9 day ago

Signs your wheel is too small, and what I wish I had known. I watched mine for a week and noted three things: his back curving while running, him stopping every few seconds, and the wheel squeaking on every rotation because of the uneven load. Replaced it with a bigger one and al...

Health & Vet Help

Comment 4 New

Liam P. 8 day ago

The back curving is the one everybody shows in photos without realising.

+1

Marcus T. 8 day ago

What size did you go to? I am second guessing mine now.

Sofia M. 8 day ago

The squeaking on every rotation is such a good tell. Mine stopped the moment I changed wheels.

Total 4 comments

Chloe B.

@peanut_butler

9 day ago

How often do you actually trim nails? Everything online says every few weeks, but mine wears his down on the wheel and I have not needed to cut anything in four months. Is that normal or am I missing something?

Health & Vet Help

Comment 5 New

Marcus T. 7 day ago

I stopped worrying about the schedule and just check for curling instead.

+1

zhainan 8 day ago

Four months and nothing to cut sounds perfectly normal for a wheel user.

+1

Ava L. 8 day ago

Same here. As long as they are not curling or catching on fabric he is fine.

+1

Total 5 comments

Marcus T.

@syrian_dad

10 day ago

Cheek pouch problem, and this is what it looked like day one versus day three. Day one was just a slightly lopsided face. By day three he was drooling and the pouch looked swollen. The vet removed a piece of bedding from inside. Posting the timeline because I almost waited anothe...

Health & Vet Help

Comment 3 New

Sofia M. 7 day ago

The side by side timeline is what makes this land. Glad he is alright.

+1

Chloe B. 7 day ago

The drooling is the tell. Good that you went when you did rather than waiting another day.

Noah K. 10 day ago

Thank you for posting the day one photo. I would have dismissed that as nothing. Saving this.

Daniel R.

@paws_and_seeds

10 day ago

Switched bedding brand two days ago and his droppings went soft. Not watery, just softer than usual and a bit lighter in colour. He is still eating, drinking and running. Everything I read says see a vet immediately, but he genuinely seems fine otherwise. How long would you wait...

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Comment 5 New

Noah K. 8 day ago

Mine did this after switching to a scented brand. Back to unscented and it cleared in two days.

Liam P. 8 day ago

Lighter colour worries me more than the softness, honestly. I would call.

+1

Ava L. 10 day ago

The bedding change is the likely cause. If it is only softer and he is eating, I would give it 48 hours back on the old bedding.

Total 5 comments

Marcus T.

@syrian_dad

1 month ago

Cheek pouch got scratched — what to watch for

He got a small scratch inside one cheek pouch from a sharp piece of bedding I missed.

I removed the sharp bits and cleaned the cage. What signs mean I need a vet rather than just monitoring?

Health & Vet Help

Comment 5 New

zhainan 28 day ago

The fact that he is still eating is a good sign. It is when they stop that it gets serious.

+1

Sofia M. 29 day ago

Worth going through the rest of the bag for anything else sharp. I found a piece of wire in mine once.

Daniel R. 1 month ago

Check it twice a day for three days. If he starts pawing at the cheek or refuses food, that is a vet visit.

Total 5 comments

Sofia M.

@luna_the_hammy

1 month ago

Wet tail or just stress? Worried.

Picked up my new hamster three days ago and today the droppings are soft and he is a bit hunched.

No tail wetness that I can see, and he is still eating. Is this normal settling-in or should I call the vet tomorrow morning?

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Comment 5 New

Ava L. 28 day ago

Is there any wetness around the tail at all? That is the one thing that turns it into an emergency for me.