Is my hamstwr okay? Am I stressing too much!?

[Solaris]

Hi there
Apologies of this has been asked before.
I got a female Syrian hamster about a week ago.
I noticed since getting her she scratches a lot. I told the pet shop about this and they said it may be due to a new environment and her glands. I wonder if it is the sawdust I am using. It has lavender scent. I also use cage fresh powder that I shake down after cleaning and then out sawdust on top.

This morning I noticed the hair on her back was all ruffles and wet looking. Now I am nit tok sure if this is because she likes to dig under her water bottle or it could be sunflower oil residue. I out some on the joints on her hamster wheel to stop the horrible squeak. Perhaps a little dropped on her back while she was running?

But then there is the factthat now and then she goes quiet and when I check on her she is laying flat on the floor of her cage. Sometimes she is resting her head on her food bowl and looks "drowsy"....but then she will move when I aporoach and jump on her wheel and run. I open her little door and place her running ball by it. She came running over and jumped into it. Right now she is running about in her ball. My partner says her fur looks a little better than this morning but still a little ruffled.

Solaris is my first hamster that I have had on my own. Before I have had family ones.

Am I stressing too much!?

[Shannonmcn]

The scratching is usually normal, they do scratch at the scent glands on their hips which can sometimes look dark or wet, especially if they are heavily scenting a new environment so the pet shop isn't wrong. Unless she is losing fur or her skin looks red or irritated I would usually say not to worry. However, those lavender scented shavings aren't good at all, the smell can be really overpowering for their sensitive little noses and I would recommend you find an alternative asap. Even normal wood shavings can be a problem if they have a strong piney smell and can cause respiratory issues. There isn't a need for scented anything if you keep their cage spot-cleaned regularly and you can look into litter training too so they only pee in one easily cleaned spot.

I don't know what you mean by cage fresh powder, I've never heard of it but if it's a fine dust then it could very well be irritating to the skin or to the lungs and again, there is no need for any additional products in the cage. I would stop using both the shavings and the powder, it might reduce her scratching but even if it doesn't I think she will be happier for it.

Welcome to the forum too, it's good that you're an overly concerned hamster mum, you'll fit right in :)

[Solaris]

The scratching is usually normal, they do scratch at the scent glands on their hips which can sometimes look dark or wet, especially if they are heavily scenting a new environment so the pet shop isn't wrong. Unless she is losing fur or her skin looks red or irritated I would usually say not to worry. However, those lavender scented shavings aren't good at all, the smell can be really overpowering for their sensitive little noses and I would recommend you find an alternative asap. Even normal wood shavings can be a problem if they have a strong piney smell and can cause respiratory issues. There isn't a need for scented anything if you keep their cage spot-cleaned regularly and you can look into litter training too so they only pee in one easily cleaned spot.

I don't know what you mean by cage fresh powder, I've never heard of it but if it's a fine dust then it could very well be irritating to the skin or to the lungs and again, there is no need for any additional products in the cage. I would stop using both the shavings and the powder, it might reduce her scratching but even if it doesn't I think she will be happier for it.

Welcome to the forum too, it's good that you're an overly concerned hamster mum, you'll fit right in :)

Thanks for the reply.

I think I will return the lavender scented woodshaving tomorrow after work and get plain unscented ones. I will also reclean her cage tomorrow with them and see if that helps.

Still not sure about her fur being a little wet looking on her back. I am seriously hoping that a little of the sunflower oil from her wheel seeped out and that it will just take her some time to get it out as it is oil. I really hope that is all it is. She is eating and drinking and her poos look normal.

As for the laying down I am keeping an eye on that. The minute she goes quiet I am up to check on her. I mean she runs in her wheel all the time but occassionally I catch her laying flat out and drowsy looking.
I am a concerned new hamster mum.

Only had my baby a week now but fallen in love with her already.

