Wat's that sound they make?

[Sarah]

my hammy makes a funny noise, it sounds like short stances of wheezing. but definitely it isnt squeeking! when it 'wheezes' he puts his hands together n sort of 'jumps' in an up and down motion. i was wondering is this action is something to worry abt?

He also has this yellow 'tumor' just at the bottom center of his body, is it harmful? http://petshub.com/ubb/frown.gif but when i touch it, my hammy doesnt seem to be in pain or put up any struggle. so do u think i shld send him to the veT?

pls advise! Thanks! http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

with regards.

[Yinx]

Hello Sarah,

I assume ur hamster is a dwarf hamster? Well, the yellow thing u saw at the bottom centre of its' body is not a tumour, but its' scent gland! Hence, u have nothing to worry abt.

The wheezing action u've described sounds similar to what one of my hamsters does. However, in my case, my hamster is very territorial & will 'wheeze' (tho' it sounds more like 'hiss') at me if I put my hand into her tank too quickly. If I go nice & easy, it'll allow me to pick it up.

This may not be the case for ur hamster, but I just thought I might share my experience w u.

[wendy]

Hi there, it maybe a sneeze and your hamster maybe coming down with a cold if its a accuring all of the time. Your hamster maybe bothered by bedding etc...which would make him sneeze. Though you say its like a wheeze, I think maybe a trip to the vet wouldn't be a bad idea, it would put your mind at rest. If it is a cold, just in case make sure your hamster is nice and warm.

[Sarah]

hie wendy.. thanks for sharing ur suggestions with me. i had tried to let my hammy sleep without his bedding for 2 nites n he's still 'wheezing' esp whenever i pick him up n play with him. http://petshub.com/ubb/frown.gif
i live in singapore with has a tropical weather all yr around, so i guess him being cold might not be much of a problem rite? i was thinking of giving him a small terry towel as blanket for him but it wld be pretty troublesome if he pees in it rite?

[wendy]

Hi sarah, I guess your right about the heat. To be safe, if you can, why not take your hamster to the vet. Sometimes hamsters get an illness which affects the nose. I cannot remember what this illness is called, but it makes the hamster make noises from the noise. Your hamster can still get a cold, regardless of heat, so a vet will be able to treat easily. Whatever it is, I hope everything goes ok for you and you pet.
Take care sarah...best of luck, I will be thinking of you
wendy from england

[Sarah]

Thanks for the advise wendy!

i was also wondering if giving fruits like apples n pears to my hammy is a gd idea. i gave it to him once n he seems to enjoy nibbling on it..i think perhaps its
juicy thats y. i always leave a piece of carrot for him in his tank.

He prefers water to vitakraft elixier which i used to feed him b4 i introduced water to him. now wheneva i feed him the elixier he just pushes it away http://petshub.com/ubb/frown.gif

another hammy owner once told me that the carrot has sufficient water content to last his hammy.. true?

[wendy]

Hi sarah, its always nice to give your hamster a piece of fruit or veg, but little amounts so as not to upset your hamsters tummy. Water should always be available to your hamster as they can dehydrate very quickly without and this is dangerous. Carrots do hold some water and have also vitamin c in them. Never give a carrot in place of water. Everybody needs water. You sound like a very caring person, its good to Know. I have a hamster she is called rosie but has lost most of her fur. She is very sore looking and has lots of crusty skin. The vet has treated her for mites but she still looks the same, have you any ideas sarah?

[Sarah]

Is Rosie's skin patchy with different shades of brown minus her fur??
I once came across such a situation, i was visiting a petshop one day and saw 2 hammy babies, they were old enuff to have fur already but unfortunately they havent. their skin is like wat i described as in above. i asked the pet shop owner wat medication was he giving them as i saw that their water bottle contained a red liquid. He replied that he had added some antibotic called ultra care for hamsters and gerbils aid in their liquids. Hope this helps!

My hammy sheds his fur too! wheneva i allow him to run ard my desk, i find many strands of his fur on the desk! its not sth to worry abt is it?

He also tends to eat his own poo..oh dear. there was once he regurgitated some of his poo, some wood shavings, n a couple of his nuts he kept in his mouth. Wonder y he did that. He is my first hammy given to me by my boyfrend, n i've grown pretty attached to it. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif He is a molten dwarf campbell, furthermore he has reached adult size already. im looking for a female companion for him, probably getting one after the Chinese New yr http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by Sarah (edited 01-14-2001).]

