Ugh! My Hamsters STINK!!

Sable-Shepherd · 12-19-2012, 01:16 PM

I wasn't completely sure where this should go so hopefully this isn't the wrong forum, if it is I apologize.

As the title says, my hamsters stink. Bad. So bad that I can hardly sleep because it makes me sick. I use Aspen bedding, they're in appropriate size cages, I clean the cages twice a week....I've tried cleaning everything with soap, bleach, Odoban and a solution called Nolvasan which was bought at a rat show a couple years back so it many not even be good anymore but I tried it anyways. (I always wash everything really really well with hot water) It smells clean for a day and then it's back to stinking. I have one hamster who is fat despite exercising on her wheel at all hours of the day, if she had something like diabetes would that cause a smell? Though it still doesn't really explain why both stink, hers just tends to be a little more smelly. Is this a Chinese Dwarf thing??? My Syrians never smelled like this even if I only had time to clean the cage once a week!! I'm wondering if food could play a role, I've been debating on switching to see.

I used to put some vanilla extract in the water for my rats and mice (Males especially) to keep urine smells down. Would this work/be ok for a hamster??

StarlightSerenity · 12-19-2012, 01:37 PM

I'm a bit confused so can you clafiry a few things?

How many hamsters do you have? If it's more than the Chinese, what species are the others and do they smell too?

What size cage/s are your hamster/s in exactly? 'Appropriate' size cage can mean anything to be honest, it all depends on where you got your info

Whatever your answer to the above questions are you are cleaning the cage/s much, much too often and you're probably adding to the smell issue - every time a hamster has a clean cage they will scent mark it to make it smell like them. Cleaning it so often means that they have to scent mark like mad. It's also highly stressful. Cages should be cleaned out roughly every two weeks (for average sized cages) but much depends on the size of the cage, species of hamster and the individual hamster.

I don't know much about Chinese hamsters or diabetes in hamsters but it sounds like you're Chinese could be diabetic which could make her urine smell a lot stronger. How 'fat' is she? Can you post a photograph or weigh her? A lot of hamsters are just chubby so she may not actually be an unhealthy weight.

Do not put vanilla extract in your hamsters water - I highly doubt it's safe a hamster or any rodent. Hopefully someone can clarify that for me though as I'm no where near 100% sure.

Sable-Shepherd · 12-19-2012, 01:51 PM

I have two Chinese, in two separate cages. They're both in 20 gallon long tanks. That turns into 24"L, 12" wide and 12" tall if I remember correctly.

I don't think I could go 2 weeks with that smell. My past hamsters (Syrians) have NEVER smelled like this. If I have to go 2 weeks between cleanings they're either going to have to be rehomed or I'm going to be sleeping on the couch and moving my dogs crates into the living room because I doubt the smell is healthy for any of us. And I really don't want to sleep on a hard couch and give up my room to two hamsters so there would really only be one option if I can't fix the smell.

I don't have any pictures atm, I just know going off the size between the two, Leela is about twice the size as my other one and the other one rarely runs on the wheel and eats just as much yet is more lean.

I don't know about hamsters but it's very safe for rats and mice. I've used it off and on for 11 years with no problems. So I would like to know if it's safe for hamsters for sure.

StarlightSerenity · 12-19-2012, 02:03 PM

Have you always cleaned the cage out that often? Ever tried leaving it? It really isn't healthy for them being cleaned out so often and as I said, you're probably adding to the problem by cleaning them out so often. My robo stinks after 12-24 hours of his cage being cleaned and then after a couple of days the smell is almost gone - the initial stink is purely him scent marking.

Hoping someone else can answer the diabetes and vanilla questions

Kirsty1987 · 12-19-2012, 03:11 PM

If the strong smell is due to diabetes i will link you vectis hams website about diabetes in chinese hamsters symptoms, how to test for it and managing diabetes Diabetes in Hamsters - Vectis Hamstery.
What are you feeding them? As they are prone to diabetes you should avoid sugary food. I would not advice giving them vanilla extract for this reason hope the site help. And i agree with starlight the cage is being cleaned to often only need to do spot cleans and then do a full clean once a month. I have a chinese and found if i left her she didn't smell as much. Also tanks don't have great ventilation so that probably doesn't help with the smell.

