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Dwarf Hamster - could it be his teeth?

5 replies

youvegottobekidding · 01/03/2018 08:27

Our dwarf hamster who is around 18 mths old has lost what I'd say a lot of weight, he looks more bony, is lighter than what he usually is, he use to be quite a chubby, biggish boy, last night I was alarmed just how bony & light he really was. But, he's eating, a lot. He's been eating through two whole food bowls a day sometimes.

He's also shown some eractic behaviour, especially at night - I know hamsters are nocturnal but he's been acting quite unusual. He's been trying to climb onto of his wooden house, then cling into the wire lid & bite it, to do this he's hanging on, swinging - but he's not always successful & falls a lot, no matter how many times he knocks himself on his wooden house he'll do it. He's only just started to do this this!

So couple with the weight loss & the desire to bite the wire lid, I thought maybe his teeth need clipping - I know he's eating but I thought maybe he's needing to constantly grind his teeth on food or something- but how can he been loosing weight if he's eating?

I was quite worried last night. Was hoping to take him to the vets today but the weather looks like it's getting worse. Anyone with any experience of this?

OP posts:
youvegottobekidding · 01/03/2018 11:14

Tried to look at his teeth this morning - couldn't really see them but bloody hell his breath is pungent! The smell was overwhelming!

He's just eaten quite a few sunflower seeds - these are his favourite & he used to have quite a few on a daily basis - not so many lately - could explain the weight loss? Anyway he's just stuffed his face. Looks a bit fuller this morning!

OP posts:
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 01/03/2018 15:29

He needs to see a vet as this isn't something that can be easily identified and dismissed as normal.

RandomUsernameHere · 03/03/2018 20:20

Could it be diabetes? It's quite common in dwarf hamsters. Hope you get to the bottom of it and he's ok.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/03/2018 22:09

If his breath is foul is there something blocking his cheek pouches? Maybe an abscess or something has punctured the lining?

It wouldn't need to be a big wound , you know yourself how sore a small mouth ulcer can be or if you bite your cheek.
Trouble is he'd need to be sedated , these small toothy rodents aren't known for being reasonable with check ups
Flowers good luck

treeofhearts · 04/03/2018 14:00

Likely they are either growing into his mouth, which is an emergency and can kill him or he has something stuck in his pouch. Either way he needs a vet immediately.

You have to scruff them to see their teeth. Just very gently pinch the skin at the back of his neck and pull it back to look
in his mouth.

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