Is My Hamster Too Fat?

SammiHammy · 12-16-2015, 11:31 AM

Hello all,

About a week and a half ago I bought a female Syrian hamster. She runs on her wheel and lot and I take her out and put her in a ball to run around in. However, her rump looks rather large and I am worried she is overweight. Can someone tell me if it is natural or if she does seem a bit overweight. I'll try to post a picture but I don't exactly know how to.

Thank you,
Samantha

WinnieTheHam · 12-16-2015, 01:19 PM

Have you got any digital scales? you can weight her with that, that's the best way to tell if she's overweight by her weight. Overweight hamster usually have flabby bellies and under arms etc.. My Female has a large behind, but she runs on her wheel a lot so I just think that's what fit hamsters look like.

To post a picture you have to upload them to photobucket which is like an online photo album thing. You can copy the URL link and then post it into the box when you're about to post something and it will appear.

Does it look anything like this, though it's quite hard to see in the picture - This is Myrcella

SammiHammy · 12-16-2015, 02:30 PM

Here are some pictures of her.
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WinnieTheHam · 12-16-2015, 02:44 PM

I can't see the pictures?

SammiHammy · 12-16-2015, 02:47 PM

Do they work now?

leedsgurl · 12-16-2015, 03:51 PM

In the second picture she looks pregnant

I would treat her as if she is, just in case. If you've had her a week and a half she could be pretty close to giving birth if she is pregnant.

Take out any toys and wheel etc, give her lots of substrate and bedding, and apart from feeding/watering, try to leave her in peace and quiet (just for a few more days until you know for definite)

WinnieTheHam · 12-16-2015, 04:02 PM

She does look pregnant, Leedsgurl has given some good advice.

Feed her high protein foods every day like plain boiled chicken, dried insects, porridge (made with water), vegetables, Wheat germ, boiled/scrambled egg, Tofu and you can also feed baby food but make sure it has no garlic, onion, leek, salt, black pepper, seasonings or chives in it.

I also wouldn't handle her at the moment and leave her in peace and quiet. If she does have babies dont touch them or her at all until their eyes open which is usually around 14 - 16 days. Give her plenty of nesting material (don't use cotton fluff, use ripped up toilet paper)

SammiHammy · 12-16-2015, 04:47 PM

Thank you guys, if she is pregnant I am gonna have to go through it all again. I had originally gotten a dwarf hamster about three weeks before Thanksgiving and she had given birth the Monday after Thanksgiving. So right now I have two adult hamsters and four two and a half week old babies.

**DrKMcK** · 12-16-2015, 04:56 PM

Oh my. The instant I saw that I blurted out, Oh, she's pregnant!". It sure looks it. Now, that's really not fair for it to happen to you twice.

We'll be standing by to help with info, although Mama will do the real work.

racinghamster · 12-17-2015, 04:59 AM

Her pearshape does indicate pregnancy and if you have had her for less than 21 days and she came from a pet store, she could likely be. The main thing now is to make sure she has a big clean box to nest in with plenty of ripped up plain white toilet paper as nesting. Feeding high protein AFTER the birth is best. This is when the mum will require it, not so much before.

Prepare for this by having dry mealworms as these are an easy protein source for adding to a dry food. Her cage should be kept in a quiet room away from any immediate noise or disturbance. Try not to handle her too much now as she may just want to build a nest and be kept an eye on. x