Snowy Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 We have a lovely, female syrian hamster, only 9 months old. Now I've had hamsters in the past, but never one like this! She likes to spray her urine and poo out of the cage! She's been OK so far, but last time I mucked her out, she moved her bed up to a different level of her cage and has started spreading poo everywhere. Then today I noticed brown wee stains all over the table that her cage is on. She has been running round in her wheel and weeing as she runs, the wee drips through the wheel and is splattered all over the table and up the wall!!! Is this normal? Or do I have a delinquant hamster on my hands?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 I used to keep russians. Lots of them. One thing I did find was they were prone to diabetes and similar problems so whenever it came to wee problems with them my mind always seems to veer that way. I don't know how it could be related but I would get her checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Get some Clinisticks from the Chemist Snowy as the vet will charge a fortune for a test and human sticks work just as well on animals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Oh Snowy! I have never heard of this before - it does sound like more of a male thing to do though! Not too sure what to suggest - maybe a trip to the vet is in order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 Cripes! Maybe for now you might want to put a paper "skirt" around the outside of the cage halfway up so that any flying poops get sprayed on that and not on your table/walls hope you get it solved soon snowy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 Get some Clinisticks from the Chemist Snowy as the vet will charge a fortune for a test and human sticks work just as well on animals Thanks for that tip Louise, I did wonder if human clinistix would work (I can 'borrow' one from work ) I've asked the same question on a hamster forum (great these forums!) and it seems like a common problem in girl hamsters, especially when they come into season! A cardboard skirt seems to be the answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 They work really well to give you a yes or no but if it is a yes you need to go to the vet for a proper test although it won't be easy to get a blood sample from a hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 They work really well to give you a yes or no but if it is a yes you need to go to the vet for a proper test although it won't be easy to get a blood sample from a hamster Yes that's what I thought. I'm still debating how I'm going to get a wee sample from her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Try picking her up using the loose skin at the back of her neck so you are holding her all the way along her body and if you hold her like that for a minute she will probably start to wee and just let it drip onto the stick Good luck I will try and find a link to a picture of how to hold her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 10, 2008 Author Share Posted March 10, 2008 Thank you! Although no rush - I've had to cancel work for this week Will pick some stix up next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Can't find a picture anywhere plenty of descriptions but no pictures Anyone got a hamster I can borrow and photograph Nice ones only as I don't want to get bitten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 A cardboard skirt seems to be the answer! Wow - that's going to be quite a sight. How will you keep it on her waist - you'll need a tiny belt, won't you? sorry Snowy, couldn't resist that. I hope you can solve the problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 How is the hamster Snowy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Try picking her up using the loose skin at the back of her neck so you are holding her all the way along her body and if you hold her like that for a minute she will probably start to wee and just let it drip onto the stick :lol: Ok.....i simple HAVE to know Louise....how do you know all this stuff and where did you learn it??!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 Just reread the bit about the cardboard skirt! That would be worth a try wouldn't it (and a picture!) We now have a hamster toilet Some of her soiled bedding has been placed in it so she associates it with her urine and everywhere else has been disinfected (especially my walls ) Her bed has been moved back to the lower level of the cage (I think she flicks her poo out of her bed - very commendable, but not if your bed is on the mezzanine) and made nice and cosy so she shouldn't feel the need to move floors again. And she has a hamster ball so the boys can play with her a bit more and she gets more used to being handled (although this does need careful supervision at the moment ) So far so good! This is the little offender (butter wouldn't melt ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Are those crayons in her food bowl Snowy? She is lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 11, 2008 Author Share Posted March 11, 2008 Are those crayons in her food bowl Snowy? She is lovely. It wouldn't be a surprise if they were! But no, they are fruity hamster treats. She gets fed better than the humans in this house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 I'm sure that isn't true!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Cute pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Are those crayons in her food bowl Snowy? So she can draw on her new cardboard walls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 It can be a problem with female hammies, although they are usually scrupulous about their toileting (like bunnies) and will go in one place. I used to have a jam jar on it's side in the cage with some absorbent bedding in it ('Carebed'). They always seemed happy to use that once they realised that it was a toilet, then I could clean it out regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
