Poop always wet

[Nicesita]

Hello all, I'm new here
My dwarf's poop has been moist/wet for quite some time. He doesn't seem ill, he eats and drinks normally, is normally active (although he has never played or used the wheel since we adopted him) and is otherwise content and normal.
But his poop is never dry pellets as they are supposed to.
Why??

 

[Maz]

Hello and welcome. This can sometimes be if they have been having too much veg or fruit. Could that be the case? I'd be slightly concerned though, if he hasn't been using his wheel at all. Is it possible he just uses it at night? You could try putting a small piece of paper or substrate on top of the wheel before going to bed and see if it's gone in the morning.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

[Nicesita]

Hello and welcome. This can sometimes be if they have been having too much veg or fruit. Could that be the case? I'd be slightly concerned though, if he hasn't been using his wheel at all. Is it possible he just uses it at night? You could try putting a small piece of paper or substrate on top of the wheel before going to bed and see if it's gone in the morning.

Thanks for your reply!
He has NEVER used it, in the whole year we had him. He is active at night, coming and going and changing things from place to place but was never interested in the wheel. Always thought it weird too.

I give him fresh fruit and veg very seldom. His regular diet is dry pellets and a mix of nuts. He has eaten the same food from the same brand the whole year. Maybe I should try changing the food?

 

[Nicesita]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Thank you! Excited to learn

 

[RainbowBrite]

What size is the wheel? I was wondering if it is the right size for him and also if he can push it. I know some wheels are too heavy for a hamster to push.

Would you like to say which country you are in because it helps when it comes to suggesting any hamster items.

 

[Member ID2]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

How odd for a hamster not to use a wheel. Have you tried a different type of wheel?

 

[Zara]

Hi Nicesita, what is your little dwarf called? Are there lots of moist/wet poops? Does he use a sand tray as a toilet or have a specific place where he has made a toilet? Could it just be he is pooing and weeing in the same place making them seem damp. Hamsters normally eat their first poo and after redigesting the second poo cycle is dryer.

 

[Nicesita]

I am in The Netherlands,

What size is the wheel? I was wondering if it is the right size for him and also if he can push it. I know some wheels are too heavy for a hamster to push.

Would you like to say which country you are in because it helps when it comes to suggesting any hamster items.

I am in The Netherlands. Oliebol is a lovely dwarf and his current wheel is 14cm (5,5 inches???) We changed the wheel a couple of times to see if he would use it. He inspects them but doesn't seem interested.

I might try another one. Although after a while I just assumed it was personality and stopped insisting

 

[Nicesita]

Hi Nicesita, what is your little dwarf called? Are there lots of moist/wet poops? Does he use a sand tray as a toilet or have a specific place where he has made a toilet? Could it just be he is pooing and weeing in the same place making them seem damp. Hamsters normally eat their first poo and after redigesting the dryer pellet like poos appear.

His name is Oliebol!
There is always A LOT of poop, he really loves pooping, lol. He does have a toilet, but he has also other specific places where he poops.
I haven't noticed, I'll pay attention to see if it's because he pees at the same time.

 

[Nicesita]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

How odd for a hamster not to use a wheel. Have you tried a different type of wheel?

We have tried several!! He inspects them with curiosity and after that seems completely uninterested. After a while, I just stopped insisting. Thought he was just lazy like me

 

[Member ID2]

His wheel is far too small which could be the reason he's not using it. He couldn't run in it comfortably.

I'd get a 21cm wheel and make sure it has a solid running surface not a wire one.

There is a section on here for wheels. I'll see if i can link it.

 

[Member ID2]

Hamster wheel reviews

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[elusive]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
Oliebol is a lovely name!
Which pellet food is he on, do you have a link to it? Not all hamsters foods are entirely suitable for them so it’s possible it may be the food he has, a seed type mix is better for them really as it enables them to forage for food & encourages more natural behaviours.

It may well be the size of his wheel is the reason he isn’t using it, as Beryl said 21cm is about the right size.

 

[Frida]

Hello and welcome to the forum

 

[RainbowBrite]

Hopefully once you can get a bigger wheel he will use it.

I just found out Oliebol is a type of doughnut. What a cute name!

 

[Nicesita]

His wheel is far too small which could be the reason he's not using it. He couldn't run in it comfortably.

I'd get a 21cm wheel and make sure it has a solid running surface not a wire one.

There is a section on here for wheels. I'll see if i can link it.

Thanks for your advice!
I have just ordered a 28cm wheel with ball bearings. Here's hoping! I'll report back.

 

[Nicesita]

Hello & welcome to the forum.
Oliebol is a lovely name!
Which pellet food is he on, do you have a link to it? Not all hamsters foods are entirely suitable for them so it’s possible it may be the food he has, a seed type mix is better for them really as it enables them to forage for food & encourages more natural behaviours.

It may well be the size of his wheel is the reason he isn’t using it, as Beryl said 21cm is about the right size.

I'll see if I can manage to post links. We had the same food since the beginning, never changed, so I might try that. I make a mix of pellets and nuts with two different bags.

This is one.

And this is the other.

I have ordered another wheel. Fingers crossed!

 

[Nicesita]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Thank you!

 

[Nicesita]

Hopefully once you can get a bigger wheel he will use it.

I just found out Oliebol is a type of doughnut. What a cute name!

It is! He is dark brown and when he sleeps in a ball he really looks like a burnt oliebol (minus the hair, of course).
My kids named him
It's a fried doughnut-type ball the Dutch eat a lot around Christmas