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Old 11-12-2017, 02:09 AM   #1
kathryn23
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Lightbulb Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

My female Syrian carlos was originally bought from pets at home but adopted by me after her owners had her for about 1 month. She must have been around 4 month when I got her since I think pet shops normally sell them at around 12 weeks old. When I first got her she weighed 176g and since then she's been continually losing weight. I've had her for about 3 months and she now weighs 154g. However she seems really happy, likes exploring her home, runs round faster than normal sometimes (which I assumed is kind of like a rabbit binkying) and stretches quite often. I feed her 10g a day but found that most of it wasn't being eaten but was just staying stored in a corner. So should I be concerned about her weight loss or do you think he first owners just over fed her and she is now reaching her normal individual weight?
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Old 11-13-2017, 04:28 PM   #2
Jennie F
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

Congrats on your new addition.

176g for a 4 months hamster is an achievement haha. My girl is almost 1 and about 165g. Is she a big hamster in size/length etc? Maybe her diet wasnt right before you got her and she is losing the weight she shouldn't have been carrying for that age? Im no expert, so maybe see what others think x
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Old 11-14-2017, 08:09 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

I can understand you being concerned if she is losing weight. What hamster mix is she on? They need enough protein in their first year. You rarely see hamsters eating in my experience - they pouch and hoard and then snack from their hoards. 22g weight loss is quite a lot - although 154g is a healthy weight as well, depending on how big the hammy is. Did you use the same weighing scales each time? I know scales can be unreliable and fluctuate. Do you have a photo of her?
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Old 11-14-2017, 08:46 AM   #4
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

I wonder if she was kept in a too small cage with no wheel or a too small wheel so she put on extra weight? It is possible now she has a good sized cage and exercise that she is a more healthy build for her size? If she seems active and busy and there are no symptoms like lumps, bumps excess drinking, discharge etc I wouldn't worry too much. One thing I would check or have checked are her teeth. If they don't meet correctly and get overgrown it stops them eating properly hence a weight loss. If all seems well then keep monitoring her weight and if she continues to lose then seek vet attention. Make sure the water bottle is free flowing as well. If you have a sippy type some hams cannot work those.
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Old 11-15-2017, 01:13 AM   #5
kathryn23
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

hi everyone thanks for your help. When I got her she was on a brand of muesli called furry friends and I started mixing it with pets at home nuggets. It seems like what's she's got stored is the same amount as what I give her apart from one part of the mix which must be her favourite so I think I'll try leaving that out and saving it as a treat so she isn't being selective. I use the same scales to weigh her every time and I do a basic health check every week but I'll check her properly for lumps and check her teeth when I get home later. It's a good suggestion about the size of the cage I hadn't thought of that. She came Ina tiny cage that just had a wheel and nothing else, now she has two larger cages connected by a tube with plenty of levels and enrichment. she drinks 30-50ml water everyday
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:44 AM   #6
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

Are you sure she drinks that much, the bottles not leaking or anything? It sounds like a lot, I would think about 15ml is probably about the norm for a syrian.
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Old 11-15-2017, 04:04 AM   #7
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

I think a gradual change of hamster mix would be a good idea - the pets at home nuggets don't have very good quality ingredients (and our Robo wouldn't eat them!). I don't know the other brand. Is it the Walter Harrison one? It doesn't list how much protein is in it. Tiny Friends Harry Hamster has the correct level of protein required plus all the nutrients required and Hamsters tend to eat all of it in my experience. It's the one recommended by the National Hamster Council. It also has good sized pieces for Syrians. They do need enough protein in their first year of growth and it is quite important.

Any change of diet should be done gradually though, so it doesn't upset their stomachs, so start by adding a bit to the current mix then increase the amount added so after a week it is half and half and then changed over after a couple of weeks.

It is likely she is only eating the bits she likes and not getting enough nutrients. It's also good to give a bit of fresh veg daily. Again start gradually so as not to upset her stomach, so maybe give it every 3rd day, then after a week, every other day, then every day. There is a list of safe veg somewhere, but I tend to stick to broccoli, carrot, cucumber, cauliflower - depending what we have in although I do buy more veg now just so we have some in for the hamsters! If you keep broccoli, and carrots in the fridge they last for weeks. I keep all the veg in the Fridge - the cucumber and cauliflower only last for about a week but you can get half a cucumber.

As Cypher says that is a lot of water! I use the small mouse bottles (70ml I think) and don't even notice the level going down as the amount they drink is quite small. I just change it ever day anyway. So it could be that the bottle is leaking. Which doesn't matter too much as long as there is always water available and as long as the bedding under the bottle isn't getting damp and mouldy. A lot of bottles leak, but I used to keep two bottles in the cage sometimes just in case one emptied itself, so there was always water available.

You can also supplement with the occasional nut once or twice a week, as nuts have protein and vitamins and it's a nice fresh extra treat. Harry Hamster already contains Monkey nuts - I give half a brazil nut once a week and the occasional half a walnut or pecan nut.

I tend to put the veg in a different place to the hamster mix - in a sputnik or on a separate little dish in a different part of the cage - it makes life interesting and they tend to go straight to the veg each time and know where it is.

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Supreme_Har...sty_Mix/c1104/
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Old 11-15-2017, 06:39 AM   #8
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

Does she happen to chew the bottle spout by any chance? This could be the reason she is losing weight. If they chew and take in too much water it changes the body chemistry and 'washes out' a lot of nutrients as the kidneys try and get rid of excess fluid. If she does remove it and use a small pottery bowl and see if things improve in a couple of weeks. It needs refilled frequently.
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Old 11-15-2017, 11:54 AM   #9
SimonandSyril
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

Thats alot of water intake for 4 month old hamster. Keep an eye on it and keep weighing her to see what progress she is making, keep us updated
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Old 11-15-2017, 01:17 PM   #10
kathryn23
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Default Re: Should I be concerned about my hamster's weight

she's got access to two different bottles that both have measurements on so I can see how much is being used. It could be leaking a little bit but the sawdust isn't damp so it can't be much. She used to chew the bottle that had a larger tip that was difficult to get water from but I've changed it to a smaller one and she doesn't now. I'll try the tiny friends food. I give her veg about 4 days a week but only a tiny amount because I could find loads of lists of safe veg on the internet but couldn't find any suggestions on how much to give.
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