Does cage bar chewing cause brain damage in hamsters?

Question

I have a male hamster and I bought this spray called Grannick's Bitter Apple at the pet store, which is for dogs but I know it works on hamsters too. He's been biting my hands so I spray it on my hands before I pick him up but he also chews on the bars. However, I don't want to spray it on his cage bars if chewing them doesn't cause brain damage because after reading some stories I know it taste horrible and I don't want to use it unless I absolutely have to because I don't want him going through that pain.

Answer 1

Yes, it can cause brain damage and also can cause misaligned teeth. We give our hamsters toilet paper rolls to chew on and it helped. Refer to the link below for more detailed information on cage bar chewing.

Answer 2

Many animals need to chew a lot! They are meant to seek for food and eat almost all their waking hours. Chewing and digesting keep the brain chemicals in balance. This would be true for hamsters. A hamster which can't chew bars to the cage or something like that, would probably start chewing its feet or something.
If the bitter apple keeps your hamster from biting your hand, that's good. Let him chew cage bars to his heart's content.

Answer 3

They need things 2 chew on other that food like wood toys plastic toys... they like salt do you have salt on your hand when you pick him up!! they will bit then or you could have a mean one that happens i have one i cant even pick up and another that chills in my pocket.. If it dont say for hamsters i wouldnt use it dogs can handle way more then a hamster!!!!!!!

Answer 4

my hamster chewed on cage bars all the time and seemed fine- but that's just my hamster. It was really annoying though.

Answer 5

LOL no.....it doesn't