Vectis Hamstery · 12-19-2012, 03:56 PM

I have 22 Chinese hamsters in one room and don't find they smell (apart from if they are ill). Yes, boys in particular can be rather dirty in their habits by weeing in their wheels, but the less you clean the wheel they less they do it as they don't need to scent mark. Diabetes can cause a different smell, and ketones give their very own distinctive smell which I find makes the room smell. I would recommend testing them if they smell that bad. The other thing to check for is pyometra as you mention you have females. This can cause a very pungent smell, but is usually associated with either abdominal swelling, or discharge/bleeding and signs of a poorly hamster.

I find my male robos and hybrid, and unspayed female syrians in heat smell more than all my Chinese put together!

racinghamster · 12-20-2012, 02:27 AM

It could be that you are cleaning them out too often. I have a male roborosvski and a syrian male. They get spot cleaned only and since I`ve owned them (both over a year now except my little robo) they have never had a full cage clean. The only scent within their cages is minor and I always pick up handfuls of their substrate and smell it to make sure it`s not smelly. If it is, I take some away and add some fresh and mix it with the rest.

Hamsters and other small animals don`t like change, so by removing their natural scent, they will feel the need to re-scent it and this can make the cage smell bad. The bedding area should only be changed 50/50 aswell, keeping half the old nesting material and only replacing half with fresh.

See if this makes a difference. It could be that your just not used to their smell and some hamsters can give off a more pungent aroma, but this will help to minimise it.

And no, never put vanilla or any other scented stuff in their water or cages. This is to suit you and not the hamsters. You could do more damage than good. If it`s so bad, perhaps rehoming them to a hamster person might be the best scenario.

Sable-Shepherd · 12-20-2012, 12:14 PM

Well I figured out what was smelling and now feel stupid. It wasn't even the hamsters that stunk, some wet food/bedding mix had fallen behind the dressers that they sit on and was becoming more and more raunchy. It was behind Princess Bubblegum's cage which is why I smelled her side more than Leela's. When I found it I nearly puked because it smelled like straight ammonia mixed with something nasty which was what I was smelling only with it hiding behind the dresser it didn't have as much space for the smell to escape. As soon as I pulled the dressers out it smacked me in the face. I don't know how I didn't find this earlier. I pulled the hams out, febreezed the whole room and once it's cleared I'm going to move them back in. I knew they didn't smell this bad when I first got them even though then I was cleaning once a week. I picked up twice weekly cleanings BECAUSE the smell was killing me.

StarlightSerenity · 12-20-2012, 12:17 PM

Oops! lol! At least you figured it out

Glad it wasn't the hams!

I'd consider increasing the clean out times still, less than once a week. Would make for happier hams and happier owner as it'd be cheaper

linford27 · 12-20-2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sable-Shepherd

Well I figured out what was smelling and now feel stupid. It wasn't even the hamsters that stunk, some wet food/bedding mix had fallen behind the dressers that they sit on and was becoming more and more raunchy. It was behind Princess Bubblegum's cage which is why I smelled her side more than Leela's. When I found it I nearly puked because it smelled like straight ammonia mixed with something nasty which was what I was smelling only with it hiding behind the dresser it didn't have as much space for the smell to escape. As soon as I pulled the dressers out it smacked me in the face. I don't know how I didn't find this earlier. I pulled the hams out, febreezed the whole room and once it's cleared I'm going to move them back in. I knew they didn't smell this bad when I first got them even though then I was cleaning once a week. I picked up twice weekly cleanings BECAUSE the smell was killing me.

I agree please consider cleaning out a little less often as it can cause extra stress.
Glad you figured it out!