Bar chewing concerns

livedinhogwarts · 07-04-2018, 03:12 PM

My hamster was chewing very violently on the wire of his cage this morning, to the point where it was alarming. Now I'm concerned his teeth are broken or have gone very short. Since my hamster is untamed, I've tried using treats to see his mouth when open, but he doesn't open it very much and tends to just snatch the treat with his mouth. How could I look at his teeth properly without holding him? Also, is it something to worry about if his teeth have become a lot shorter from the bar chewing? Would there be any long term damage?

Pebbles82 · 07-04-2018, 06:49 PM

Has he only just started doing this? I'm wondering if the heat was stressing him. Our robo was chewing at the bars (first time ever) the other night when it was particularly hot. You could try putting something ceramic (mug on it's side) in the cage - put it in the fridge first for a bit so it's cool - and see if that helps him cool off. Also check his water bottle is working. Sometimes they're trying to tell you something. Or check his wheel isn't stuck.

Regular bar chewing can damage their teeth. You can weave strips of cardboard through the bars where he was chewing but if it's just started I'd be trying to work out why he was doing it. Sometimes you might even need a fan on nearby so they don't get overheated.

livedinhogwarts · 07-05-2018, 03:57 AM

@Serendipity7000

This was the first time he's done anything like this. It is possible the heat was stressing him out, although we have kept a fan on in the room to keep him cool. He was running on his wheel plenty yesterday, so I'm sure that his wheel is fine. I'll double check his water bottle when I feed him for definite though. I'll try using the ceramic mug trick you talked about and see if it makes him feel any better. Thanks for the advice

Also, do you think I should switch him to softer food for the time being?

Pebbles82 · 07-05-2018, 04:41 AM

No I would keep his normal food. If it's the first time he's done it then it does sound like something was stressing him - maybe the heat if wheel and water bottle are working ok

Hope it settles down. I've been giving cucumber as veg mostly nights recently as that's cooling as well.

livedinhogwarts · 07-05-2018, 05:08 AM

@Serendipity7000

Okay thanks

Cucumber sounds like a good treat in this weather too. How could I check that his teeth are okay?

livedinhogwarts · 07-05-2018, 02:36 PM

A little update:

I managed to see his teeth while he was yawning and they seem almost the same size; maybe a millimetre or two difference between them. One doesn't look very pointy though, almost like it was chipped a little. I guess chew toys will improve that? Also Serendipity, Sparky loved the cold mug trick. He found it very comfy indeed

Pebbles82 · 07-06-2018, 11:57 AM

Excellent

Has he stopped bar chewing yet?

livedinhogwarts · 07-06-2018, 01:12 PM

@Serendipity7000

Yep he's stopped bar chewing completely! I'm glad that's the case

livedinhogwarts · 07-07-2018, 12:13 AM

He started chewing the bars again this morning. I'm wondering if possibly his teeth are uncomfortably long for him.

Turrican · 07-07-2018, 02:55 PM

My hamster has just started this too, it's so worrying as he never used to! I'm going to try the idea of a cool mug in the cage as suggested by Serendipity, sounds like a fab idea!