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Great and thank you for the update!
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RobbieH
Hey guys just wanted to give an update I have finally gotten around to cleaning cookies home for him I feel terrible about it but I have had a lot going on the past 2 to 3 weeks and mental health stuff so cookies cage has not been cleaned during this time I feel horrible about it but I am glad to say that his cage has now been cleaned I am a little worried though because whist cleaning out his toilet area I saw this sort of reddish colour mixed in with his wee I am obviously quite concerned that it could be blood but I might just be overthinking it not much has changed in his cage apart from I have added this flexible wood climbing frame/tunnel and I have changed his food to another hamster mix by the same brand I thought maybe he would like a change I have seen him nibbling away so he seems to like it
Now the reason why I mention the climbing frame is because it has the same sorta red colour that I saw mixed in with his wee and poo and I have noticed it looks like the climbing frame has been chewed on now I have not caught him doing this but I also don't remember it looking like that when I bought it.
I would love to hear what everyone thinks
Thanks best wishes
Robbie and Cookie
Now the reason why I mention the climbing frame is because it has the same sorta red colour that I saw mixed in with his wee and poo and I have noticed it looks like the climbing frame has been chewed on now I have not caught him doing this but I also don't remember it looking like that when I bought it.
I would love to hear what everyone thinks
Thanks best wishes
Robbie and Cookie
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Both fresh & dried blood are quite distinctive in colour & as far as I can tell from the photos it doesn’t look like blood to me.
You can get colour from a variety of foods & toys that may not be colour safe so it could be that.
If Cookie seems fine it’s probably not something to worry about but keep an eye on things all the same.
That bedy bridge does look as though it’s been chewed, it looks a bit different to the bendy bridges I’m used to which are made of bark covered sticks so I don’t know how safe that is and it might be a good idea to replace it with something safer.
You can get colour from a variety of foods & toys that may not be colour safe so it could be that.
If Cookie seems fine it’s probably not something to worry about but keep an eye on things all the same.
That bedy bridge does look as though it’s been chewed, it looks a bit different to the bendy bridges I’m used to which are made of bark covered sticks so I don’t know how safe that is and it might be a good idea to replace it with something safer.
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RainbowBrite
Hi Robbie, I am really sorry to hear you have been struggling with your mental health. Are you getting any support for this?
Elusive has given you great advice about the bridge.
Elusive has given you great advice about the bridge.
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Hi Robbie. It doesn’t look like blood to me but it’s hard to tell- main thing is, as Elusuve said, just keep an eye on him and check no signs of blood on him. He sounds like a chewer! I haven’t heard of a hamster chewing a bendy stick bridge before - but some hamsters will chew anything! The only thing to be cautious about there is - they contain wire to make them bend and if he chewed right through there may be the odd sharp bit inside. It probably doesn’t say what wood it’s made of does it? When you got it? Cedar is the one to avoid and that can be a reddy brown colour.
Main thing is that Cookie is active and healthy. Don’t be hard on yourself as they don’t like being cleaned out a lot. Spot cleaning now and then can keep on top of things - ie taking out a handful or two of soiled substrate and replacing it with a clean handful or two and mixing it in - it’s only really the pee area that needs it. They are very clean little things and groom/clean themselves thoroughly. It’s just their pee that’s unhygienic and you’ll know when that needs doing as it will smell!
Our Syrians pee in a litter tray with sand in it! Then it’s really easy - you just empty the litter tray once or twice a week and the rest of the cage stays clean and dry. Don’t worry about poops unless they start taking over - and then they can be spot cleaned out. Hamsters are corophagic - meaning they sometimes eat their poops! Which is normal - they have two stomachs and can redigest nutrients from their poops. Probably hard wiring from when there’s a shortage of food in the wild. The poops aren’t really dirty and don’t smell - they are like little firm seeds almost.
How did Cookie react to his cage clean?! When they get used to it they can approve as long as some things still smell familiar. So for example I don’t throw away the nest (unless it’s pee’d on) and try and save most of their dry hoard - the top part is usually ok (unless pee’d on), if you do have to remove it then it’s best to put a handful of new food back in the same place to replace it or they can get anxious if their hoard is gone.
Not sure which bedding/substrate you’re using but if it’s wood shavings you need to check what it says on the packet. Cedar is a big no no. Sometimes it just says “softwood shavings” and then it could be anything so best avoided - if it says pine shavings then it needs to say they have been kiln dried or dust extracted otherwise they are not safe really - softwood gives off phenols which can affect a hamster’s respiratory system. Cedar has the most phenols. Pine has a lot less if its kiln dried pine.
It’s nearly Spring now so hope you get to do some nice things and feel better soon
Main thing is that Cookie is active and healthy
. Don’t be hard on yourself as they don’t like being cleaned out a lot. Spot cleaning now and then can keep on top of things - ie taking out a handful or two of soiled substrate and replacing it with a clean handful or two and mixing it in - it’s only really the pee area that needs it. They are very clean little things and groom/clean themselves thoroughly. It’s just their pee that’s unhygienic and you’ll know when that needs doing as it will smell!Our Syrians pee in a litter tray with sand in it! Then it’s really easy - you just empty the litter tray once or twice a week and the rest of the cage stays clean and dry. Don’t worry about poops unless they start taking over - and then they can be spot cleaned out. Hamsters are corophagic - meaning they sometimes eat their poops! Which is normal - they have two stomachs and can redigest nutrients from their poops. Probably hard wiring from when there’s a shortage of food in the wild. The poops aren’t really dirty and don’t smell - they are like little firm seeds almost.
