There are a few reasons your pet hamster will refuse to drink water when it’s sick. First and foremost, if you know your pet is sick, you should take it to the vet. However, there are some things you can do at home to encourage a hamster to drink.
You can get your sick hamster to drink by ensuring the water bottle is full of fresh water, easily accessible, and working correctly. You should also remove the cage from loud environments and other stressors. If the hamster still won’t drink, feed it droplets of water using a syringe.
This article will explore why your sick hamster isn’t drinking and what to do about it. I will also include answers to questions about hamster illness, dehydration, and other related topics.
Why Is My Hamster Not Drinking Water?
As I mentioned, there are a few different reasons why a sick hamster might refuse to drink water. Most are quickly addressed, but if none of them make a difference, you may have to take more drastic measures.
Poor Water Quality
Your sick hamster may refuse to drink if the water in their bowl or bottle is dirty. For example, it may have mold or some other contaminant that makes it taste bad. When your hamster is already feeling poorly, it will be more easily deterred by bad-tasting water.
Empty the bottle and clean it, ensuring you rinse away any residual soap. Keep in mind that scented dish soap will leave fragrance on the bottle, which may also deter your hamster from drinking, so rinse thoroughly.
Never use strong detergents or chemical cleaners on any part of a hamster’s cage, as they can be toxic to them. Dish soap, vinegar, or other pet-safe cleaning solutions are the best choices.
Malfunctioning Water Bottle
Most hamster owners use water bottles with a metal spout and ball bearing inside, which releases water when the hamster licks it. Sometimes these may become clogged and become difficult for the hamster to use.
Check the bottle regularly to make sure it is working. When you compress the ball bearing at the end of the spout, does water flow out easily? If it doesn’t, try cleaning the spout thoroughly with a pipe cleaner or purchase a new water bottle.
In addition, assess the location of the bottle. If your hamster is feeling lethargic or in pain, it may not have the energy to reach a high-hung or distant water bottle. Move the bottle close to where your hamster is resting and position it low to the ground so it’s easy to reach.
Stress and Fear
Loud noises and lots of activity may stress your hamster more than normal when they’re sick, causing them not to drink water. Pay attention to the area where the cage is kept. Is there a lot of noise or traffic? Bright lights? Are bigger pets investigating the cage? If so, move the cage to a quieter area where the hamster will feel calm and secure.
In addition, make sure there are no cold drafts or high heat sources near the cage, such as open windows or radiators. The more comfortable your hamster is, the more likely it is to drink and recover.
Lethargy or Pain
When none of the above issues solves the problem, your hamster likely isn’t drinking because they are feeling very poorly. If you notice the animal is lethargic, has runny stool, and/or shows signs of pain like squeaking or lashing out when touched, take it to the vet immediately. The vet will give your hamster the necessary fluids in addition to treating the illness.
In the meantime, you can use an eye dropper or syringe to place a drop of water in your hamster’s mouth every 30 minutes to ensure it doesn’t become dehydrated. Hold the hamster gently but firmly in one hand and poke the end of the dropper into its mouth. Squeeze out a drop or two. The hamster should swallow them automatically.
If your hamster hasn’t been eating or drinking for a day or more, you can use Pedialyte instead of water. This will help provide extra calories and electrolytes, boosting their system and improving their chances of recovery.
How Long Can a Hamster Go Without Water?
Hamsters can survive 3-4 days without drinking water. However, they will begin to show signs of illness within a day from dehydration. The skin will become tight and dry, and it may lose weight and look thinner than normal. Finally, the animal will show signs of lethargy and/or weakness.
A responsible hamster owner should pay attention to how much water their hamster usually drinks, how much it eats, and what its normal behavior is on any given day. If there are changes in any of these, it can be a sign that something is wrong with the animal’s health or environment.
Paying close attention to your hamster’s behavior can help you catch issues before they become life-threatening illnesses.
Conclusion
You can help encourage your sick hamster to drink by removing stressors, offering clean, fresh water, and ensuring the water bottle is accessible and functioning properly. If these measures don’t work, use a syringe to squeeze a drop or two of water or Pedialyte into your hamster’s mouth every 30 minutes.
If the hamster shows signs of lethargy, dehydration, diarrhea, or pain, you should take it to the vet immediately. These tiny creatures can survive 3-4 days without water, but the damage to their health may be permanent if the issue is not resolved quickly.