Checking up on a hamster while she's sleeping

**Hamtastic** · 04-29-2011, 11:40 AM

I'm starting to get very concerned with Lucy's behavior. She's not very active at all and spends so much time under the bedding, I only get to see her for a few minutes a day. When I call her, she doesn't make any sounds and no bedding moves, so I think she just sleeps a lot. I got Keto-Diastix strips to test her for diabetes, but I can't even get her out into a small container to get a sample, as I'm afraid of making her more uncomfortable (she's already a scared little thing). So now it's day time, and my patience is running out. I know she's sleeping, but I'm worried that her symptoms could indicate that she's ill and that I could help by being more proactive.

She explored her new bin only a little bit a few times. I gave her a new shelf I made last night, and she didn't even bother to come out and look at it. I heard her drinking at night, but I don't think she was out for long.

So what do you think, should I wake her up now, get her into a container, and wait until she pees to get a urine sample? Or keep waiting until evening and hope she comes out? On the other hand, I don't like that whenever she comes out, I come to the cage and talk to her--I think it scares her more from staying out--vicious loop.

**Hamtastic** · 04-29-2011, 12:14 PM

Ok, worry got the best of me and I got Lucy out. She sat in a container for a while, but alas, no sample =( She explored for a while when I put her back into the cage and then went back to her home under a carved log. I don't know how I'm ever going to get her tested.

Gillzy · 04-29-2011, 02:17 PM

I'm not sure how to get a sample from Lucy, but I hope she's okay - and is hopefully just a sleepy girl. I know Sen doesn't do the loo outside of her cage (even if she's out for an hour or so... so I really don't know how you'd get a sample other than putting stix in all the locations where she goes... although that could be expensive - and is on the presumption she goes in certain areas (Sen only likes corners).

Thought I'd give you a bump anyway.

**Hamtastic** · 04-29-2011, 03:31 PM

The sticks should be read 15 and 30 seconds after dipping them into a sample so I can't really leave them on her litter

**Hamtastic** · 04-29-2011, 05:17 PM

I think the magic of her bin-cage is starting to work =D She's been out on her wheel and exploring. I was so happy, I gave her a whole unshelled peanut, so she's munching on it now.

**Hamtastic** · 05-08-2011, 10:00 PM

I'm so happy. I had Lucy out for some play time tonight and she made a nice pee puddle hehe (finally!). I stuck 2 strips of keto-diastix, one after another. All the results are "negative". Woohoo, one fewer worry off my shoulders (for now at least).

Katarina · 05-09-2011, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamtastic

I'm so happy. I had Lucy out for some play time tonight and she made a nice pee puddle hehe (finally!). I stuck 2 strips of keto-diastix, one after another. All the results are "negative". Woohoo, one fewer worry off my shoulders (for now at least).

I'm glad she seems to be a bit more active and that the tests came up negative! Maybe she just got the tiredness most creatures get in the spring? I know I had it and my hammies (2 out of 4) seem to be lazier these days