Hamster pees on wheel

[Hamsta23seed]

Ever since I got my hamster, he has been peeing on his wheel. I constantly need to clean his wheel and am kind of worried he might get sick from it. Is it possible to potty train him, can I even do anything?

[Fluffy]

It is possible to train them to use a bathroom so to speak. I had really good luck with one hamster, but not so much with the next who no matter what I tried, liked to pee behind his wheel. The house I had used a type of clumping sand. I would move some of the bedding that had pee on it to the house and after a while, he figured it out. Made life a lot easier when you just had to scope up the clumps.

Jason

[Jeir]

Potty training is possible. All but my current Syrian has learned to use just a sand pit to potty. My current one almost always goes in his wheel, and usually in his house as well.

You don't need to worry about them getting sick. Dwarf hamsters always pee in their wheels and are fine. I would recommend only cleaning the wheel once or twice a week, though, as over cleaning can just make your hamster get upset and pee even more (cleaning makes his scent go away, peeing brings it back).

[Hamsta23seed]

Originally Posted by Jeir

Potty training is possible. All but my current Syrian has learned to use just a sand pit to potty. My current one almost always goes in his wheel, and usually in his house as well.

You don't need to worry about them getting sick. Dwarf hamsters always pee in their wheels and are fine. I would recommend only cleaning the wheel once or twice a week, though, as over cleaning can just make your hamster get upset and pee even more (cleaning makes his scent go away, peeing brings it back).

I will try potty training, thank you for the advice!

[Goosh17]

Definitely interested in any updates you have on how potty training goes!

Our dwarf hamsters have always peed on their wheels
It's actually one of the signs I look for in the morning if I didn't notice them up the night before, and I want to make sure they got some exercise
I appreciate the comment about cleaning it regularly but not overly frequently. Our current hamster will sometimes avoid her wheel when I clean it too frequently (previous hamsters I would clean it every-other-day, but right now I do about once a week unless it is messier than usual).
You'll probably have to follow his lead on what he prefers. Good luck!