Hamster has hay stuck in his butt...

milothehamster · 08-08-2016, 11:42 AM

So I have a long haired male syrian hamster.. we just got home and I was petting him and I noticed that he has hay in his butt? It seems to bother him quite a lot and I tried getting it out, but it didn't work D: Do I have to cut his hair? (I really don't want to do that)

I have a really silly hamster :'D

souffle · 08-08-2016, 12:58 PM

I'm guessing he is a long haired hamster. I'd cut out the tangles as they can pull the skin!
It won't do him any harm but \i'd change to using ripped loo roll as bedding

milothehamster · 08-08-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

I'm guessing he is a long haired hamster. I'd cut out the tangles as they can pull the skin!
It won't do him any harm but \i'd change to using ripped loo roll as bedding

He has Paper bedding (toa lätt or something) but I noticed his food didn't have any green pellets so I gave him this soft hay ball. I think he ate it and went inside so it got stuck :'D a silly hamster he is indeed

AmityvilleHams · 08-08-2016, 01:49 PM

Honestly hay isn't necessary for hamsters at all.They don't have needs for high fiber like rabbits and the majority of decent hamster foods cover the need for fiber very well,like for example in the UK Harry Hamster which might be available and would definitely cover dietary needs

Pebbles82 · 08-09-2016, 04:19 AM

It does sound like he might be having problems passing the hay. It's true, hamsters don't need it and it can even be slightly risky with dust and pointy bits to poke their eyes. Which food mix are you using? If you get something like Harry Hamster it contains all the required nutrients and roughage they need and most hamsters seem to like it and not be too selective with it. Giving a tiny piece of fresh veg every other day is also what a lot of people do (every 2 or 3 days at first then eventually onto every day). Just about a 1cm cubed sized piece (doesn't actually have to be square lol - just side that for size visualisation). Broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, cucumber - are all favourites and easy to keep in, in the fridge so they last longer. Our hamster's reason for getting up at night is to get his piece of veg each day - I swear he sits in his house waiting for it to appear because he is up and nabs it almost straight away, before any other food. Veg gives them roughage and vitamins and so on as well.

If he seems constipated with the hay and struggling it might be an idea to take him to the vet as he could have a blockage.

Nancy's Hamsters · 08-09-2016, 06:44 AM

If he doesn't pass the hay through soon, get to a Vet as soon as is possible. DON'T pull on the hay bit if it is in his poop hole(Anus) as it could be twisted around intestine farther inside him and you could cause major and life threatening problems if you attempt to pull it out. Soft hay in the digestive tract can act just like fluffy bedding if the hamster ate the strand whole. I myself would get him seen by a small animal vet immediately.

If the hay is just in his long hair you can use a food oil and coat the hay with it and then after several minutes take a small comb used for Long haired cats and gently use just the last tooth of the comb to pull apart the matted hair into several small sections until the hay is worked out. This requires a hamster used to being brushed so if he doesn't accept this grooming the most humane thing for him is to just clip the hay caused mat out and let the hair regrow.

milothehamster · 08-19-2016, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy's Hamsters

If he doesn't pass the hay through soon, get to a Vet as soon as is possible. DON'T pull on the hay bit if it is in his poop hole(Anus) as it could be twisted around intestine farther inside him and you could cause major and life threatening problems if you attempt to pull it out. Soft hay in the digestive tract can act just like fluffy bedding if the hamster ate the strand whole. I myself would get him seen by a small animal vet immediately.

If the hay is just in his long hair you can use a food oil and coat the hay with it and then after several minutes take a small comb used for Long haired cats and gently use just the last tooth of the comb to pull apart the matted hair into several small sections until the hay is worked out. This requires a hamster used to being brushed so if he doesn't accept this grooming the most humane thing for him is to just clip the hay caused mat out and let the hair regrow.

It was stuck in his hair, and I took the ball out! Thanks for the food oil tip, he seems a lot happier now that he doesnt have an itchy piece of hay stuck in his butt