Increased thirst in senior hamster

[Emx93]

Hi, I have already booked an exotic vet appointment but Teddy (around 21m, male syrian) has recently had a massive increase in his drinking. (He can drink 100ml some days which isn't normal for him).

He goes to the vets on Friday 14th but I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this?

Pic because he's cute (from christmas because he's going through a run away the second a camera appears phase)

 

[Maz]

Hi. It's quite normal as they get older Their kidneys don't function so well as they get older, so they tend to drink more and pee more. There isn't a lot you can do really, and I've usually found they can go on like that for a very long time without any issues to their health generally

I'd save the vet trip if I were you Unless you've found something else, like a lump, or unless you think he might be in pain. As long as he's happy and hamstering along

 

[Emx93]

Hi. It's quite normal as they get older Their kidneys don't function so well as they get older, so they tend to drink more and pee more. There isn't a lot you can do really, and I've usually found they can go on like that for a very long time without any issues to their health generally

I'd save the vet trip if I were you Unless you've found something else, like a lump, or unless you think he might be in pain. As long as he's happy and hamstering along

Thankyou, it's really reassuring to hear it's normal, I know in guinea pigs it can be a sign of pain which is one of the reasons I booked the appointment - the other is his nails have grown freakishly long overnight and I need help cutting them I've noticed in general he seems a little more lethargic and his fur is a little more patchy and general signs of aging so although it probably is just his age and there's probably nothing to be done I'd have more peace of mind if he had a check over

 

[Steve]

Your quite right he is cute

 

[Socks Mum]

I saw a video on YouTube demonstrating how to trim nails by putting the hamster into a mesh bag. It certainly made it easier. The hamster was a dwarf hamster and the nail stuck out of the mesh and could be trimmed like that.

 

[Emx93]

Thankyou just got back from the vets, they gave him a whiff of gas to gut his nails and have a good check up of him, his kidneys are feeling a little hard so as we expected age seems to be the cause of his drinking bless him he was a good boy though

 

[Jain]

He still looks well for his age Pete is a couple of months older and he drinks more and pee,s more but is still extremely active so I don't worry about the fluid increase

 

[Maz]

Have you seen this thread Em? Do you have Instagram?

Big sad forum news - Online Safety Act

This is such a terrible shame, I will be on Instagram as long as I'm allowed.. I, alongside a large number of other group admins, were banned from Facebook for "fraud and deception" and in spite of appealing, were told to get a lawyer if we didn't like it.. so my participation on meta platforms...

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