Do Hamsters Drink A Lot Of Water?

Although hamsters must stay hydrated to stay healthy, what if my hamsters suddenly start drinking a lot of water?

This could be cause for concern.

But what exactly does it mean?

What’s the deal with your Hamster’s excessive drinking?

Are they sick?

As a curious Hamster owner, I did some research and this is what I discovered!

During the summer, hamsters tend to drink more water to stay cool. A sudden change in their diet could also be the cause of their thirst.

Aside from that, health issues such as diabetes, urinary tract infection, and dental problems can all contribute to excessive water consumption in Hamsters.

An adult hamster consumes approximately 25ml of water per day. However, the amount of water consumed may vary.

Close observation will assist you in determining the exact cause of such behavior.

Let us learn more about your hamsters’ unusual water consumption behaviors, their water requirements, and when we should be concerned about them!

How Much Water Does a Hamster Drink?

There’s a chance your hamster is drinking the recommended amount, but it seems excessive to you.

It could also be due to overconsumption, which could indicate a health problem or infection.

On the contrary, it could be consuming too little of it, which is also a bad sign.

The simplest way to answer this is numerical. Water consumption for hamsters should be around 10 ml per 100 g of hamster per day.

This means that the size and weight of your hamsters influence their water requirements.

A hamster weighing 170 grams, for example, will require approximately 17 ml of water per day.

Another factor influencing their water consumption is their level of activity. If your hamster is constantly running around, it will require more hydration.

If it leads to a more sedentary lifestyle, it will not drink as much. Similarly, whether a hamster is young or old influences its water requirements. The older one will consume less water.

Keep your hamsters’ diet in mind as well. For example, is your hamster eating dry foods like pellets or grains? It will be seen reaching for more water.

However, if it is already eating foods high in water content, such as fruits, it will consume less water.

How much water is too much?

Having an idea of how much water hamsters generally consume is helpful before trying to figure out why your pet is drinking so much water.

It was once widely believed that hamsters could go without drinking for long periods of time, however, this is not the case.

Hamsters, like most other animals, require frequent hydration and can only survive for a few days without it.

Hamster Water Needs To Be Based On Size.

Every day, hamsters consume roughly 0.33 fluid ounces for every 3.5 ounces of body weight or about 10 milliliters of water per 100 grams of body weight.

Because Syrian or Golden hamsters are the largest breed of hamsters, they require more water.

A 6-inch hamster consumes roughly half an ounce of water each day, which is about the same amount as a 1-ounce per inch hamster.

Chinese and Russian dwarves are roughly the same size or slightly larger than robos, therefore they can survive on less than a tenth of an ounce of water every day.

However, if you observe that the water level in the bottle is dropping rapidly (assuming no leaks are present), your hamster may be drinking more than usual.

Water Bottle Issues

Make sure that your hamster is truly drinking when trying to figure out if he or she is drinking more than usual. There are certain hamsters that are bottle-chewing hamsters.

It is possible for them to nibble on the water bottle stem, causing water to drip into the cage.

Even if your hamster is drinking at a typical rate, a leaky water bottle will cause dramatic drops in water consumption.

Check the bedding under the bottle for excessive wetness to see if water is leaking out.

If they’re having trouble getting their hands inside a bottle, hamsters will return to it time and time again.

You may want to check the water bottle to make sure it hasn’t created a vacuum or become clogged if your hamster is constantly licking at it.

When you gently tap the ball at the end of the spout with your fingers, water should drip out.

Although a significant increase in water intake may indicate that your hamster is ill, there are a few non-medical reasons why a hamster may drink more than usual.

A ‘Dry’ or ‘Warm’ Environment

Hamsters, like humans, require more water when the weather is particularly hot or dry.

If you keep your hamster in a room that is not air-conditioned, you may notice that he drinks more during the summer.

On the other hand, a house becomes drier and warmer as it is heated, which may cause your hamster to drink more in the winter.

Increased Activity

A hamster that is very active will naturally require more water than a sedentary hamster.

Because hamsters are nocturnal or crepuscular, your hamster will most likely drink at night.

Younger, healthier hamsters drink more than older hamsters because they are awake and active for longer periods of time.

A Dry-Food Diet

Hamsters fed primarily dry foods such as pellets, grains, and seeds will drink more than hamsters fed fresh vegetables.

This is normal and does not necessarily indicate that your hamster’s water consumption has changed. Hamsters fed vegetables will get some of their water from the plant food.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is another reason why a healthy hamster may drink more water than usual. A pregnant hamster will also eat more and become slightly rounder.

She may be irritable, sleep more, and engage in more nesting behavior than usual.

She will continue to consume more food and water as she nurses her babies for about two weeks after they are born.

Is It Bad For My Hamster To Drink Too Much Water?

Polydipsia is the term used to describe the condition of extreme thirst in hamsters. It is not a disease, but rather a symptom of a larger issue.

When Hamsters suddenly begin to drink more water than usual, this is most likely a warning sign.

However, if your hamster drinks a lot of water right away, this is completely normal.

If you notice your Hamster drinking more water than usual, you should closely monitor them to see if they have any other health issues.

Excessive thirst is not dangerous in and of itself, but you should keep an eye out for other symptoms in your child.

Some of the common symptoms associated with polydipsia include:

If you notice any of these symptoms in addition to polydipsia, it means they have an underlying health problem.

Final Words

Your hamster’s extreme thirst could be the result of environmental factors, a high level of activity, or a diet deficient in water.

Alternatively, it may have developed diabetes, kidney disease, or another condition.

Some of these diseases are more treatable than others, therefore it is crucial that you take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible, especially if you observe any of the other symptoms listed here.

The good news is that the majority of these disorders can be easily avoided.

You may reduce the likelihood that your hamster will acquire diabetes or kidney disease by providing fresh, clean water and a balanced diet that contains fresh vegetables and is low in sweet treats.

It’s also essential to maintain your hamster in a clean, temperature-controlled habitat where it won’t become too hot or too cold and where bacteria won’t thrive.