is my hamster sick????!!

Question
my hamster (cleo) is acting strange.  she is usually very energetic and happy all the time, but recently (past few days) she has slept most of the time.  i take her out of the cage and she isnt engergetic at all, and just sits.  she also has a lump on the left side of her mouth. i think it might be the hamster fluff i give her becuase i have seen her nibble it before, but i am getting really worried! also, today i noticed that her right leg is quite large and it feels hard. please help me! is cleo sick? I love her to peices and i don't want anything to happen to her!

Answer
hi dancer,

the most likely reason for this lethragy is because of this awful bedding that is still allowed to be sold by pet stores.

im not going to say this is exactly whats causing it but im about 80 percent sure that it is.

first off this fluffy bedding does not dissolve in a hamsters stomach. so when they swallow it, it tangles up their insides. the thin fibres can also wrap around a leg, tooth and in some cases the neck, cutting of the circulation. it sounds like cleo may have some of these tiny fibres wrapped around her leg, and some stuck in her pouch. you can check her leg closely too see if there is infact fibres wrapped around it.

she needs to go to the vets immediately to have it removed from her pouch/leg/digestive system.

when you get her back, give her the paper shredding bedding instead. please remember there are many people trying to stop the sale of this so called 'safe' bedding, as there has been many cases like yours which were caused by this type of bedding.

but she must see a vet or she will probably die im afraid. so good luck with this, i dont want to hear of another poor hamster and owner going through so much because of this horrible bedding. also, remember this isnt your fault, you werent to know. thank you so much for your question and please let me know how you got on.

joanne :) xxx