Greasy Coat

Question
Hi, my hamster is a female syrian and she is very lively and very
friendly, but here recently her coat on her back has gotten really
greasy. It doesn't stink or feel different it just looks wet or greasy. I
just recently changed her food, do you think that that could be
causing it. And one more thing... she chews on EVERYTHING, her
cage, my furniture, my sheets, paper anything she can get her teeth
on. I have given her chew toys, and I have some fruit tree sticks
right now that she likes only when I hold them tight so she can
really chew them, it's really annoying to hear her at night chewing
on everything on her cage, what could I do. Thank so much for any
information

Answer
Hi Justin,

It could be something in her food.  Try switching to another type.  (Hartz Bonanza is a good quality mix.)  If her coat still looks greasy, you can buy chinchilla sand (not dust, which can cause respiratory problems) and pour some into an open container (such as a large Gladware container).  Let her roll in it for 10 minutes, once a week.  This will keep her coat healthy and shiny, and it'll also be fun for her to roll in the sand.

Since hamsters' teeth are continuously growing, they always need something to chew on.  Some hamsters don't use chew sticks, but there are other things you can use.  Wooden homes (such as those made by S.A.M.) offer something to chew, and they are also a nest for the hamster.  You can also put a toilet paper or paper towel roll in the cage, and the hamster can chew on the cardboard.  Also, there's a product you can buy in places like Walmart, as well as pet stores, called a Vegetable Wheel.  It comes with a clip so that you can attach it to the cage.  Hamsters usually love these - in addition to tasting good, they help to file down their teeth.

As far as the things you don't want your hamster to chew on - there's a product called Bitter Lime Spray, sold in pet stores, and you spray it on anything that you don't want your hamster to chew on.  The bitter lime is safe and non-toxic, and you can spray it on the wood parts of your furniture without worrying about stains.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly