AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
Question Hi,
my female syrian hamster, who is about 1 year old, has suddenly got quite thin.
She is really active and friendly still, her ears are perky and her eyes are bright and clear.
But she's really boney, and when I pinch her skin (gently) I can grab hold of quite a bit of loose skin.
I just wondered, as this is all that seems to be wrong, what you would recommend to fatten her up a bit.
Kind Regards,
Helen
Answer Hi Helen
Is she eating normally? Have you checked her teeth? If not it would be worth having a look. The bottom teeth should be a lot longer than her top teeth. Sometimes hamsters lose or break teeth and this means that they grow lopsided or overgrow completely in which case they are unable to eat properly. If this is the case then she will probably need to have her teeth trimmed (it is good to get a vet to show you how to do this initially).
Weight loss can also indicate medical problems. Has she been drinking a lot of water lately? Around 18 months old they can develop tumors and the first indication of this is an increased water intake. After that they do often lose weight and their body shape changes to more of a 'pear shape'.
If there is no apparent thing wrong then you could try giving her some human baby food. I give mine the powdered variety of creamy porridge oats - mix a little with water. This gives a lot of nutrients and does help fatten a hamster. They also really enjoy it. The only problem with giving this type of food is that hamsters' teeth continually grow and it is important that they get the chance to grind them down. So if you do decide to give her this I suggest you only give it for about a week, but it is important to give her a dry hamster mix as well that contains some hard foods. You could also give a hamster treat (the type that have nuts stuck onto sticks) as they have to gnaw to get these off. Dog biscuits also help a hamster grind their teeth down.
As she is active and looking bright then it really is a case of doing some detective work. The teeth are definitely a good place to start. If they are fine then it may well be a case of monitoring her to see if there are any other symptoms that might give a clue as to why she is losing weight. It would be worth checking her water consumption - normally you don't notice the water level changing on a daily basis (unless there is a leaky bottle), but if you notice her drinking more than usual then this is a good indication that there is something wrong - tumors, kidney problems or diabetes can all cause an increase in water consumption and could all affect her weight.
Please let me know if you need any more advice. If you have any other symptoms let me know and I might be able to pin point this a bit better.
