How to accustom a hamster to a drinking bowl, why the hamster does not drink water (or drinks a lot)

On sale there are many convenient designs that allow you to provide a rodent with fresh water. But if earlier the pet drank from a bowl, or did not drink at all (this happens), the question arises – how to accustom a hamster to a drinking bowl. The animal may be wary of a new object in the cage, or simply ignore it.

It is better if the cup is already waiting for the hamster in the new house. Once in the cage for the first time, a curious rodent will examine all the objects very carefully, and accidentally stumble upon the water, deciding to try the spout of the automatic drinker on the tooth.

If the accessory was purchased later than the pet, and earlier the rodent drank from a regular bowl, information on how to teach a hamster to drink from a drinking bowl will come in handy. A large and friendly Syrian hamster can be brought to the device and poke its nose into the tube from which water flows. When the first drop comes out, the animal can be released. One “lesson” is enough, a maximum of two.

It is problematic to teach a Djungarian hamster this way – the animal may not understand your intentions, break out and bite. It is better to act with cunning with a dzhungarik: smear the spout of the drinker with something tasty. In no case do not use prohibited products, although on the network you can find recommendations to coat the drinker with jam or processed cheese. It is enough to rub the nose with a cucumber or other juicy food, the animal will be attracted by the smell.

Difficulties with how to accustom a hamster to a drinker are extremely rare. Many owners do not think about it at all, relying on the natural intelligence of a new pet. Others worry that the rodent will become dehydrated if the water level in the drinker does not decrease at all. Before figuring out what to do if the hamster does not drink water, you need to make sure that this is actually the case. Dzhungarik can drink only 2 ml of water per day, if the capacity of the drinker is 50 ml, this will be imperceptible. The owner may simply not see how the hamsters drink, as this happens in the midst of nighttime activity.

Possible reasons why the hamster does not drink water from the drinker:

• an abundance of succulent feed;
• stale water (should be changed every day);
• the water supply is broken.

If the ball is jammed at the automatic drinker, the water stops flowing, and the pet will suffer from thirst while the container is full of water. The first thing to do if a rodent often runs up to a drinker and nibbles on its nose is to check the device is working.

A broken accessory is easier to throw away than to fix. The question arises, what can replace the drinking bowl for a hamster. The easiest way is to put a tiny bowl of water in the cage, preferably ceramic, as stable as possible. Many rodents live their whole lives without a drinker, but then the water has to be changed at least twice a day: it becomes contaminated with bedding and food, and periodically the animal will overturn the bowl.

Many are interested in how to water a hamster if there is no drinker, due to the long transportation of the animal. In this case, you can not water the hamsters, but offer them pieces of juicy food: a cucumber is 95% water, an apple or pear is 85%. For several days, such feed will help to avoid dehydration, and the bedding in the carrier will remain dry.

Actions in the unnatural state of the animal

Drinks a lot

If, when changing the water in the drinker, the owner notices that the tiny animal has drunk almost everything, this is an alarm signal. We need to find out why the hamster drinks a lot of water. This is the main symptom of diabetes, which is common in dwarf hamsters. There are other diseases that provoke thirst. A doctor’s visit will not be superfluous.

It is worth analyzing the pet’s diet: in addition to dry food, juicy food should also be given.

Doesn’t drink or eat

In severe diseases, the rodent will first refuse food, and then water. In order to prevent exhaustion and dehydration, and also to give medicines inside if necessary, you need to know how to force water a hamster. An insulin syringe without a needle or a pipette is suitable for this. You can not turn the animal on its back. The liquid is poured into the mouth in small portions so that the hamster has time to swallow.

Conclusion

An autodrinker is the most convenient way to provide a rodent with fresh water. It is worth spending some time to teach your hamster how to use it. Don’t worry if your little one seems to be drinking too little, but never stop your pet from drinking at any time.