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Old 09-14-2017, 02:31 AM   #1
Lizz
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Default Elderly hamster not eating hard food

My two year old russian dwarf hamster doesn't seem to be eating his hard food. I tried him with a little wet food on my finger and he ate it quite happily. Any advice?
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Old 09-14-2017, 03:44 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

Have you checked his teeth?
If you're not confident doing that yourself then get your vet to do it, they can become overgrown or sometimes get damaged which can prevent them from eating hard foods but the teeth continue to grow so it's very important to have them clipped if need be.
In the mean time you can feed things like soaked mix, safe baby food, & porridge but do check them as soon as possible.
Sometimes as they get older they don't seem to enjoy hard foods so much & may need soft foods but it is still important to keep an eye on their teeth.
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Old 09-14-2017, 05:07 AM   #3
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

Thanks for your advice, his teeth look fine, so it may just be his age

Last edited by Lizz; 09-14-2017 at 11:02 AM.
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Old 09-14-2017, 07:11 AM   #4
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

I would still give him his food mix but add a little water and mash any big bits.
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Old 09-14-2017, 11:02 AM   #5
Lizz
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

Thank you, I'll try that and see how he gets on with it
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Old 09-14-2017, 11:14 AM   #6
dreamtree1234
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

Great tips, Cypher and Thin Lizzy! I hope that these options work for your hammy, Lizz. Keeping my fingers crossed that he will be able to maintain his strength and happily eat his food. Good luck!
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Old 09-15-2017, 06:20 PM   #7
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Default Re: Elderly hamster not eating hard food

If his teeth look fine it could be toothache in the back teeth making chewing hard food a bit painful. He'll probably enjoy some soft food but keep putting his hard mix out as well in case he has a little chew on it - plus they still like pouching it and hoarding it even if they don't eat much of it! Also put about a bit of his hamster mix soaked in a very small bit of boiling water - not so it turns to complete mush, but just softened. You can also do that with science selective biscuits - all the nutrients are in those so you know they're getting a balanced diet. Plus a bit of baby food and an occasional bit of scrambled egg or porridge.

When our last Syrian was having to have soft food I used to put 3 little extra options out as well as his hard mix. I used the lids from the baby food and put one lid with a few soaked science selective biscuits and another with a healthy extra each day - either some linseeds or hemp seeds or crushed sunflower and pumpkin seeds (you can buy them ready crushed). Then another little pot (I used an egg cup pushed into the substrate) with a bit of baby food in each day. He loved the baby food! You have to be careful to remove it in the morning though or it could start going off.

Boots fruity chicken was a favourite and also cow and gate pumpkin and chicken. Age 4 months ones usually have safe ingredients, but I avoided the ones with tomato, onions, garic and spices.
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