Could she be sick?

Teddy001 · 03-28-2014, 08:46 PM

Okay, Teddy's in "heat". After reading on Syrian's heat cycle, I believe she's at the end of her cycle, due to last night, she would still raise her tail when I stroked her back, and my little girl noticed a "white" discharge, come out of her backend, that smelled, horrid! According to what I read, it said, that is normal, for the white discharge, and also the smell, is also normal.. and normally, this happens on the 3rd day of the heat cycle..
My question, are they normally more "tired" and sleep more during their heat cycle? I've noticed starting yesterday, Teddy is not as active, and has been sleeping more than she normally does.. and seems a little more tired when she's awake.. not moving around, and alert as she has been..
Could she be sick, and her behavior not related to her being in heat?
She's seems to be eating and drinking, fine.. and no other signs of illness.. just sleeping more, and not running around as much as before..

Esmy · 03-28-2014, 08:50 PM

Ahhh funny you should write this! Penny is in heat too! She smelled awful yesterday and less so tonight and tonight she is doing the freezing/tail in the air. I don't get the heat cycles. Supposed to be every 4 days? But it was yesterday and today. I think it makes her a lot more restless too. I hope Teddy snaps out of it soon.

Teddy001 · 03-28-2014, 08:56 PM

I'm new to Syrian's heat cycle, too.. My female dwarfs, I never noticed.. LOL.. I read their heat cycles are between 3-4 days.. WOW! Poor Babies!.. The first few days, a clear discharge will come out, then on the 3rd day, the white thicker discharge.. and it's pungent! Teddy acts "tired" and not running around like she normally does, got me worried about her. ..

Esmy · 03-28-2014, 09:09 PM

YES, pungent 3rd day, makes total sense, yesterday! Uggh it's so strong. I still held her. I think it smells like she peed on herself. lol Smelly today too but not as bad.

Maybe just see how Teddy does tomorrow and see if she bounces back? Is it possible she was awake during the day today and so is sleepy tonight? Just a thought. Obviously I'm no expert. lol I was thinking Gizmo hasn't been using his wheel at all, but turns out, he prefers to use it when I'm not around. I heard him on it last night and walked in to make sure. He also spends a lot of time during the day grooming himself as opposed to straight sleeping like the others. Hopefully Teddy is perfectly fine.

Teddy001 · 03-28-2014, 09:32 PM

thanks, Emsy..
I'll give her a day, and if she does not bounce back, I think I will take her in to see the vet.. The only other thing I can think of, is, I gave just a tiny piece of tofu.. as I read it was safe to give to hammys.. maybe that upset her tummy.. maybe she's coming out of babyhood?.. lol.. they age rather quickly.

Esmy · 03-28-2014, 09:35 PM

How old is she? Tofu.. yeah, that probably did it. I know it would make me sick! hahaha

Teddy001 · 03-28-2014, 09:48 PM

When I adopted her, they said she was 28 days old, the day I got her in Feb. so, she's appx. a little under 2 months old.. I don't like tofu, myself, but I read it high in protein, safe for hams to eat. They only ate, a tiny sliver.. like a taste of it.. I don't think they liked it much. LOL

souffle · 03-29-2014, 02:51 AM

Some hamsters do not have a consistent 4 day cycle especially youngsters. It's a bit like any animal and can be unpredictable especially till the hormones stabilise at puberty. Some females never stand ever, some will only stand with a male present and some with stand if you so much as look at them.
Different females will have different amounts of cyclic discharge and smell different. We have always found cinnamons to be the most 'pungent' of hamsters.
Personally I find the full heat is the least smelly phase of the cycle (to us anyway but likely not to a male hamster) and the mucous discharge is quite clear and wet to allow easier passage of sperm if she was to be mated. After she passes over the heat stage the discharge will become white and thicker and she will not stand.
Young females often have 5 day or longer cycles and can be put off by changes in weather or a cage clean!
As long as they appear healthy and active I wouldn't worry too much. Get used to what is normal for YOUR hamster and then you are in a good position to judge should something change and become abnormal and you can get vet attention at the earliest time when things are easier to treat.

BrainGirl · 03-29-2014, 06:46 AM

Is it possible it was the tofu? I find that soy products really affect my cycle, maybe thanks to the phytoestrogens it contains. Could it have done the same thing to Teddy? Maybe she's just super sensitive to them like I am

Esmy · 03-29-2014, 07:21 AM

Soufflé great lesson, thank you! And Penny is cinnamon. lol The smell is really strong. It's making sense now! So she has been 4 days I think, the worst smelling two days ago and freezing her tail in the air yesterday every time I touched her just about. Thank you!