Is your hamster diabetic?

[purple_x]

After reading this I'm a little worried about my Zeke
The last month or two he has been drinking loads. When I change the water bottle daily his bottle is almost always empty where before I used to tip most of the undrunk water away.

He's lost weight (I wondered if that was because he was getting old)

But reading on here it says irritable/biting when they didn't before made alarm bells go off for me! Zeke used to be the most loving little guy but in the last week he has bitten me 3 times and drawn blood.

I think it's time to get some ketostix and test him.

[SnickersTheFirst]

Is Zeke a pure Winter White? I'm not sure if it's impossible for them to get diabetes or it's very rare. If you're worried though, it may be worth a test to give you peace of mind.

[fluffymunchkins]

It is possible for hybrids to get diabetes, with those symptoms I would definitley test him

[Vectis Hamstery]

To test him for diabetes you need either diastix (which test for glucose alone) or ketodiastix (which test for ketones and glucose). Ketostix only test for ketones therefore won't read any sugar in the urine which is what you are looking for in diabetes.

[Hamtastic]

For reference, these are the strips in question:
Amazon.com: Keto-Diastix Reagent Strips for Urinalysis, Tests for Urine,Glucose, and Ketone, 100: Health & Personal Care

I've purchased them and used 3 times on my Lucy so far. Very easy to use (and she thankfully does not have diabetes).

It's difficult to get them to pee sometimes so I found that keeping a bottle nearby during play time is optional. If you see a fresh puddle, just dip a strip into it right away.

[purple_x]

Thanks everyone.
I will be testing him next week when I have some of the sticks. He's started to pee when we get him out anyway so getting some pee to test wont be a problem!

I dont think Zeke is a pure WW, I was told he was one but he's a rescue hammy so I'm not really sure.

Gah, am all worried now

[purple_x]

Oh Zeke does have diabetes

My brothers gf is a vet nurse and she brought one of the sticks to test him and we tested him today.

So what would be a good food to feed him on then? He refuses to eat harry hamster and atm he is eating pets@home hamster feast stuff and that has waaaaaay too many sunflower seeds and bits of fruit in.
So what do I give him?
Would this be ok
http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/prod...r-harvest.html

[shyimafadh]

living in malaysia its hard to buy all those stuff to test the diabetic level -.-"
i am worried for my little hamster ..haissshhh >.<

[fluffymunchkins]

Originally Posted by purple_x

Oh Zeke does have diabetes

My brothers gf is a vet nurse and she brought one of the sticks to test him and we tested him today.

So what would be a good food to feed him on then? He refuses to eat harry hamster and atm he is eating pets@home hamster feast stuff and that has waaaaaay too many sunflower seeds and bits of fruit in.
So what do I give him?
Would this be ok
Dwarf Hamster Food | Burgess Supahamster Dwarf Hamster Harvest | Quality Hamster food | Burgess Pet Care

I'm very sorry to hear this I hope Zeke stays strong.
I would contact Vectishams about what she used to feed her diabetic ham. I don't have much knowledge but high protein food is good for them. The mix you linked does have mealworms in which would be good.

[Vectis Hamstery]

I'm sorry to hear about Zeke. The Burgess dwarf ingredients look ok as there is no sugar/dried fruit. I have used Harry without the sweetcorn and flakes, and a homemade mix of hempseed/flax/budgie tonic seed/mealworms/pinhead oatmeal. There is more information about diet changes for a diabetic hamster in a stickied thread in the health section and on my website (Diabetes in Hamsters - Vectis Hamstery)

ETA: shyimafadh, you may be able to buy the urine test strips at a pharmacy/chemist.