Hamster behaving unusually

[SkiddyFisk]

For the last day or so, my Syrian has been somewhat lethargic and not sleeping in her usual places/positions. She hasn't touched her wheel all day, while last night she was squeak-squeak-squeaking away at it like a pro. She's been digging at her bark a lot more than usual, and there's a big chunk at the end of the cage that she's completely exposed the bottom. Her fur appears matted in a couple places, most notably her cheeks and face, but NOT the tail area.

Two large changes have occured in the last 48 hours that might relate - first, my other hamster escaped and hasn't been found, and I moved from an air conditioned house into one without. It's hot here, so she might just not be used to the heat. I've sheltered her as best I can - she's right next to the big fan.

I dumped some cool water on her and, after being mad at me initially, was running around like normal for a bit, but now she's back to laying around like a lump.

Is this just a heat thing? I can take pictures of her or where the cage is sitting if needed.

[Holly]

Two things worry me a bit here...

Firstly you should never "dump some water" on hamsters. I'm sure you don't mean it as it sounds but hamsters shouldn't ever be wet as they can easily catch a chill. There are lots of ways to cool them down that don't involve wetting them - make sure they are in a shady spot, use a fan (NOT right next to them as they are very susceptible to illness from draughts), and part fill an empty plastic bottle with water and freeze it - the hamster can then lie as close to it as they feel is necessary. Other than that ensure your hamster has access to fresh water at all times.

I have heard of people lightly spraying a hamster suffering from heat exhaustion with cool water - you need to be sure that is what is wrong with the hamster first though and, in those cases, the hamster was in a semi-conscious state from heat.

The second thing that concerns me in your post is the bit about your second hamster escaping. I'm sure you know this but Syrian hamsters are solitary - you didn't keep them together, right?

It sounds like your hamster needs to be seen by a vet - she's got patches of fur missing and you have observed a big behavioural change in her (though it is normal for hamsters to not use the wheel in the day - they are nocturnal and it's also common for them to move their beds - especially if the temperature changes suddenly)..

How old is she?

[SkiddyFisk]

Originally Posted by Holly

you didn't keep them together, right?

No, I had their cages right together so they could see eachother and stuff. I know they keep apart but I just noted it as a significant environmental change - they've been next to each other since we got them.

patches of fur missing

Maybe I used "matted" wrong - it's not missing, but wet like she'd been licking it.

How old is she?

About 4 months.


I tossed some stuff for shade in there, like a paper towel tube and some more bedding. I'll try the freezing bottle thing too, that sounds like it might help.

As for "dumping" the water, what it was, was taking a little shot-sized dixie cup full of coolish water and pouring it on her back over the sink, then sitting her back in the cage. I also left a bowl of water in there for her to dunk in if she wanted to, I didn't know they don't like being wet

It's night here now, and cooler, and she seems just fine. I suppose it is the heat.

[souffle]

Welcome skiddyfish. Your hamster does appear to be having trouble adapting to the change in environmental temperature. This is not unusual and hamsters behave in different ways. As long as the temperature is not extremely high she should adapt in a few weeks. The digging all the bark up is her trying to expose a smooth flat area of tank floor/plastic to lie on to cool herself. You can help provide this with an old ceramic tile laid in the cage which you can chill in the fridge. She is likely to make what we call 'summer nests' which are quite flat and open to maximise heat loss. Keep her shaded with a fan in the room but not directly on the cage. We have seen hamsters drool when it is hot which makes the mouth wet or you may have caught her after drinking. She could however have a broken tooth or the teeth are not meeting properly which will mean she needs to see a vet so they can be trimmed evenly. They can also get pouch abcesses and tooth abcesses which also cause drooling and need urgent attention. Hamsters will not 'dunk' themselves voluntarily and you should not wet her. You can however lightly mist her with a spray of tepid (not chilled) water if you really feel she is very hot. Ensure she has plenty water and the bottle is working. A squeaky wheel is harder to move so make her running easier by putting a little vegetable oil on the spindle then wipe with a tissue so she does not get greasy. She should soon adapt to the new house but moving is stressful for animals and humans alike and it is likely she is experiencing strange noises, smells and routine changes so try and keep everything else as normal as possible.
As to fur loss. She may be moulting and looking a bit tatty till the new coat comes in, you may be seeing the scent glands as she matures. Are the patches on the hips either side? Several other things such as hormonal trouble, mites, allergies etc can cause fur loss and if it is extended, red, scabby, weepy or itchy she will need to be seen by the vet. You could supplement her diet with a drop of cod-liver oil or a little wheatgerm and oat porridge. She is at an age where she may be moulting. If she is longhaired they can get rather scruffy!
I am sorry about the loss of your other pet. Make sure the cage is very secure as they are great escape artists. Have you tried to trap the lost one? I doubt she will miss him as they prefer not to be able to see/smell another and spend losts of time trying to make sure their territory is not invaded or if male trying to get to the ladies!!!
Any change in behaviour can be a sign of illness so keep a close eye on her for any discharge, diarrhoea, skin sores, appetite changes, drinking a lot etc and seek vet attention if you are worried. Females can get a pyometra which is a womb infection which comes on rather slowly and can cause lethargy and swollen tummy with or without discharge. Let us know how she is doing.