[wendy]

Hi sarah, about the poo. I have read somewhere that the hamster may be lacking in something, vitamins maybe. I don't think its harmful for your hamster to eat its poo as long as its not all of the time. When you said he reguritaited, maybe it was stuff in his pouches and he was removing it.
Maybe, if your not already, give him a piece of fruit and veg now and again to help with the vitamins.
Thank you for the advice on the skin problem, I will look into the ultra care, I am willing to try just about anything.
Maybe your little hamster will be a lot happier with a girlfriend, though how will he feel about becoming a father? It might stop him eating his poo if he has a gitl to look after..

[Sarah]

yeah perhaps his newly found love will distract him from his poop.

by the way my hammy as an extremely huge behind. If im not wrong the 2 swollen 'lumps' just above his anus is his 'balls'. http://petshub.com/ubb/tongue.gif There isnt anything wrong to have them to be pretty swollen rite? Or is it just because he is horny or something? http://petshub.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by Sarah (edited 01-15-2001).]

[wendy]

Hi sarah, I cannnot say there is nothing wrong with his balls, but, generally over in england, people here who get a boy hamster and after a couple of months think there hamster has a tumour. When really it is only a boy with balls..ha ha.
I have a hamster called ball boy, because he is very well packaged in the balls dept. I think he is very proud of what he has, I check him now and then (as I check all my rodents) and he is not impressed.
I think you have nothing to worry about, he must know your thinking about getting a girl friend and he is preparing himself.

[Byron]

Hey Wendy, You are so funny. http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif

[wendy]

Hi Byron, I will take that as a compliment ha ha

[Sarah]

yup he sure is well endowed in the balls department isnt he? http://petshub.com/ubb/biggrin.gif thanks for the advise wendy!

i tk my hammy just went into hibernation a few days ago coz the temp dropped as it rained almost continuously for the past 2-3 days. gave me quite a fright when i saw him breathing heavily 2 nites ago. thank goodness he is alot more active now.

btw y doesnt he like to drink from the bottle that has ball bearings at the tip? he chooses instead to lick moisture off my hands when i carry him n my hands happen to be slightly damp?

[wendy]

Hi sarah, if your hamster is licking your hand, it maybe because of the salty taste in our sweat. Try getting a salt wheel for him, which is good for him. Also, I hope you still provide him with water from a bottle? You sound like a crazy girl ha ha
see ya..

[Sarah]

i sound like a crazy girl? i do? hmmz.. hehe! perhaps.. http://petshub.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

wat's a salt wheel? never heard of it before tho'..
yah i still keep the bottle hanging in the tank but i dun c him sipping from it. the only activity i catch him doin is sleeping, sleeping, sleeping! well, they R afterall nocturnal.

Is it true that by frequently rousing/ disturbing the hammy frm its sleep shortens its life span?

[wendy]

Hi sarah, I have not heard about a hamsters life span being shortened when being disturbed etc, they can get ticked off though. Salt wheels are just that, a little wheel shape with a hole in the middle for a plastic attachment to attach to the cage. I just put mine in the cage. You can also get them in blocks any shape really. he hehehe

[Sarah]

oh really? ok i will keep a look out for the salt wheel.. thanks! my cage is a plastic one.. it isnt those made of steel type where usually people insert the bottle thru the sides of the cage?

A hammy does shed its fur rite? so as long as it doesnt leave a bare patch its ok rite? even his poop has fur on it!

[wendy]

Hey sarah, Im told hamsters loose fur from time to time. As long as he is not patchy or bald etc im sure he is fine. The poo thing..lost me
ha haha hehehe I think you are as silly as me.
yes its me wendy

[Sarah]

yep surely hope he is fine! http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif
thanks for all ur wise advices ya? i will consult u for ur help when i need it in the near future.. so will the doctor be in?
take care!

p/s: stop calling me a silly girl.. im as smart as u! http://petshub.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Originally posted by wendy:
Hey sarah, Im told hamsters loose fur from time to time. As long as he is not patchy or bald etc im sure he is fine. The poo thing..lost me
ha haha hehehe I think you are as silly as me.
yes its me wendy

[wendy]

Hey sarah, no offense meant (re silly girl thing) and i have only answered your questions, the polite thing to do im lead to believe. If your tired of my replys or ME replying then do not ask ME a question. I feel obliged to answer...see yea