Possible incorrect dosages? :( advice please - Page 14

racinghamster · 11-02-2015, 04:23 AM

If he`s chewing the bars of his cage I imagine this could cause the noises. When you have a cold it`s a virus, so although I doubt one little kiss wouldn`t cause him any harm, it`s better to wash your hands and keep your face away from him just as a precaution. Sneeze or cough into a hankie or leave the room to sneeze if you can using a different air space.

He`s chewing his cage bars so the noises are not preventing him from focussing on doing that so he can`t be feeling bad. Try not to associate the noises with illness unless your hamster is actually showing signs that he is ill. I would look into getting a tank-style cage to prevent the bar chewing, or weave strips of thick cardboard through the bars where he concentrates his chewing. This can sometimes help. x

cypher · 11-02-2015, 05:21 AM

I agree that if he's always been a bar chewer that could well have something to do with the noises as bar chewing can cause them damage to teeth, mouth & nose.
I would imagine you probably don't want to change cages at this stage if you can help it so it would really be worth trying the cardboard trick RH mentioned to see if that helps.
Given his recent problems I would stay away from him as much as possible until your cold has gone just to be safe.

peridotgreen · 11-07-2015, 04:26 AM

My hamster is getting quite smelly, because i left his bedding in last time he is now stinking!

im gunna have to do a full clean and put him in his ball later

cypher · 11-07-2015, 04:28 AM

How's he doing other than being a bit smelly?
Can you just clean out his nest this time & leave the rest as I think you did it the other way round last time, be a bit less stressful for him.
If he's still not completely well is the ball a good idea?

Pebbles82 · 11-07-2015, 04:51 AM

Even if doing a full clean, save some of the old litter and nesting material and mix it in with the new when you put the new litter in - there must be some dry stuff and it will avoid stressing your hamster as it will smell more familiar.

I found this cage cleaning video from Erin's Hamsters really helpful - it has totally changed the way I do a cage clean now, and means I don't have to do it very often at all - just spot clean and I sometimes go a full 2 months or more without needing to do a full clean. Depends on the hamster a bit, but syrians will usually use a litter tray if you put one in the corner where they tend to have their toiletting area and that helps save on stinky substrate too.

Also the deeper the litter/substrate, the drier the cage will stay - usually the bottom half stays dry and you just need to change the top part and mix the bottom part in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jVnEjrXbww

Make sure you put loads of torn up strips of white toilet paper out for him to rebuild his nest

racinghamster · 11-07-2015, 05:09 AM

Sound advice there from cypher and Serendipity. Two things...hamsters may smell to us, and it`s fine to remove the wet stuff that causes the smell only. Chances are he`s peeing in one place and the smell intensifies. My Russian dwarf pees at the side of his nest and I know every couple of days to go in, remove the wet stuff and replace with clean. That`s it.

I would advise not doing full cage cleans as it`s not necessary. I wouldn`t use a hamster ball either for a hamster who had/has suspected respiratory problems as being in a ball, however short that may be, could cause some stress for him. You know your hamster better than we do of course and I would guess you would only allow him in a ball if he loved using it normally, but matter of fact is, they will walk into a ball but that doesn`t mean they want locked in! We perceive that they love using a ball because they make it move and that seems to convince us that the hamster is having great fun. Not always the case.

Anyway, I digress....the main thing is to keep his environment smelling the way he makes it but only removing the wet stuff and any dry poo you see. Move the substrate around with your hand and if he has a food stash, always leave this alone as disturbing it may cause him to soil the food. They think a predator has come along and disturbed their food store. Not that you were trying to keep the area clean!

How is he doing now anyway? You said he bar chews? That`s not good as it could harm his teeth. Try weaving strips of thick cardboard between the bars to prevent the chewing or to place his focus on the cardboard. It`s easy to replace. x

peridotgreen · 11-07-2015, 08:16 AM

I can clean his nest and leave the rest as i think thats what is smelling!

I will put lots of toilet paper back in for him

I wont put him in his ball, just his hammy carrier

and the cardboard weaving does sound good!

cypher · 11-07-2015, 08:20 AM

Sounds like a good plan!

peridotgreen · 11-12-2015, 11:09 PM

this bar chewing is still driving me insane!!!!!!

i tried the weaving and it didnt work out right

and i think he woke someone up this morning with his chewing

cypher · 11-13-2015, 12:26 AM

I think being woken is probably the least of your problems, you really need to try to stop this as it won't be doing him any good at all, have you looked at this thread for ideas Managing Bar Chewers
If all fails the only answer really is to move him to a tank type cage.
Good luck!