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Old 04-20-2022, 07:51 PM   #1
hammy_love
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 2
Default Hamster acting weird pls help!!

Hey i’m pretty new to hamster central but needed a forum to ask about my hammy. He’s about 1 1/2 years old, but lately i noticed that he is drinking a lot of water, peeing a lot in one spot (and it is a little darker than normal), sleeping out in the open, dragging his butt when walking, and pawing at the corner. He also got into his water bowl when it was filled lower. He is also cleaning a lot. He is a male winter white dwarf hamster. After doing a little research I am worried he might have diabetes or a urinary tract infection or something along those lines. Please help!!
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Old 04-21-2022, 01:18 AM   #2
Lilafernim
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

Hi,

I’m less experienced on here so I’m sure other people will message more knowledgeable answers but I won’t lie I think on this occasion most would agree you need to take him to the vets.

I’ve heard a lot about urinary tract problems with hamsters and it’s more common in females but unless treated anything inside may just build up and build up. I know drinking more is a strong sign of this and if his dragging his butt it definitely confirms to me that something has clearly changed and his bum area is uncomfortable.

I hope you take him to the vets and they say he’s just acting strangely but from what you’ve said id 100% get him to the vets and checked out. Hamsters are prey animals so hide pain well so if there’s ever a sign that something is upsetting them like the increased drinking or dragging his bum just take him to the vets to figure it out.
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:00 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

Agree - he doesn't sound very well. At 18 months old he is also quite old for a dwarf hamster and it may be the case that he is actually nearing his time and you need to prepare for that. Any vet treatment would be to relieve suffering or keep him comfortable.

Drinking and peeing more is usual when they get older and their kidneys start to fail. What concerns me is that he may be in pain or suffering from the behaviour you describe.

It is very difficult as it's stress for a sick hamster to be taken to the vet but we also need to relieve suffering and this is more than just ageing by the sound of it.

So yes I think you need to take your hamster to the vet and ask for Metacam - which is a pain reliever. They may prescribe antibiotics as well in case there's a urine infection but that can be a lot of hassle for them having to take the antibiotics - the metacam is easy - it tastes nice and you can just put it in food. The vet may discuss with you whether treatment or being pts is the way forward at this stage - so be prepared for that.
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Old 04-21-2022, 07:02 AM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

Try to make things as comfortable as possible for him if going to the vet. You need a good sized pet carrier (or some very small cages like the ferplast combi one make a good pet carrier). With plenty of bedding, a little house and a bit of cucumber and a bit of food. The cucumber is instead of water for the journey there and back - and they like it.
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Old 04-21-2022, 04:09 PM   #5
fairy
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Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Massachusetts USA
Posts: 6
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

I suggest taking him to the vet just to be sure, a checkup never hurts. Sudden changes in behavior like this can indicate that something is wrong. You can call around to exotic vets in your area to see if they take hamsters and when is the nearest date they can take him. There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to prepare for travel with a hamster, and I highly recommend the channel Victoria Raechel for any tips with hamsters in general.
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Old 04-21-2022, 04:29 PM   #6
hammy_love
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 2
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

Thank you for the replies. I cleaned his cage after posting and he’s acting more normal now (I do keep it clean regularly). The exotic vet near me is pretty far away so I’m trying to hold off a little. I have watched a lot of Victoria Raechel haha! She’s taught me so much. I think old age is the biggest factor here, but he definitely seems more lively now for some reason. He is not really dragging his butt much anymore, and much as he is just has it a little tucked under for some reason. I noticed that he keeps sleeping out in the open and is fascinated with this one corner. It is the same one he paws at and sleeps near. Any idea what that could be?
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Old 04-22-2022, 12:28 AM   #7
Lilafernim
Senior Hamster
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

If I was you I’d still take him to the vets. Just because of the age as well that’s very unusual and telling behaviour. I’m not saying this to frighten you and it could be something completely different, but my previous hamster started drinking more and then I noticed she was walking with sort of a limp in the morning.

I put it off thinking she’d fell and maybe hurt her foot and would monitor it, she was still eating drinking and doing hamster things. But by that afternoon she was completely cold and limp. It was too late to call the vets at that point and she did pass away and it did happen that quickly.

Like I say it could be two completely different things but just because of the age of yours the drinking, sleeping in the open and the bum thing (even if it’s stopped for now) I’d just feel more comfortable knowing they were checked out. I don’t know if others would agree but even the sleeping outside the home might mean they too hot. It could just be my personal experience that would push me to say still take him but after my experience I never want to go through that again and would rather be safe than sorry.
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Old 04-22-2022, 12:37 AM   #8
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster acting weird pls help!!

I agree with Lilafernim and would get him to a vet asap.

He may need pain relief. Most of my hamsters were on Metacam for the last months of their lives and it helped them a lot.

Yes, hamsters are good at hiding pain but they do try to tell us through their behaviours when things aren't right for them. It's then down to us to listen and help our little furry friends.
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