[DrKMcK]

Shannon is right about the powder Solaris. Scents that seem so delicate and nice to us are overpowering for hamsters and they can't get away from it. I use Cage Clean on my tanks. But then I rinse them well with water.

Congratulations on bringing Solaris home. A new hamster can be very stressful until you both get to know each other. Welcome to the forum. Ask all the questions you want to. Someone's bound to have an answer for you. :-)

[Shannonmcn]

It sounds like the sunflower oil is a perfect explanation, it won't harm her at all if that's what it is but you could look at giving her a sandbath if it seems to be taking her a while to get rid of it. Since you're going to the pet store anyway ;) if you look for chinchilla sand (not dust) or even some regular childrens playsand (dried in the oven for a while) and put that in a little dish she can have a roll around in it. Syrians might just use it as a toilet but that's pretty handy too.

I've never had a baby ham myself but I hear that they have a tendency to run themselves out when they're young, if she's falling asleep in the food bowl that's maybe all it is. She could maybe be a bit warm and is lying out in the open to cool off? Depending on what the weathers like where you are, of course.

[Solaris]

Shannon is right about the powder Solaris. Scents that seem so delicate and nice to us are overpowering for hamsters and they can't get away from it. I use Cage Clean on my tanks. But then I rinse them well with water.

Congratulations on bringing Solaris home. A new hamster can be very stressful until you both get to know each other. Welcome to the forum. Ask all the questions you want to. Someone's bound to have an answer for you. :-)

Thank you DrKMc.

I was recommended it by the pet shop but I did have my doubts. They are called Cage Fresh Granules. I use Clean 'n' Safe to clean her stuff but then rinse it thoroughly.

[Solaris]

I just checked on her there now and she was sort of just laying in her wheel with her front paws and head hanging over the side. Instant heart attack, thought she had died.

[Solaris]

It sounds like the sunflower oil is a perfect explanation, it won't harm her at all if that's what it is but you could look at giving her a sandbath if it seems to be taking her a while to get rid of it. Since you're going to the pet store anyway ;) if you look for chinchilla sand (not dust) or even some regular childrens playsand (dried in the oven for a while) and put that in a little dish she can have a roll around in it. Syrians might just use it as a toilet but that's pretty handy too.

I've never had a baby ham myself but I hear that they have a tendency to run themselves out when they're young, if she's falling asleep in the food bowl that's maybe all it is. She could maybe be a bit warm and is lying out in the open to cool off? Depending on what the weathers like where you are, of course.

She has potty litter she likes to roll about in and nibble on. It comes as tiny pebbles.

[DrKMcK]

All hammies don't always sleep in their houses. Especially young ones. A new hammy will often go, go ,g go, until they just stop where they are and fall asleep. My Nutmeg was adopted as an adult. She had never had a wheel and fell madly in love with it. She never went far from it for several months and often fell asleep in it. Check out her photos. :-D

[Solaris]

All hammies don't always sleep in their houses. Especially young ones. A new hammy will often go, go ,g go, until they just stop where they are and fall asleep. My Nutmeg was adopted as an adult. She had never had a wheel and fell madly in love with it. She never went far from it for several months and often fell asleep in it. Check out her photos. :-D

Oh my word she is so cute!!!

This is Solaris. I assume she is just a baby as Ingot her from the pet shop and I recall them saying she was about 6 weeks old....I think.

[Shannonmcn]

She has potty litter she likes to roll about in and nibble on. It comes as tiny pebbles.

Oh I've used that stuff! I don't think it would work as well as finer sand for bathing in but it might help. She will get rid of it herself eventually anyway. Look forward to many "heart attacks" too, I still freak out a bit if my girl sneezes twice in a row or decides to have a sleep in :rolleyes:

Lol at Nutmeg too DrK, funny girl :3

[DrKMcK]

:-) Solaris does look young. She is a beautiful little hammy.

