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Old 11-18-2020, 01:55 PM   #1
Vilde
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Join Date: May 2020
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Default My ham lost 19 grams in a month

My 1 year and 3 months old female syrian just lost 19 grams in one month.

She was 132 grams and she is now 113 grams. Is this normal? Should i be worried?

Lately i’ve been feeding less food, i moved her into a new cage about two or three weeks ago, and i’ve noticed for a while shes been «peeing herself» in her sleep. She has been sleeping more the last three days, and i’ve noticed she feels thinner.
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Old 11-18-2020, 02:09 PM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

Is there a reason why you have been feeding her less food?

19g in a month is a significant weight loss and my advice would be to take her to a vet who knows about small animals or an exotics vet for a check up.

She could have a urinary tract or other infection or a problem with her teeth but i'm only guessing and a vet will be able to diagnose and treat if needed.
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Old 11-18-2020, 02:22 PM   #3
Vilde
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

The reason i’ve been feeding her less food is because i was under the impression that i was feeding too much
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Old 11-18-2020, 02:46 PM   #4
Vilde
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

I’ve been feeding her about half of what i used to tho, so if that was enough food, and i’ve now been feeding her 50% of what she used to be fed, would that make her lose 20 grams? Could that be the reason?

In a way i want that to be the reason so that i know she isn’t seriously sick, but at the same time i hate the thought of having starved my little ham. I love her so much
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Old 11-18-2020, 03:21 PM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

Hamsters don't overeat and they need enough food to eat and to keep a hoard. They like to forage for food daily and need to have food available to them at all times because that's what hamsters do. It's a natural instinct and they can become unhappy and anxious if food is in short supply.

I don't know what and how much you feed your hamster but as a general guide i'd feed a Syrian hamster a tablespoon full of hamster mix daily, some fresh vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, carrot, kale etc cut into very small pieces, a few brown linseeds, pumpkin or sunflower seeds as treats and maybe a bit of scrambled egg or plain chicken now and again.

Going by what i have just mentioned on feeding, do you think that you have been feeding her too much or too little or roughly that?
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Old 11-18-2020, 11:27 PM   #6
Vilde
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

Definitely too little based on that. I feel terrible

Just for context the reason i thought i had been feeding too much is that in school (i go to animal health school) we have three hamsters and they each get fed about a teaspoon a day with a half teaspoon of fresh food. They are all adult syrians. I asked my school if i was feeding too much and they said that i should feed less.

I’ve been feeding her less than half a tablespoon. Although one tablespoon is less if you use a normal tablespoon, i use a measuring spoon. So, about 8 ml a day
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Old 11-19-2020, 07:52 AM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

You will hear different opinions on feeding hamsters and personally, i'm a great believer in feeding too much rather than too little.

I also prefer a chunky hamster to a thin one because they can lose weight so quickly when unwell.

All my hamsters have huge hoards and now and again i have to prune them back a bit.

I've checked the packet of hamster food i use on feeding guidelines and they state to fill the bowl up and refill once empty.

I can only tell you what i do which doesn't mean its right so you need to find out what's best for your hamster but yes, i would be worried too if one of my hamsters lost 19g in a month and i would take mine to the vet for a check up because i'd know that it wouldn't be caused by lack of food.
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Old 11-19-2020, 08:27 AM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

I agree it’s better to feed more rather than less, they don’t overeat & do need extra so they can always have a reasonable sized hoard so never cut back on the main mix, the only thing they can have to much of is high fat or sugar treats really.
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Old 12-07-2020, 01:24 PM   #9
Vilde
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

Okay guys, i’ve been feeding her much more since i lasted posted in this thread, and i’m happy to report that she has gained back almost all of the weight! Thank you guys so much for your help in this, and for helping me realise i was feeding too little! I’m so grateful ❤️
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Old 12-07-2020, 03:53 PM   #10
Ria P
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Default Re: My ham lost 19 grams in a month

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vilde View Post
Okay guys, i’ve been feeding her much more since i lasted posted in this thread, and i’m happy to report that she has gained back almost all of the weight! Thank you guys so much for your help in this, and for helping me realise i was feeding too little! I’m so grateful ❤️
I'm glad to hear that your hamster is putting on weight and she'll be happier too, now that she has enough food to eat and keep a hoard.
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grams, i’ve, noticed, lost, month, ago, weeks, cage, shes, thinner, feels, days, sleeping, «peeing, herself», sleep, female, syrian, months, ham, year, worried, feeding, food, normal

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