can try it and see.

Solaris · 07-23-2015, 02:04 AM

Update

Thank you to everyone who has helped on my post. All your advice was taken.
After closer inspection I saw that her wheel from Sunday's clean did still have a lot of oil residue in it. I feel so guilty that I was causing her discomfort. I have now bought her a new Trixie wheel that is bigger for her and smoother to run in so I don't have to oil it for her to run in eadily. It should arrive in post soon. Woo!

I COMPLETELY changed her cage and got plain woodshavings by Snowflake. Chucked the lavender scented ones in the bin, will never use those ones again. I also bought chinchilla sand and put it in a little potty house for her. She loved it and started scratching it and rubbing her sides along it. I do, however, think I may need a bigger bowl for it. Not too sure yet.

Her hair is looking better and much more fluffy looking now. She doesn't appear to be scratching as much either. She still scratches her glands area but she isn't going crazy with it.

Also discovered that the igloo house I bought her was a waste of money as she prefers to pull her bedding out and sleep out in the open on it.

Thanks again. Glad Solaris is getting better now. She has even become a little more tame...allowing me to completely stroke her while she play or eats.

Jen250 · 07-23-2015, 02:25 AM

Great to hear she's doing well! Just a quick note about your concern about her falling asleep randomly. Hubble, who is also just a baby ham, loves to run on his wheel constantly, but sometimes he runs so much he exhausts himself, and he does a pancake somewhere to cool down. It's completely normal. They have so much energy that they wear themselves out.

peasypea · 07-23-2015, 03:02 AM

My Syrian used to do that falling asleep randomly thing too. First time I thought she was dying and was really worried. She doesn't really do it now she is older but it used to scare me so much! My previous ham never did it at all!

Sounds like your ham is getting on much better now