When I put vitamins in his food or his water, he smells like an accident at a chemical factory.
When I don't, he smells of wood shavings.
2006-07-16 11:31:59 · 6 answers · asked by wild_eep 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Aaryn, I'm sorry for your loss. I don't know what a spiny mouse it, but I'm sorry about it.
2006-07-16 11:49:32 · update #1
There's a couple things you can do that might help! :D
Most hamsters can live without added vitamins, as long as you're feeding a balanced diet. I would suggest (and I feed this to my rodents too) mixing three quarters lab blocks with a quarter pellet/seed based diet. Most people only feed one or the other, but there's a couple things wrong with that in my opinion. Lab blocks (which are availible at most pet stores) contain all of the nutrients they need, but small animals, especially hamsters, live to eat and really deserve variety. Seed based diets (the ones with sunflower seed, corn, etc.) can cause the hamster to be picky and only eat certain things out of it. This allows him to have the yummy stuff he wants, but it is meant to be eaten as a whole and he will miss out on vitamins. Also feed some fresh veggies every second day or so, even if that's just a baby carrot or something. This gives it more variety and vitamins.
As for it smelling of wood shavings- what type do you use? Pine and ceder are the strongest smelling, and also the worst for your pet. They contain more oils and dust and aren't as good for its respiratory system. For wood shavings, I would recommend aspen, they're healthier and also seem to smell less. To completely get rid of the wood smell, I'd suggest switching to CareFresh or another paper-based bedding. I use carefresh for all of mine because I find it controls odors very well, is easy to clean up, and is much better for their health. It is slightly more expensive than wood however, but with a hamster you still shouldn't go through is as fast as I do.
Hopefully this helps :D
2006-07-16 11:44:06 · answer #1 · answered by Right On 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vitamins have the tendency to come out in animal urine/skin. I'm going to guess that you're giving him the correct amount. Also, what type of wood shavings are you putting in his cage. Please don't tell me those cedar chips. Cedar chips are coated with an oil to give them that cedar smell which can harm small rodents, or any animal for that matter. The bedding should be dry straw, or that stuff you see all shredded that looks like shredded egg shell cartons.
2006-07-16 11:36:51 · answer #2 · answered by Fawnice 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he unhealthy? You don't have to put vitamins in thier food or water as long as your hams are eating healthy food, and getting fresh veggie snacks.
Also, if you don't like the wood shaving smell (I'm going to presume you use aspen, as both cedar & pine can be fatal to ham's), then try getting a softer non-wood shaving bedding, such as CareFresh.
2006-07-16 11:34:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the vitamins they will always give off a scent. bath him at least once a week and make sure his cage is cleaned!
2006-07-16 11:59:56 · answer #4 · answered by Molly M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a cat in the cage with him.
2006-07-16 11:37:46 · answer #5 · answered by joker45693 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont give him vitamins-most dont need them
2006-07-16 14:33:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