Hi, here’s an update on cheesy. I noticed he’s been very inactive and he is itching himself a lot so i decided to take him to the veterinary hospital.
Found out that he is overnight. he weighs 170grams and the doctor said his ideal weight should be 120grams. i have to reduce carbs and add more protein to his diet.
That’s the main reason why is he is inactive.
i also noticed he is losing a lot of fur so the vet did a skin scraping test and cheesy is diagnosed with a fungal infection.
he’s on medication now. i feel really sad for him and i cannot see him this way.
Every night whenever i take him out of his cage he just sleeps. i want to make him active, is there any activity that he can do??
Anything that would keep him entertained and active?
Aw poor Cheesy - I should think if he has a fungal infection he is not feeling quite as well. What did the vet give you to treat it with? Is it some oral medication or something to put on his skin?
He doesn't really look overweight and 170g is ok for a syrian hamster. How long is he? The average syrian hamster is about 6" to 7" long. And they can vary in weight from about 120g up to 250g! Tino is a big syrian and he is 220g. The average is probably 150g to 160g but some hamsters are bigger than others (just like humans!).
However I do think increasing protein is very important. Lack of protein can cause fur loss (and it is always more noticeable on a long haired hamster). What diet does he have at the moment? It can be hard to find a good hamster mix in some places, but if there isn't much choice, you could use a pellet mix and supplement with fresh human food - eg egg, a bit of cooked chicken even - nuts. I am sure if you just avoid any sweet things, his weight will normalise. Maybe don't give too many sunflower seeds either as too many of those as treats can cause weight gain.
But - they still need the right balance of fats, carbohydrates and protein for general nutrition. So a hamster mix or pellets should provide most of that (but many of these are low on protein).
I don't think he's very old is he? How old is he now? Also is it very hot at the moment, as that can make them lethargic.
I think this is a case of taking things gradually. Maybe try tempting him with a bit of variety of fresh food. Eg does he have a bit of fresh veg every day? They love that. Just a tiny piece - no bigger than his ear (or no bigger than 1cm cubed size at least). Putting that on a dish furthest away from his sleeping area, will motivate him to get up and find it each day
Also maybe hide a treat or two for him in his cage - half a walnut or a couple of pumpkin seeds - and he'll enjoy finding them. So it might perk up his routine a bit. Nuts are also good for protein.
A bit of chopped hard boiled egg a couple of times a week will help as well and they usually like that
take your time. if you need any help please don’t hesitate. we’re always here for you. we’ll help you out.
