My hamster is very fat and gets stuck in tubes. What should I do?

If you feel his weight has changed quickly then I would be concerned that he could have something concerning going on such as fluid in the belly, or even a tumor. Of course there is always the chance that he is just overweight. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. They can let you know if they have any concerns on what they find on physical exam. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Oreo. Are you sure they are both males? Some animals grow at different rates. Is the smaller one skinny? Diseases such as bacterial/parasitic enteritis, metabolic disorders, dental disease, can all prevent weight gain. Weight can be controlled by offering a balanced diet which is pellets, versus seed which is high in fat. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit should be scheduled. Good luck.

Any of these foods are fine. Your mice need exercise. You should get them a running wheel and maybe a feed ball (a ball that has a small hole through which food can fall out when the mouse plays with the ball.

Yes obesity can be quite dangerous as can predispose to diabetes, joint and mobility problems, respiratory problems and hypertension. Most commonly adult Syrian hamsters weight in between 140 and 180 grams. I would recommend to try to avoid as much as possible fatty seeds like sunflower ones. Typically a Syrian only requires about a tablespoon of food per day, plus a supplement or fruits and vegetables. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

A few things you can try are using a smaller dish for your rat and make sure to wash it weekly, daily if need be. One just big enough to hold one feeding block is plenty. And feed fortified food. These foods can be found in either “block” or “seed” type forms, and a mixture of both is recommended. If you’re trying to help your rat lose weight, feed it no more than 3 tablespoons per day. Rat blocks contain a complete supply of vitamins and minerals. And avoid the generic “rodent formula” foods available at pet stores, as these often don’t provide an adequate amount of protein for your rat. Limit treats. One tablespoon of chopped fruit or vegetable is the best treat for your rat. Including apples, strawberries, bananas, and squash as treats rather than regular part of your rat’s diet will help support its weight loss. Feed treats in a separate dish from your rat's regular food and make sure to clean the treat bowl daily. Feed her at night, when she is most active, and if you notice her stashing food in her cage, you're giving her too much. Rats are intelligent animals who need a great deal of mental stimulation and activity. If you’re trying to help your rat lose weight, making sure it has plenty of activities will help it stay healthy and happy. If you have room, buy or bulild a multi level cage so she has to climb from level to level and feed her at the top or bottom and put her nest area at the other end. Play with her, they love interaction with their people. Provide an exercise wheel, tunnels, igloos, ropes, ladders, blocks, and child or baby safe toys for your rat to play with. Wooden gnawing blocks make great chew toys. You can also offer rawhide chew sticks or hard dog biscuits. Old soup bones or chicken bones are fine for a rat to chew on

Hello, I would completely stop the pellets for Flopsy, hay & water only. Increasing exercise is very important, too. This may mean feeding the 2 rabbits separately, but there can be so many health problems associated with an obese rabbit, that it is important to try & get some weight off of him. Make sure that you are very careful with the treats he gets. He should only receive good greens, no fruit or high-calorie rabbit treats. Get a good food scale where you can weigh Flopsy weekly & monitor his progress. As he reaches a more normal weight, you can begin to add a few pellets back into his diet. Good luck & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If Fatty will allow, check his teeth. They could be overgrown or maloccluded. If so, have him examined by your veterinarian. The teeth can be trimmed or corrected so that he can eat normally. If the teeth are fine, an exam would be recommended to diagnose other illness or injury.