[racinghamster]

Hi Solaris, your little Syrian is lovely! My advice? Take the scented shavings back and ask the shop to replace them with a bag of plain wood shavings. Snowflake are the best brand on the market, but the trick is to open the bag, place the shavings into an open storage bin without the lid and give them a good shake about outside and mash them up using your hands to allow the air in. This helps to release any strong aroma. Do this a month before using the shavings, it makes a hell of a difference. ;) Lift up and smell a handful of shavings before use. The scent should be reduced.

As for the cage spray, it`s not necessary. Neither are any other powders or potions! Many people buy these thinking they are a must have. The spray would be useful if your hamster became very ill or developed wet tail as hygeine is very important when bacterial infections like this happen. But normally spot cleaning around a new hamster reduces the stress on them (preventing wet tail) and just adding a few fresh handfuls of shavings to replenish old. This also saves money/resources and it helps retain the hamsters scent in their cage, which is important to them.

Hop this is helpful. x

[Solaris]

Hi Solaris, your little Syrian is lovely! My advice? Take the scented shavings back and ask the shop to replace them with a bag of plain wood shavings. Snowflake are the best brand on the market, but the trick is to open the bag, place the shavings into an open storage bin without the lid and give them a good shake about outside and mash them up using your hands to allow the air in. This helps to release any strong aroma. Do this a month before using the shavings, it makes a hell of a difference. ;) Lift up and smell a handful of shavings before use. The scent should be reduced.

As for the cage spray, it`s not necessary. Neither are any other powders or potions! Many people buy these thinking they are a must have. The spray would be useful if your hamster became very ill or developed wet tail as hygeine is very important when bacterial infections like this happen. But normally spot cleaning around a new hamster reduces the stress on them (preventing wet tail) and just adding a few fresh handfuls of shavings to replenish old. This also saves money/resources and it helps retain the hamsters scent in their cage, which is important to them.

Hop this is helpful. x

Thanks for the advice.

I am very concerned about her fur looking wet.
Before it was in her back but my boyfriend has noticed it on her neck now. Ill try and get a photo if I can.

[Solaris]

Best pictures I could get while she sat and ate some food. It looks a little pink. I hope I am stressing over nothing.

[DrKMcK]

It doesn't really look too bad. It is most likely the oil and she'll clean it eventually. Sand bath should help if she'll like it. None of my Syrians ever have, only my dwarf hammies. But you can try it and see. :-)

[Solaris]

Update

Thank you to everyone who has helped on my post. All your advice was taken.
After closer inspection I saw that her wheel from Sunday's clean did still have a lot of oil residue in it. I feel so guilty that I was causing her discomfort. I have now bought her a new Trixie wheel that is bigger for her and smoother to run in so I don't have to oil it for her to run in eadily. It should arrive in post soon. Woo!

I COMPLETELY changed her cage and got plain woodshavings by Snowflake. Chucked the lavender scented ones in the bin, will never use those ones again. I also bought chinchilla sand and put it in a little potty house for her. She loved it and started scratching it and rubbing her sides along it. I do, however, think I may need a bigger bowl for it. Not too sure yet.

Her hair is looking better and much more fluffy looking now. She doesn't appear to be scratching as much either. She still scratches her glands area but she isn't going crazy with it.

Also discovered that the igloo house I bought her was a waste of money as she prefers to pull her bedding out and sleep out in the open on it.

Thanks again. Glad Solaris is getting better now. She has even become a little more tame...allowing me to completely stroke her while she play or eats.

[Jen250]

Great to hear she's doing well! Just a quick note about your concern about her falling asleep randomly. Hubble, who is also just a baby ham, loves to run on his wheel constantly, but sometimes he runs so much he exhausts himself, and he does a pancake somewhere to cool down. It's completely normal. They have so much energy that they wear themselves out.

[peasypea]

My Syrian used to do that falling asleep randomly thing too. First time I thought she was dying and was really worried. She doesn't really do it now she is older but it used to scare me so much! My previous ham never did it at all!

Sounds like your ham is getting on much better now :)