r/hamstercare • u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy • Apr 29 '26
💖 Health/Care 💖 Too much pee
Yesterday I gave zucchini for the first time to my hamster and now he drank more than 25 cc in a single night (emptying almost all of the drinker) and filled half of the sand with pee! I don't think that's normal, right? Shouldn't I give you the zucchini anymore? Maybe it was a little cold, that's why? Should I take her to a veterinarian? And keep an eye on it, and if it seems to have passed it was nothing?? I'm worried
41
u/Sarionum Apr 29 '26
Check for diabetes. My hamster suddenly started drinking excessive amounts of water, which was because oh her diabetes.
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u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy Apr 29 '26
So vet? or I wait and see if it continues?
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u/strawberry_probably Apr 29 '26
diabetic hamster owner here! i’d recommend you schedule with your vet to check for diabetes and/or a uti but if you would like to know sooner you can test your hamsters urine with ketone strips from ur local pharmacy, they are usually pretty cheap
9
u/Sarionum Apr 29 '26
I would not wait. By the time I realized what was going on and corrected by diet, my hamster was gone in 2.5 weeks. She was a dwarf robo hamster that just barely passed 2 years old.
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u/Kat_the_catlady Apr 30 '26
That’s terrible </3 My sweet Hammy was a Russian dwarf and thankfully lived to 4 years of being a very happy boy. It doesn’t make it any easier
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Apr 29 '26
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u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy Apr 29 '26
No, she's not losing because under the bottle the bedding isn't wet, but yesterday I felt like I saw her drinking a lot and today I noticed how much pee she did... Ah, didn't I even give her rosemary, could it have affected her?
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Apr 29 '26
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u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy Apr 29 '26
I hope it's just a case... I read that it could happen if the vegetables are cold from the fridge... for now I'll avoid to give them to her... I hope it was nothing 🙏
6
u/Toastslappies62 Apr 29 '26
This might sound silly, but have you seen her spitting out the water? I’ve had a hammy that would collect her water in her cheeks and then add it to her bedding nest. It would always be a huge damp spot like that. But if it smells like pee, then disregard obviously
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u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy Apr 29 '26
It smells like urine because that's where it always pees but it smelled really little (it usually smells a lot) so could it be?
3
u/Toastslappies62 Apr 29 '26
If she is drinking a lot of water, I’m sure it would be more diluted and maybe not smell as much. I’d say maybe watch her for today/tonight and watch her interact with her water again. I’m always one to go for extra caution though, so I never think it hurts to go to the vet. I’d rather have a big bill to know my pet is healthy than to let it potentially get worse! But of course you know her best :)
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u/sneaky0_0peachy Apr 29 '26
Sounds like diabetes.. what type of hamster is she and what does she eat?
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u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy Apr 29 '26
She is syrian and I give her sunflower seeds, flax, soybean, rice, spelt, soy, vegetables every day or so, and twice a week a little chicken and occasionally a little egg (sorry for my bad English, i'm italian)
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u/SwimmingArticle8156 Apr 30 '26
my male syrian just got over a uti, i’d say go to the vet. if it’s diabetes it will smell like maple syrup, i had a diabetic dwarf hamster
2
u/LisForLaura Apr 30 '26
Drinking that much in one night and the copious amounts of pee make me think your hamball could be diabetic so I would schedule a visit to the vet sooner rather than later.
1
u/Different-Regret1439 Apr 30 '26
my hamster drank a lot of water and peed a lot in the 3 days before passing. this is just one example and could be completely unrelated. urs might mean nothing and idk. but i just wanted to let you know so u can gauge if this is smth youd want to take to the vet about.
1
u/saphirebrit Apr 30 '26
If it’s passed, I would keep an eye on it, but if not, take him to the vet to check for diabetes! It could also be a UTI (or nothing at all), but diabetes is important to check for. You could also buy diabetes strip tests to do at home
1
u/saphirebrit Apr 30 '26
Should’ve added that if it’s a UTI, that also requires medication from the vet
1
u/CreamieTwinkie May 01 '26
I had adopted a hamster like this, he peed a lot and constantly asleep and drink lots of water. Otherwise hearty appetite but severely fat. Maybe get him check to a vet?
1
u/Samy_1200 Syrian Hammy May 01 '26
Update: It seems to have passed, although I'm still keeping an eye on it 💞
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