New hamster not urinating

[MikeTherk]

I adopted a female Syrian hamster on Monday. She's pooling normally, but there is zero signs of urine in her cage. Is this normal as they transition from pet store to forever home?

She's about six months old and on the chubbier side. I havent weighed her yet but she's still fussy about being handled.

My previous hamster, Chewch, died suddenly at the beginning of the month from a neurological problem and now everything is going to have me paranoid.

[Amethyst_ice]

Hello and welcome

I'm sorry to here about Chewch and can certainly understand how it makes us notice lots more with a new hamster

She likely is urinating but you aren't noticing. They pick a corner and if your substrate is deep you won't notice. They tend to go as soon as waking (the mad dash out the house to the pee corner). If she is eating and drinking fine, I suspect she is weeing fine too. When you clean out you can lok for her wee corner

[Ria P]

Syrians often use a toilet so i'd install a corner toilet filled with bathing sand (not dust) near her house. She may use it eventuallly or move it to her peeing corner once you are able to locate it.

I'm so sorry for your loss and totally understand your anxiety with your new hamster but in time you will both be able to relax more.

[MikeTherk]

Forgot to do an update, if anyone was interested. Literally the day after I posted this she started with the 'corner' toilet like you guys pointed out. It just seems like she doesn't pee a lot.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by MikeTherk

Forgot to do an update, if anyone was interested. Literally the day after I posted this she started with the 'corner' toilet like you guys pointed out. It just seems like she doesn't pee a lot.

Have you checked her water bottle and made sure that it works ok? Some hamsters prefer a water bowl. All my hamsters have both.