Hamsters are low-risk pets, making them a popular choice for most people in the US. However, they are not immune to many diseases, and the cute little fur balls have some identical behavior to that of human anatomy.
Just like the color of human urine indicates something wrong with the body, a hamster’s pee also tells if there is an underlying problem.
Most people ask why is my hamster’s pee red or dark brown. This is due to the blood or some traces of it which are mixed with the urine, and the color of urine changes from milky white to dark brown or, in worse cases, red.
There are many reasons a hamster’s urine can have blood in it. A healthy hamster with a good diet and drinks a healthy amount of water in a day will have a white-colored pee, showing that the hamster has a fully working excretion system and all organs are working to their full potential.
Read: Why is My Hamster Cleaning Itself a Lot?
The Reasons That My Hamster’s Pee Is Not White.
If your hamster’s pee is not white, there are chances that it might be yellow, brown, or red. In this post, we will thoroughly discuss the effects and reasons for each color a hamster’s urine could be and tell you what you need to do if changes in the shade of urine are seen.
Why Is My Hamster’s Pee Red?
There may be a very simple reason for this side effect; if you have been feeding your hamster a pigmented food item such as beetroot, then there are chances that the betanin, which is the red pigment in beetroot. If the body does not break it down, it is excreted in the urine.
To check if this is just a harmless pigment in the urine and not blood, people should stop giving their hamsters beetroot and observe the color of the urine. If the urine is still red, one must seek out a vet immediately because there might be an issue within the excretory track of the hamster.
Your hamster’s urine color indicates if there is something wrong in the excretory path. The excretion process of urine starts when the kidneys refine the blood and remove the toxins and excess water from the body; this waste in the form of urine travels to the bladder, where it is stored till the sack fills up, and then through Urethra, it passes out of the body.
Read: Can I put a heating pad under my hamster’s cage?
There are many reasons why blood can enter the urine, all of which are listed below.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
One of the primary reasons for blood traces in urine is an infection in the urinary tract. Now infection is always caused due to some external condition. It might be because the cage is not clean and has bacteria and virus infesting and multiplying in that bathroom designated corner of the cage, or the bedding is not clean and has run its course, but you haven’t had time to change it.
Since the urinary duct or the Urethra is not protected by any skin, this space can be used for entrance by microorganisms. Though the pee hole is such a small opening, it is easier for viruses and bacteria to work at the micro level, travel inside the duct, and make colonies.
When bacteria are in the urinary tract, a smelly fluid of thick consistency is discharged with the urine. It is an early sign of bacterial infection; if not detected early, the bacteria multiply, and symptoms like blood in the urine start to show.
Blood in the urine indicates a harmful amount of bacteria in the body and has traveled way above the duct.
Another sign of a urinary tract infection is lethargy; a symptom quickly detected since hamsters are usually highly energetic creatures.
Apart from feeling lethargic, when a hamster has a UTI, pain in the urethra is unbearable, and hamsters might wither in pain and find it extremely difficult to move at all times.
This makes a hamster feel not hungry all the time. If your hamster refuses to eat food, you should immediately check the color of its urine.
The good news is that urinary tract infection is treatable. The vets usually prescribe some fluids and antibiotics to fight the infection and eliminate the bacteria from the hamster’s body.
They also advise you to clean up the cage of your hamsters with an antibacterial wash and change bedding at regular intervals. Also, buy bedding from reliable brands across the US.
Cancer In The Uterus
This issue occurs in older hamsters; developing tumors in the uterine area is expected in hamsters. The severity of this condition is that swelling in the uterus region appears. Also, many fluids and blood are also part of the discharge, which makes the hamster’s pee red in color.
Just like women, uterine cancer is also prevalent in female hamsters, as they might run into complications during the birthing process. The bleeding becomes consistent in this case.
If you have a female hamster that has recently given birth to its baby, and after some time, you see blood in the urine, it might be due to a birthing complication that ruptured the uterine lining in the process.
Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of this disease; cancer is one of the most challenging diseases that humans fight away with awful chemotherapy to get rid of any traces of the tumor.
Uterine cancer is the trickiest one, even in the categories of cancer; patients suffering from it have their uterus removed. It is theoretically possible for hamsters as well, but technically the survival rate after surgery for a little hamster is near zero.
Hamster owners must provide their hamsters with comfort and closure to make it easier for them to pass away.
Internal Wound or External Injury
Although hamsters are always energized and ready to play, this hyperactivity may result in severe injuries around the genitals that would cause bleeding and blood in the urine. Internal injuries can also occur once the hamsters start to play around the house as they jump and fall all the time.
Luckily, the external ones are easier to contain since the wounds are visible to the naked eye; however, for internal injuries, thorough examinations and scans are conducted to determine the source of internal bleeding in the pelvic area.
Why Is My Hamster’s Pee Brown?
Seeing a brown-colored pee of a hamster means that there could be slight traces of blood in the urine. This can also be a symptom that the kidneys are not optimally working and refining the blood.
Furthermore, the brown color is the stage before the hamster starts to pass red-colored urine. So, this means it could be an early symptom of the conditions mentioned above.
Read: Why is My Hamster Cleaning Itself a Lot?
Why Is My Hamster’s Pee Yellow?
Yellow pee is a sign of dehydration or, in some cases, kidneys working inefficiently too. Suppose your hamster’s urine is yellow and contains sticky discharge.
In that case, it could also be an issue of UTI, but this indicates that all the underlying problems related to the uterine area are at an early stage.
This is a good sign, and hamster owners who take their hamsters to veterinary clinics for a check-up can save their pets from pain and agony that the hamsters can’t even speak about.
Sometimes changing diet or water can also treat this color and bring it back to white, so a doctor may not be needed; however, a single check-up can clear all doubts about your hamster’s health.
Concluding It All: Why Is My Hamster’s Pee Red
Hamsters need a lot of care and observation. They are little creatures that are always happy in solitary, so it is easier for pet owners to observe slight changes in their pet’s behavior.
Blood in the pee is not a great sign, and one should always contact the nearest vet when this issue arises.
To prevent infections, people should always keep changing the bedding for their hamsters and clean the cages frequently. If you live in humid parts of the US, this must be a ritual that you should always follow.
Blood clots are also a common occurrence of tumors in the uterine area and infections or renal failures. Usually, bleeding is common in female hamsters, but if you see a male hamster’s pee red, taking it to a veterinary clinic should be your first choice.
Your hamster may be a packet of energy, but with any of these underlying causes, it doesn’t move around much. There can be many other reasons for this issue, but pain or a urine problem is likelier.
We recommend that if you see that your hamster’s pee is red in color or any color except white, then rushing for a check-up is the only sensible option.
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My name is Everly. I am a Milwaukee-based mom of 2 and have been a proud owner of many hamsters throughout my life. Like many of us, my introduction to hamsters happened when I was very young. My family saw several hamsters come and go through the years, and I enjoyed playing with them, but I never fully appreciated them until I grew up and my own children decided to jump on the hamster bandwagon. At that point, I was determined to learn all I could about caring for these adorable pets. Read more