Water Obsession.

Hi Everyone,

I hope you can help. This question could fit into many catagories, so please bear with me. My syrian, Nora, has had an obsession with her water bottle for a few weeks now. I have changed the bottle itself a few times as she chewed a couple of them to pieces. I've also tried entertaining her more, for fear it was boredom. She seems happy enough and it may well just be a bad habbit.

However, I'm a bit concerned about it this week as she is constantly at it and is urinating a lot more in the last few days. I'm worried this may be a sign of something entirely different. Generally, it is normal for me to clean the corner where she urinates out every other day or sometimes more, this week this has been a daily issue.

Do you think this is a problem I should be concened about? Anyone have any suggestions?

Also, if this is something that a visit to the vet is suggested, does anyone have any suggestions for vets in Leeds, UK? I have fallen out with my own due to poor treatment of my gerbils and am still in search of a new vet, ideally a rodent specialist as I also have 5 gerbils.

Lots of questions!

Thanks in advance.

[souffle]

Hi Lauryn and welcome.
How old is your hamster? It could be an illness such as diabetes or a kidney problem. The vet could check the urine for you but unfortunatly there is nothing much you can do about this except diet management.
However the most likely problem is that she has developed this chew obcession with the spout and is taking in so much water that she is having to wee loads to clear it. They don't notice they are taking it in and even pouch the water as they are beasts posessed!
A few things to try are putting a block of wood behind the spout so only the tip is in the cage so she cant get it, try something like a sippy or a little bird drinker type bottle or what I would do is to take the bottle off completely and give her a small pottery bowl of water. Observe her and see if the weeing slows to normal. Give alternative chew items to keep her bust like a dog biscuit. I have heard of this happening before with the spout chewers!
You could send a PM to forum member leedsgurl who may be able to help with a vet. We are in Holmfirth so I don't think you would travel here though ours is good.