Russian Dwarf Strong Pee

RolyRocks · 10-21-2020, 04:13 AM

Hi Guys,

I have had my adorable Russian Dwarf for 2 weeks now and I have a question about his pee. He is definitely doing it in his wheel every night but the smell appears to be getting stronger. I have to wipe it down roughly every other day but this morning it smelt like very strong popcorn, is this normal? To be honest I have no idea if he is doing it elsewhere, he probably is, but since having him he has made about 3 different nests and I really don't want to disturb them just yet.
I have also noticed the last few days he hasn't really touched the food from his bowl. By the morning the food I have scattered appears to be gone and his Naturals Mini Rodent stick is definitely being chomped on, along with his Whimzee.
I am a little worried that me taking his wheel out so often to clean is possibly making him stressed. I do it during the day when he is sleeping but if it is a little damp I leave it out for a while to dry before putting back in.
Also, he appears to love wanting to climb onto my hand or arm but he also wants to have a good nibble! Nothing hard and he has never punctured my skin, but is this friendly behaviour or is he trying to tell me something? He was already 8 months when I got him and used to being handled.

I will try and get a picture soon as he really is a super cutie! And I have named him Loki (as he was in lockdown at the pet shop!)

cypher · 10-21-2020, 04:27 AM

I wouldn’t worry about taking the wheel out if he’s asleep it’s not going to bother him & even if he wakes up while it’s out as long as it’s not for too long I doubt he’d stress too much.
The smell does sound a bit odd though, I haven’t really noticed a smell from any of mine, is he drinking much? I really don’t want to ring alarm bells but it may be nothing but sometimes that kind of smell can be due to diabetes, if he isn’t drinking loads & is eating ok, they often tend to eat more with diabetes so the eating doesn’t sound like a. problem anyway, then it may be nothing to worry about, just keep an eye on him & see how he goes.
It is possible he has a urine infection too but again I think you would see other signs not just the smell.
If he’s made a hoard he may not take as much food now & just be eating what’s scattered around plus some from his hoard.
Nibbling on you is just exploratory behaviour & nothing to worry about, they tend to grow out of it as they get older & more used to things.

RolyRocks · 10-21-2020, 05:21 AM

It is really hard to tell how much he is drinking. He was only used to a water bowl when I got him and I now have both in his cage, a bottle and a bowl. Neither appear to go down very much. Do you think it would be worth me checking him for Diabetes? What are the other signs of a urine infection? I don't tend to see him much during the day, he is usually in one of his nests. Yesterday he wasn't up in the evening but I could hear him shortly after I went to bed running in his wheel. As he has only been here for 2 weeks I haven't wanted to disturb him too much but I wonder if I should now start looking in his nests to check for anymore urine.
It is a strange smell, in between popcorn and toast I would say. He doesn't smell himself, just the urine. I really really hope he doesn't have diabetes...

RolyRocks · 10-21-2020, 06:26 AM

Thanks for your help Cypher. Fingers crossed there isn't anything wrong with him!

Just a thought, I wonder if the smell is getting worse because I have a Trixie Wooden Wheel. I did plastikote it but I have noticed when I wipe it down with water there is still a small odour left behind. Maybe the odour is building up the more it gets urinated on. I'm sure cleaning plastic would be better so maybe I should go ahead and purchase a silent runner...?!

Ria P · 10-21-2020, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolyRocks

Thanks for your help Cypher. Fingers crossed there isn't anything wrong with him!

Just a thought, I wonder if the smell is getting worse because I have a Trixie Wooden Wheel. I did plastikote it but I have noticed when I wipe it down with water there is still a small odour left behind. Maybe the odour is building up the more it gets urinated on. I'm sure cleaning plastic would be better so maybe I should go ahead and purchase a silent runner...?!

I gave a wooden shelf two coats of plastikote but when my baby hamster peed on it it did leave a smell even after wiping it with a damp cloths. All my hamsters wheels are plastic because my wheel piddling dwarfs especially seem to save themselves so they can pee on their wheels! Little monkeys.

I'd go ahead and get the silent runner.

RolyRocks · 10-21-2020, 10:22 AM

Thanks Ria, I have just ordered one! I definitely think it will be easier to clean and hopefully not smell as bad.
I will continue to keep a very close eye on him though and fingers crossed he doesn't have a urine infection or diabetes.
I will let you know how he gets on with his new wheel (or should i say toilet!)

cypher · 10-21-2020, 06:18 AM

If they drink a lot it is usually pretty obvious, the level in a bowl will go down noticeably & you would most likely spot him coming out for drinks during the day so if you haven’t seen that it is unlikely I would have thought.
If he had a urine infection he would probably show signs of being unwell, again maybe drinking more, ears flat, that sort of thing, it’s hard to describe really & difficult when you’ve only had a ham for a short time & don’t know exactly what is normal for them. Possibly but not always blood in the urine.
The only way to be sure of either is to test the urine but that can be stressful so it may be better to wait a while if he seems ok although I think after a couple of weeks it would be fine to check his nest for pee, he’s probably been used to that if he’s used to being handled so a quick look shouldn’t stress him too much.
It definitely sounds like a strange smell but I can’t really think of any other reasons for it, maybe someone else will have some ideas or experience of that.

cypher · 10-22-2020, 10:37 AM

It does sound as though the wheel must be the answer then, strange but good news!
I would do as Ria said with the peed on food.

RolyRocks · 10-26-2020, 08:10 AM

Loki's silent runner arrived early and he loves it! I have had it a couple of days now and he obviously still pees in it every night but the smell is not so bad in the morning. I can still smell it slightly so maybe he is scent marking as it's new.
He loves burrowing and has made himself such a lovely little hidden nest using his coconut. I can see a couple of little tunnels to it but how do i spot clean without disturbing it? I'm sure he is probably toileting around there as i can't see any other spots he would be doing it (apart from his wheel). Roly always used a litter tray so i wouldn't have to disrupt his nest. They are so different to each other but very special and unique in their own ways.

cypher · 10-26-2020, 08:28 AM

Great to hear he’s loving his new wheel & the smell is better now.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to spot clean nests if they burrow deep down in the substrate where you can’t easily get to it, you just have to check now & then to see if there is any pee or anything that needs cleaning & try your best not to disturb things too much, they usually get over it quickly enough although sometimes they might decide to go & nest in another spot.