Not Eating?

M3gan · 07-08-2016, 12:48 PM

Hi, guys!
So I've been away twice in the last month for a week each and I've noticed P has stopped eating/ isn't eating much. The first week I gave her her usual amount and gave the pet sitter bags of food portions to put into the bowl when it's empty. The thing is, P didn't eat any/ much of her food. At the time, I put it down to the treat stick I gave her because I felt guilty. I binned that food and gave her some more fresh food. There was just over a week left before I went away the next time so I was monitoring her. She finished as much as she usually does in 2 days in a week. My parents were minding her this time so they kept me updated. She, again, didn't eat any/ much of her food. They were giving her small amounts of veg, though.
Now I have been back 2 weeks and she hasn't finished the fresh food I have her. She has been eating her daily veg and I haven't been feeding her much of it. I'm worried about her.
I don't have an electric weighing scales, only a manual scale (I think it's called) which only give a rough estimate of her weight. She is just over 100 grams.
Also, her teeth are fine, she has munched one whimzie, but I haven't given her another one yet in case it is deterring her from her food.
So, any advice?

M3gan · 07-09-2016, 01:45 PM

Bumping this post back up, I think it was missed? I'm really worried.

CMB · 07-09-2016, 01:55 PM

She may have been eating from her hoard(s) so not taken much from her bowl etc. Keep a check on what she eats and how much. Also monitor her behaviour.

Check her teeth/mouth if possibly as she may have something wrong causing pain when she eats.

She may need a vet checkup

freyashamsters · 07-09-2016, 02:11 PM

Lol I don't think it was missed as I remember replying to it (I think)!!!!

Do you & P have a close bond? If so she may be a little shocked from your absence which may have caused her to stop eating.

Another idea would be to check her hoards as they usually take food from the bowl to the hoards and sometimes don't come back for more until they've finished/nearly finished the hoards.

M3gan · 07-10-2016, 06:45 AM

She has a dog biscuit and a few seeds in her hoard. (that was 2 days ago) She doesn't let me open her mouth but she is eating whimzies so her teeth are okay?
I wouldn't say we have a very close bond but she did use to wait for her daily veg. I haven't been giving her veg as often anymore because I thought it might be filling her up.

cypher · 07-10-2016, 07:57 AM

Do you know if she had much hoarded up before you went away, if that's all she had a couple of days ago then it could be she's been feeding from her hoard.
100g is small though, does she feel thin or look a bit hunched as though you can see her spine?
It does sound as though she may have been reacting to you not being there initially, they are sensitive to changes so even if you didn't have a very strong bond she could still be a bit upset by it but I'd expect her to be eating again by now unless she did have more hidden away than you knew maybe.
If she doesn't appear unwell or underweight I'd watch & wait for a little while longer but if she really isn't eating & seems to be losing weight then it would be worth a vet check I'd have thought.

Pebbles82 · 07-10-2016, 08:13 AM

I'd say the same as the others mostly. It's quite common not to take food from their bowl for a few days if they have plenty in their hoard to nibble on (and they eat very little each day - tiny amounts really, most food taken is hoarded). I think it's also a reaction to you being away. She maybe hid in her house a bit with the change. It's good she is taking and eating her veg and I would keep putting it out every day. It won't be filling her up. Just a thumbnail sized piece or 1cm cube size, whichever is easier to imagine.

If it's anything like Charlie, it's the highlight of his day - he wait for his veg to appear and comes and nabs it straight away. Was she getting veg put out while you were away? As a change like that could make her a bit reclusive - you not there - veg not there - hide!

What mix is it? I know there are some mixes that Charlie wasn't keen on and would just pick out the odd bit and leave most of it. Also how old is she now? I think you said she was quite small anyway, is that right? 100g does sound a bit low if she's fully grown - does she look thin and can you feel her ribs easily?

As she's just settling in, maybe try her with different food and extras for a few days before taking her to the vets. Let her settle back into a routine again with you for a few days. You could try adding a few Science Selective biscuits to her mix (they contain all the required nutrients and hams seem to like them), or gradually change to a different mix. Also add more fresh extras. As well as the bit of veg each day, I tend to give one or two other extras, and the hamster mix. I hide them in different places on top of the substrate, or on top of his little bridge, and Charlie enjoys finding them. So maybe one day it'll be a small piece of cheese and a monkey nut. Another day a raisin and hammy treat biscuit, another day a piece of banana and a few pumpkin seeds, another day half a brazil nut (or half a walnut or pecan nut) and a bit of dandelion root - and so on. These are all extras Charlie can't resist! I defy any hamster to resist a piece of banana and pumpkin seeds!

The nuts and pumpkin seeds you can get in little bags on the bakery section in supermarkets (and also sold as snack foods as well sometimes).

So try tempting her a few tasty extras. This doesn't stop Charlie taking, hoarding and eating his hamster mix as well. It'll be fun for her finding bits of food in places other than her food bowl (I tend to use the same place each time so he doesn't miss them

).

M3gan · 07-10-2016, 08:44 AM

Thanks, everyone. She is a pretty tiny Syrian, but not under weight. I cannot feel ribs and never have. I can feel her spine when I try, though. She seems a good weight, just tiny!
She is very like Charlie, adores her veg! I had been giving her a small piece every day and then a 'salad' on Sundays. I will continue this then. She got veg 3 times a week while I was away.
She has a mix of harry hamster and burgess dwarf hamster harvest. I add in a few meal worms, a pinch of rice and oats, a small piece of soaked pasta and a few seeds if needed. She also gets treats daily as you do, but I give them during play time. She is the strangest hamster in the fact she hates banana and cucumber! She never says no to my own homemade treats, though! Monkey nuts, brazil nuts, walnuts, and pecan nuts are loved as well. I'm going to have to give her a raisin tonight!
I've most likely overreacted, but she is due a spot clean so I'll be changing her nest and checking her hoards.