The Help A Hammy Program is a program to inform potential and former hamster owners, pet shop workers the most important breeders, that your happy hamster may have an unhappy fate.
My Experience
I had a hamster once his name was Mr. Nibbles, he was a real sweetie he would snuggle for an hour on a fluffy blanket while we watched a movie and he never ever bit anyone during his whole life. Until one day while I was doing some school work I noticed his eye was way bigger and goopier than ever, I started panicking I told my dad and frantically about Nibby's eye. Later, when mom came to look at him we went on a website all about hamsters and we discovered he had Diabetes and Glaucoma. Soon after he died. We found out that stinky pee (a clue right under our noses) was a sign of Diabetes and we didn't even know it.
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| Pocket Nib Nib snuggles Photo by: Alex Brown |
Why Would That Happen?
Hamsters are prone to Diabetes, they will pick all the seeds out of the food mix causing an imbalance in nutrition. I call this "candy seed picking. If your hamster does not do this bad habit (or you put them on a diet) they still have just as much of a chance of getting diabetes depending on what the breeders feed the hamster's mother and father. If the hamsters parents already have Diabetes the genetic make up will cause the baby hamsters to become more prone to the disease.
What To Look For
To check if your hamster has diabetes check for concentrated/stinky urine, seed hoarding (hidden seed) and lack of exercise. (their fur may smell bad as well)
Help A Hammy Purpose
I want to reach out to unsuspecting breeders and hamster owners to warn them that their hamster may have Diabetes and in the future to feed their hamster less seed and more veggies. I have set a goal to keep having people feed their hamsters healthy food and slowly begin to eliminate their glutinous habits and have happy hamsters stay happy.
Hamster Food Suggestions
For hamster food I prefer cut up vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and especially kale, timothy hay is also an option that is good for them as well but they often reject it. Anything and I mean ANYTHING besides that I would research before you give it to your hamster (yes, even cucumber you should research ) P.S hamsters can still eat seed just give it to them only for a day or two a week so they don't pig out :-) Other Suggestions: you can also use a sifter to make sure that the amount of sunflower seeds is balanced
Poor Nibby Wibby- alex brown
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