Not chewing... Bethany, not Willow!

[Willow's mummy!]

I'm probably being paranoid hamster granny (thanks, Minty !) but we've had Bethany since Friday night, and I've not seen any signs of her chewing on anything yet.

In her cage (Mickey 2xl) she has a big wheel (savic giant rolly) which she uses a lot, substrate to burrow in, torn up tissue for nesting in, a bit of soft hay which I have seen her nibble at, Silver's Syrian apple mix, a millet spray, 2 toilet roll tubes, wooden chewy toy which she has moved about a bit, a ferplast sippy bottle and a bowl of water so she has a choice (Elder son has seen her drink from the bowl but not the bottle).

I don't see any signs yet that she's chewing on the toilet roll or wooden chew - she does eat well & her poos look normal. I have seen her yawn and her teeth look maybe a little long compared to Willow's but not to pictures of hamsters' teeth. She's very nervous still (Willow comes and yawns at us when she gets up) but I think the 4 incisors are all there.

Am I being a paranoid person because we have one hamster who isn't a mobile shredder? Or should I be concerned that maybe she might have a problem with her teeth?

I'm sure my anxiety is fuelled by Willow's obsessive chewing, as the contrast is shocking! I'm trying to remember that she only came from the P@H adoption centre on Friday & didn't have any apparent chewing material there - but reading msalisoncarroll's thread when the vet saw that marmalade had lost a tooth, I got more paranoid!

[kyrilliondaemon]

lol its ok. Some of ours never seem to chew either. It worried me for a while but they're fine

Try dog biscuits if you do worry though - very few of our hams can resist them

[Willow's mummy!]

Thank you, I figured I was being silly, but the contrast is immense! I'll give her a dog biscuit, I know Willow loves them & elder son did ask about giving her 1, but I said wait a couple of days to let get tummy get used to different food.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Its understandable. I used to worry about it too

If she stops eating or something then we can worry, but until then you can safely assume she's ok. Muffin, Whizz and most of the hybrids rarely chew anything. Scruff is the one hybrid exception and she just chews terracotta for some reason lol. Skip is the one robo exception and he adores dog biscuits
Scamp chews stone and the odd other thing, and Fwirl gnaws most stuff.

[Willow's mummy!]

Fwirl sounds very like Willow... I went & got a dog biscuit & put it in & she's had a sniff & mouthed at it, but wouldn't do any more with me there, as I made a noise - I'll have a look in the morning & see if she's chewed at it.

Thank you! I feel I'm always asking for help!

[kyrilliondaemon]

Good luck

And don't worry, help is what the forum is here for. I like your threads and like to try and help

[Willow's mummy!]

Thank you!

[Willow's mummy!]

Bethany has been chewing at her dog biscuit, so I'm going to relax about her teeth now (and find something else to worry about )!

[kyrilliondaemon]

Good
And yeah, we never stop worrying lol. Today I've been excited all day instead though, Scruff being better combined with getting ready for Cardiff on Saturday has left me happy
(And now I fully blame Scamp for the fact that I'm playing animaniacs songs on youtube which helps make sure I don't get into the mood to worry lol)

[GemmasMom]

Some hams never chew... Gemma wuoldn't chew on anything except seeds. It's normal I'm glad Bethany is enjoying her biscuit.