[SkiddyFisk]

Wow, you addressed stuff I didn't even ask but merely mentioned. (That's a good thing)

Firstly, she is not losing any hair that I can see. Again, I must just not know the right meaning of "matted".

The one that escaped wasn't in the cage when he got out, he was in a hamster ball. I'm still not sure how he unscrewed the lid, but everyone who was there claims nobody touched it. I had given him up for lost when we didn't find him the day he got out, as this house has many cats, but we found him stiffed up in the house today. He was apparently doing alright until one of my handicapped housemates got him with a wheelchair.

As for the squeaky wheel, I am going to just buy a new one as she has nearly outgrown this one - it was great when she was a baby but now she has to keep her nose way up to avoid hitting it on the rungs. She doesn't let that stop her from doing marathons on it though.

I'm going to stick a frozen bottle in there for her tomorrow. I wish somebody would stick a 6 foot icecube in MY house in this heat!

Edit: Now she is running on the wheel with both cheek pouches stuffed full of food. Hamster jogging weights? :P

[souffle]

I am sorry to hear of the loss of your little hamster. Rest in peace little one.
Hamster balls are very easy to get out of. The lid pops off easily if they knock against anything. They should only be used under strict supervision and for short periods of time as the balls get very hot and steamy inside and the hamsters can dehydrate. If your house is very hot I would advise you not to use them at all. I personally do not like balls as if you think about it the hamster is going nowhere, just inside a ball. They cannot stop to sniff and climb, explore and dig. They are just stuck in there however many people say their hammies enjoy them as they climb in but my hammies will climb in to any small hole or box to explore!
It may be that your hammies fur is matted with some food or something she has touched. You could try and clean her up with some water on a cotton ball then comb with a toothbrush. Do not use soap or shampoo though.
An adult syrian needs at least a 7.5in diameter wheel. Few commercial wheels are big enough. I recommend the regular Wodent wheel or the Savic Jumbo Rolly rat wheel which is nice and big. If she is less than 150g you may be able to use a regular silent spinner. The last two are available at Pets at home. Make sure you get a solid one, NOT one with bars across as the feet can be trapped in those. When the hammie runs she should not have to arch her back at all.
Make you flatmates aware of when the hamsters are out and about for their safety. You should only allow them out under strict supervision in a hamster safe area where everyone knows they are out and can take due care. We have a duty to care for and protect our little friends who give us so much pleasure.
What is she called and what colour is she?

[SkiddyFisk]

Her name is Simon, and she's grey with a white band.

I put the frozen thing in there but she won't sleep near it.

Edit: I believe I have found a solution. I put some ice water in the metal bowl and stuck it in the cage. She's been sticking close to it since she discovered it.

[souffle]

Aww she sounds cute! Simon for a girl? Did you think she was a he at first? Maybe Simone now She sounds like a silver grey banded. Does she have dark stripes on her cheeks? We would love to see a pic if you have one. The ice bottle is probably too cold for her. Sometimes you can get an ice pack or one of the gel packs for bruises, you put in the freezer and put it under the cage in one area so it cools a part of the floor but is not actually inside. Take care the water bowl is not too deep in case she falls in and cannot get out. She will be starting to adjust now and you can start to try and acclimatise her to the new conditions or get yourself an aircon unit

[SkiddyFisk]

There is a reason I named her Simon.

All the pics I have are kinda grainy, my phone's camera has a long exposure time and she won't sit still very long. And my good digital takes images in the infra-red spectrum so she just looks white. x.x

Simon and namesake:

(Yes, she's pink)

I'm going to borrow a camera tomorrow and take some better ones.

[souffle]

mmmmmmmm....is it a secret reason
From the back Miss Simon looks like a sable banded. You can tell a sable because they have pale creamy rings round the eyes and if you blow on the coloured fur you will find it is black/grey at the ends but the undercoat is sort of cream colour. If she does not have these things she is likely a black banded. She has a very nice even band. Not sure from the pics if she has some lighter creamy/orange patches in the darker colour. She could even be a tortoiseshell.