Questions of hamster.

Question
Hey Joanne... I been worried lately about my Syrian hamster. She has been lazy in her cage not running on wheel and the water bottle is full for about a week while back then I almost had to change it 2 days later after i filled it. Her eating is not so well also but she seems to be pretty active when I play with her. Might this be Wet Tail? Also all this began right after the death of my other hamster which unexpectedly died showing no symptoms of illness.So I just wonder if this might be allright or something else is going on. Besides that she has been having this sensation of being in the living room alot when I let her free.Its weird because that is the only place she goes. Also from being like that she has this feeling of biting all kinds of plastic,paper, and rubber. I don't know if that is normal for it but still i won't let her. Sorry for trouble I'm not so good at this of having pets yet.

Answer
Hi eduardo,

This could be any number of things, almost all hamster illnesses start with lazyness, not eating and drinking. I suggest taking her to the vets. it sounds like something infectious such as wet tail, if so then look for signs of diahorrea. what kind of bedding are you using? because the cotton wool bedding is very dangerous as the tiny fibres get wrapped around the legs, neck and stomach, it can also be swallowed and cannot digest in the hamsters stomach. change it immediately to safe, dissolvable paper bedding.

other than is, i cannot say exact what it is without more symptoms, which is why i suggest taking her to the vets ASAP.

best of luck and thank you for your question.

joanne x