How did Cookie react to his cage clean?! When they get used to it they can approve as long as some things still smell familiar. So for example I don’t throw away the nest (unless it’s pee’d on) and try and save most of their dry hoard - the top part is usually ok (unless pee’d on), if you do have to remove it then it’s best to put a handful of new food back in the same place to replace it or they can get anxious if their hoard is gone.
Not sure which bedding/substrate you’re using but if it’s wood shavings you need to check what it says on the packet. Cedar is a big no no. Sometimes it just says “softwood shavings” and then it could be anything so best avoided - if it says pine shavings then it needs to say they have been kiln dried or dust extracted otherwise they are not safe really - softwood gives off phenols which can affect a hamster’s respiratory system. Cedar has the most phenols. Pine has a lot less if its kiln dried pine.
It’s nearly Spring now so hope you get to do some nice things and feel better soon
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RobbieH
Thank you so much guys for all the support I will look into everything later today and get back to you guys with everything that I find out for example the type of wood shavings he has.
Thank you for showing concern and kindness towards my mental health don't worry I am okay I struggle with anxiety and depression but about two years ago I started anti depressants and I was in therapy so I am doing a lot lot better now! Just been a hard couple of weeks we all have them!
Thanks best wishes Robbie and cookie
Thank you for showing concern and kindness towards my mental health don't worry I am okay I struggle with anxiety and depression but about two years ago I started anti depressants and I was in therapy so I am doing a lot lot better now! Just been a hard couple of weeks we all have them!
Thanks best wishes Robbie and cookie
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We certainly do all have them. Hamsters are very reassuring pets. I'm aware of someone who was a therapist and had a hamster as a "therapy pet" for clients. Although makes me wonder if the hamster was ever awake at the right time!
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RainbowBrite
It is really good to hear the antidepressants and therapy has helped. I understand what you mean about having harder days.
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RobbieH
Thank you for all being so kind and understanding cookie seems to be doing completely fine sorry that I have still not answered all the great questions you guys have asked I will try to answer them today so I can get more great advice for
you all
Thank you
Best wishes
Robbie and cookie
you all
Thank you
Best wishes
Robbie and cookie
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RobbieH
The little dude is enjoying his food
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RainbowBrite
Nice to see a picture of Cookie.
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RobbieH
Hey guys just wanted to give a update his eye was sticky again tonight but it's looking a lot better now if it's like that tomorrow night I will help him with it. It upsets me to see he really does not come out much at all anymore least to my knowledge I stay up quite late into the mornings playing on my computer I don't know if he does not come out at night because of the noise of the computer or mouse clicks or keyboard but he pretty much never leaves his den idk maybe he just leaves and does his little hamster things when I do finally go sleep he is 2 around about now so I would assume because he is definitely and older boy he probably likes his sleep a lot more then when he was younger but would it cause him to sleep pretty much all night?
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RobbieH
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If Cookie is around 2 then he is quite an old man now so that might explain why he doesn’t come out so much now, they do tend to sleep a lot more when they get old, sticky eyes are more common in older hams too.
If the eye clears or is ok if you help him with it I don’t think you need to be too concerned.
Is Cookie still eating ok & managing to get around his cage without any problems? If he is then I think it’s probably just old age slowing him down now.
If the eye clears or is ok if you help him with it I don’t think you need to be too concerned.
Is Cookie still eating ok & managing to get around his cage without any problems? If he is then I think it’s probably just old age slowing him down now.
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He still looks amazingly healthy and in great condition - lovely to see him running in his wheel. Yes as Elusive said - he is quite old for a hamster now. In human terms he's like an 80 year old. So he may sleep more. His spirit is still willing and active probably and he's enjoying life but just needing more naps by the sound of it. They sometimes do wait until it's quiet and all the lights are out before coming out at night. You could try putting a bit of substrate on top of his wheel before you go to bed and see if it's gone in the morning. That way you can see if he's used his wheel during the night! He probably does. Even when our first Syrian was very old (over 2.5 years) he still used to hop on his wheel for about 10 seconds, for a "fix" of a short run!
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RobbieH
Thank you guys and yeah he manages to get around his cage just fine and he will come out to scavenge for food and to get some water from his water bottle
At night I will usually put a towel over his cage to block out light so he knows it's night time I leave plenty of room for air to come in and out of his cage though of course and putting the substrate on the top of his wheel is a good idea I will definitely give it a try tonight!
He is in my bedroom now when it our old house he had his own separate room I also have a cat that pretty much lives in my room now she can't get anywhere near the cage at all so he can't be hurt or bothered but maybe the smell of her scares him? But I am not really sure what to do about it my room is the only room he can really be in
Thanks guys
Robbie and Cookie
At night I will usually put a towel over his cage to block out light so he knows it's night time I leave plenty of room for air to come in and out of his cage though of course and putting the substrate on the top of his wheel is a good idea I will definitely give it a try tonight!
He is in my bedroom now when it our old house he had his own separate room I also have a cat that pretty much lives in my room now she can't get anywhere near the cage at all so he can't be hurt or bothered but maybe the smell of her scares him? But I am not really sure what to do about it my room is the only room he can really be in
Thanks guys
Robbie and Cookie
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Cookie will sense & smell the cat so that may be the reason he doesn’t come out so much, even if the cat can’t get near him he’ll be aware of the danger, if you can’t keep the cat out of the room then there isn’t really anything you can do about that.
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RobbieH
It really sucks a lot because I can't keep my cat out my room and I can't put cookie anywhere else I mean there is the garage but I am worried it would be too cold for him in there it would be quieter but yeah I just worry about the temperature and I feel bad putting him in the garage is there anyway at all I can sort of negate the smell of my cat for him? I doubt it a lot but any ideas? Also is it okay to put a towel over his cage at night as long as there's plenty of breathing air coming in and out of the cage?
Thanks guys
Robbie and cookie
Thanks guys
Robbie and cookie