My hamster is too thin. What should I do if I can feel her bones?

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.

Sorry to hear about Ruby and thanks for including a picture. It is difficult to determine what might be happening. Try looking at her incisor teeth for possible overgrowth. Liver or kidney diseases can cause rapid weight loss. Intestinal infections or parasitic problems can alter digestion. This is serious and you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. 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.

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.

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.

Have your caretaker offer fresh vegetables. If Toffee is eating just corn kernels and sunflower seeds from her mix, switch to a mix with less of both and consider a lab block type hamster chow. If she will allow, check her teeth for uneven growth or misalignment. She probably has a food hoard in her cage, so going without food is likely not a concern.