Older hamster weight loss?
I have a male teddy bear hamster who is 2 1/2 years old and he has experienced some significiant weight loss. He hords his food and I dont really see him eat much of it now and days. I have added extra food to his bowl so that its always available for him and I have uped his fruits and veggies intake as well as his vitamins. He has full water and seems to be in good moods, he is just skinny now. He doesn%26#039;t over excercise (he%26#039;s an old guy) What can do i to help him gain weight or is it best just to continue to feed him his favorite foods and let him live out the rest of his life? Help!
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
It may be that he is just old. An old hamster that has gone off his food, or not eating much usually leaves it where it is, i.e in the food dish. But a hamster that is still interested in his food will store it. This coupled with a significant weight loss would give me cause for concern. Have you checked his teeth lately, as they get older the teeth are more likely to become elongated, broken, or misaligned, this can prevent him from eating, may be wise to get them checked out.
67% 4 Votes
Other Answers (3)
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that is old for a hamster, it may be an underlying reason such as overgrown teeth. Check for any lumps or bumps or other unsual symptoms if it gets worse i would consult your vet. good luck!
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The same thing happened to my two year old hamster. It%26#039;s sad, but just like humans, many of them lose weight as they grow older. If he seems happy and otherwise healthy, I wouldn%26#039;t change anything except maybe give him some more high fat foods like peanut butter, almonds, even some mild cheeses. If anything changes tho, go right to the vet. Also keep in mind that 2 1/2 is very old for a hamster. Hope everything works out.
33% 2 Votes
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Well, maybe he is just getting old. Have a look at him daily, see where he is taking his food, and what he is doing with it.
If the problem continues, I would suggest taking him to the vet since they know better than me.
I hope he%26#039;s ok!!
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