My hamster is losing weight but seems healthy and active. Why?

Thanks for reaching out about Vasia. It would be a mild concern that she has lost 20% of his body weight. Age is not a disease, and some organ system is probably responsible for the weight loss. Renal disease is fairly common in aging hamsters. Try and monitor water consumption and urination. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Biscuit and including photos. Intestinal parasites can be checked through a fecal examination at the veterinary office. Renal disease, endocrine disorders and other conditions can lead to weight loss. A veterinary visit is highly recommended before the weight loss gets worse. Good luck.

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Willow has lost some weight. You're absolutely right - a loss of 10 grams is significant; in fact, it's about 18% of her body weight. That would be like a person losing 15-25 pounds in 3 weeks. While the stress of being away from home could be the cause of the weight loss, I highly recommend that you bring her to an exotic vet to be checked out if she doesn't start putting that weight back on in the next week. A hamster's lifespan is 1-3 years, depending on the species, so if she's on the high end of that range, it's even more important that she sees a vet, especially if she doesn't appear to be eating or acting normally. There are certain parasites, organ diseases, and cancers that hamsters can acquire, and the only way to be sure that she's healthy is to see a vet. If you don't already have a regular vet, there is an exotic specialty practice near you. Here is their information: allCREATURES VETERINARY CLINIC 10305 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA. 94530 (510) 524-4551 I sure hope that little Willow gets better soon!

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.

I am sorry to hear that Pepper is so ill. I worry that he may likely have dental issues that are preventing him from eating. Certainly there can be other problems but dental disease is the most common. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They can not survive long without eating. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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 Hattie. The suggestion would be to have some diagnostic test performed, such as radiographs and blood work. Spondylosis or back problems are common in aging hamster, and could be managed by anti-inflammatory medications. Kidney problems, intestinal infections or parasites can also be investigated. Dental disease can reduce appetite. Uterine neoplasia is not uncommon in female hamsters. So a diagnosis is needed prior to recommending a treatment plan. Good luck.