Drinking more water

[RainbowBrite]

For the past two weeks, Orko is drinking more water. He is 15 months old and I know hamsters can drink more when they are older but is there anything I should do?

He is eating as usual. His bottle is working fine and not leaking and he also has a bowl but he uses his bottle more. It is 12 PM and he has been out three times for water.

 

[Maz]

Try not to worry. Could be something he's eaten has made him particularly thirsty? (are you sure that piece of pepper wasn't a chilli?!!). Seriously though, just keep an eye on it, it may be a temporary thing. He's not that old but as you know, it's a fairly normal thing for hamsters to start drinking more as they get older. And old age can be classed as anything from 18 months on.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Try not to worry. Could be something he's eaten has made him particularly thirsty? (are you sure that piece of pepper wasn't a chilli?!!). Seriously though, just keep an eye on it, it may be a temporary thing. He's not that old but as you know, it's a fairly normal thing for hamsters to start drinking more as they get older. And old age can be classed as anything from 18 months on.

Thank you. No, do not worry it was not a chilli. I buy bell peppers in a packet. I did not realise old age was 18 months onwards. He is still a spring chicken then.

I ran a UV torch over his cage to check if there was a lot of urine and his wheels are spotless! Not a single speck of urine at all. He does not seem to wee anywhere in the open.

 

[Maz]

That's a good idea using a uv torch - I heard about that somewhere recently.

 

[Member ID2]

Orko has always been a bit of a guzzler who likes his water though.
I used to worry about Henry who i very rarely saw drink.
I think if anything would be amiss you would probably smell or see wee. It could be worthwhile to check through his substrate when he's out to find out what his urine looks and smells like.
His age may not be accurate as he wasn't a baby when you got him so he could be older than you think.

 

[Member ID2]

That's a good idea using a uv torch - I heard about that somewhere recently.

I need to get one for Lilly.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Orko has always been a bit of a guzzler who likes his water though.
I used to worry about Henry who i very rarely saw drink.
I think if anything would be amiss you would probably smell or see wee. It could be worthwhile to check through his substrate when he's out to find out what his urine looks and smells like.
His age may not be accurate as he wasn't a baby when you got him so he could be older than you think.

Haha, he has always been a bit of a guzzler with water! Thank you. I removed some wet bedding in November and found just a small handful under one platform. I will check when he is next in the playpen so I do not disturb him. His cage still has no smell of wee and I just got my partner to check too.

Good point about his age. He could be older too.

 

[Daisy]

Is the water bottle going down more than usual, or have you just seen him drinking for longer/more often? It's possible for a bottle to be partially blocked so that it still gives water but less than usual and thus the hamster has to spend longer at the bottle to get enough water.

 

[elusive]

I wouldn’t worry, sometimes they do seem to be drinking a bit more but if it’s just a one off then maybe check the bottle as Daisy said it could be blocked a bit.
He seems so well in himself I’m sure you’d notice a change if there was a problem.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Is the water bottle going down more than usual, or have you just seen him drinking for longer/more often? It's possible for a bottle to be partially blocked so that it still gives water but less than usual and thus the hamster has to spend longer at the bottle to get enough water.

Thank you and great points. I am seeing him drink more. I test his bottle daily so I am certain it is not blocked. I can see he is using it okay. I actually gave him a new bottle just in case that was the issue but his behaviour did not change.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I wouldn’t worry, sometimes they do seem to be drinking a bit more but if it’s just a one off then maybe check the bottle as Daisy said it could be blocked a bit.
He seems so well in himself I’m sure you’d notice a change if there was a problem.

It is good to know he appears well. His behaviour is not any different apart from this.

 

[Member ID2]

It has been a lot warmer lately and wonder if that makes him more thirsty.
I know that chewing cardboard always gives Clive a thirst.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It has been a lot warmer lately and wonder if that makes him more thirsty.
I know that chewing cardboard always gives Clive a thirst.

Perhaps that is the reason. Good suggestion.

 

[elusive]

If you are concerned you could just measure how much he drinks for a while & see if it’s stay about the same or increases.
It can be easier to weigh the bottle than see how much has gone, 1ml is 1 gram.

 

[Maz]

It has been a lot warmer lately and wonder if that makes him more thirsty.
I know that chewing cardboard always gives Clive a thirst.

That's a good point.

 

[RainbowBrite]

If you are concerned you could just measure how much he drinks for a while & see if it’s stay about the same or increases.
It can be easier to weigh the bottle than see how much has gone, 1ml is 1 gram.

Thank you. That is a good idea.