Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-04-2022, 06:22 AM   #1
BartyCrouchJr
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 22
Default Hamster not chewing/eating

Hi everyone,

My dwarf hamster (Russian/Hybrid winter white) had to have his teeth trimmed yesterday as they had curled under and were in contact with the roof of his mouth I had noticed in the last few weeks he was slowly losing weight, but still eating vegetables and his favourite treats so put it down to coming into winter then since Saturday he was even refusing his favourite foods so took him to the vet yesterday and found his overgrown teeth. I feel really terrible about it, and so sorry that I didn't notice anything sooner poor hammy. He has loads of things to chew on in his tank and he just doesn't, he's not a bigger chewer. He also had his claws clipped and the vet said he was the friendliest and best behaved dwarf hamster he'd ever met

Since returning home however he's still not eating properly. If I give him something to eat he will just turn it over and over and not actually chew on it like he should be. He's clicking as well when he does this, i'm not sure if this is a pain response or frustration. Would I be right in thinking it will take a few days for him to heal? I'm guessing if they were at the roof of his mouth there is probably some pain there?

I boiled some carrots and mushed them together, and also warmed up a mix of seeds and nuts from his food which I also mushed up (separate bowls) and he is currently eating these/licking them from the bowl or my finger so he is getting something in him but I just hope he can come back and be his best little self again, i'm really worried about him

Any ideas? or just needs time to heal? He's still bright in himself, fur is nice and soft and bright eyes, I just want him to be ok. Thank you
BartyCrouchJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2022, 06:35 AM   #2
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

Did the vet not check his mouth to see if there was any damage? Your hamster may benefit from some temporary pain relief and you could ask your vet about it over the phone.
It could well be that he experiences some discomfort same as we do after dental treatment. Until he's ready for hard food i'd offer soft food as well like you are doing already.

Mainthing is that you noticed something wasn't right and you took him to the vet to have it sorted. Teeth can grow very fast.
This happened to one of my dwarf hybrids and took me by surprise but she had other health issues as well. I took her to the vet for something else and that's when her overgrown teeth were noticed and trimmed. I had only checked her teeth a couple of weeks before and they were fine then.
Ria P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2022, 11:24 PM   #3
BartyCrouchJr
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 22
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

Thanks for your reply
The vet did check his mouth but seemed to think it was ok, he didn't offer any pain relief though.
He's been eating the soft food but is still not attempting anything that needs to be gnawed on. I'm going to get him some baby food today as well to add a bit more variety, hopefully he will enjoy it!

He's been out to eat but hasn't used his wheel or been in his sand bath like he normally would, I hope he's just resting and recovering.
I'm definitely going to keep an eye on his teeth. The vet said they could be just as long in 6 weeks time(!) would you always recommend a vet to trim them? I don't mind the cost but i'm worried about the stress and if it's easier to do at home I can try but obviously if it's safer for the vet to do I will take him. He's my first ever hamster so i'm learning a lot!
BartyCrouchJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 12:28 AM   #4
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

I have heard of people trimming teeth but wouldn't feel confident myself to attempt it. I think it would stress the hamster a lot more if i'd try without really knowing what i'm supposed to be doing.
I think the vet gives a little gas so i can imagine it to be less stressful for the hamster.
I'd have a chat with the vet about the procedure. Do they give gas? Do they clip or file the teeth? Should they prescribe pain relief for a few days afterwards?
Ria P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 01:49 AM   #5
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

Most hamsters like a whimzee dog chew but you may know this already. I get the xs toothbrushes.
Your hamster sounds lovely. Does your vet know why his teeth grow so fast? Sometimes there's an underlying health issue.
I had a dwarf hybrid like yours. When i took her to the vet he told me that she was the friendliest dwarf he had ever met and then he halved the fee! He told me that he couldn't charge the whole consultation fee for someone so small and lovely.
Don't feel bad about not having noticed sooner. It can be very difficult to tell when something isn't right, especially when you are new to hamsters.
Ria P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 03:31 AM   #6
BartyCrouchJr
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 22
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

I don't think I would be confident enough either. The vet didn't use any gas on Monday, just scruffed Cedric and used a clip. So it could be that he is still a bit stressed from the procedure.

He has had many iterations of whimzee dog chews but he has never wanted to chew on them he had a little nibble of the crocodile shaped one but i've not seen anything since. He has so many things he can gnaw on in his tank but he's just not a big chewer!

The vet said it was probably genetic so that may be why they grow fast. He's over a year old and this is the first time any problem has come to light with his teeth so i'm not sure if they do grow as quickly as he thinks they will as I defintely would have noticed before now, he's always been a chubby little thing and the first thing I saw was the weight loss over the last few weeks, it was steady loss though.

Thank you for the reassurance i'm so worried about him and I just want to make him more comfortable and happy again, he really is a lovely little hamster!
BartyCrouchJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 05:04 AM   #7
Ria P
House of Hamsters
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

Cedric. I looove that name!

It could well be genetic. Sadly, dwarf hybrids are prone to a lot of ailments due to poor breeding. All of mine had health issues and there's only so much we can do. They are such lovely little hamsters though.

I hope Cedric will be eating solids soon again but i'm sure that you can give him the nourishment he needs with soft food in the meantime.
Ria P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 06:02 AM   #8
BartyCrouchJr
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 22
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

Thank you I'm going to get a few flavours to try and get some calories into him!
BartyCrouchJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 01:11 PM   #9
ShadowNinjaHamster
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 243
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

I hope he'll be ok. When I read the title of this thread my heart jumped out of me, because that's how it started with my hamster as well. I don't mean to scare you.
My hamster used to beat my finger with his paw when I gave him something. He ate today and drank some water before passing away.

If it's possible could you also take him to a different vet?
ShadowNinjaHamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 11:36 PM   #10
BartyCrouchJr
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 22
Default Re: Hamster not chewing/eating

I'm sorry to hear that
I noticed he used his sand bath last night and ate quite a bit of the carrot food I'd left plus quite a bit of the baby food so he may be feeling slightly better, I still don't think he can gnaw properly though so I will be calling the vets later. There's not too many around here but there's three different practices of the same branch so I will be able to see another vet in one of those.

He is not my friend at the moment either
BartyCrouchJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dwarf, eating, favourite, hamster, yesterday

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:55 AM.