A great way to gain insight into your hamster’s overall well-being is by paying close attention to the color of its pee. If your hamster’s pee looks different than usual or is of an odd color, you have reason to be suspicious.
The urine of a healthy hamster has a milky white color and is thicker than the urine of humans. However, many factors could influence this.
You might notice your hamster peeing pinkish-red urine after eating certain foods or brown urine if it has a liver problem.
What Color Should a Hamster’s Pee Be?
A hamster’s pee should be milky white in color and thick in texture. If you find it thin and cloudy, it is a sign that your furry friend has been consuming a diet loaded with calcium that must be rectified immediately.
Similarly, if your hamster’s pee is translucent, it could be drinking too much water, and you might have to pay close attention to its water consumption during the day.
You might also have to switch up your diet for a while so that it does not include too many foods rich in water.
If your hamster’s pee is brown or reddish, it could point to a problem in its liver. In this case, you will have to consult a vet and might have to alter your diet accordingly.
However, keep in mind that brownish-red urine is not always blood- the hamster’s bladder pigment could also cause urine to change color.
Remember, delay in treatment could worsen health conditions.
Connection Between Food and Hamster Pee Color
The food that hamsters eat can alter the color of their urine. Even though hamsters should be given a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, it must be in moderation.
Moreover, every hamster owner should create a food diary to understand what food items cause changes in the hamster’s pee color.
Usually, brightly-colored foods can change the hamster’s urine color to pink or red. This includes strawberries, carrots, cabbage, and beetroot. If your hamster has consumed any of these, you have nothing to worry about, as that is why their urine is a different color.
However, you must still pay attention to your hamster’s pee- it could easily become a cause of concern.
Hence, you might have to switch up the hamster’s diet for a couple of days, so their urine color returns to normal. You might have to get your hamster to take some tests if it does not.
Why is My Hamster’s Pee Orangish-Brown?
If you find that your hamster’s urine has an orangish-brown tinge, you should be concerned. This means that the urine is overly concentrated, which could indicate that your hamster is dehydrated and not drinking enough water during the day.
If this happens, you must keep an eye on your hamster’s water bottle or water bowl and note how much they are drinking during the day. You could also feed them fruits rich in water, such as cucumbers. This could help hydrate them if they are not drinking enough water.
Here are some other signs of dehydration to look for other than your hamster’s orangish-brown pee:
- Smelly urine: Along with being brown, the urine will have a potent smell because the hamster is dehydrated.
- Sudden weight loss: If your hamster is too dehydrated, it will start to lose weight suddenly. You might also notice their fur thinning or balding in some spots.
- Tight skin: Try scuffing the hamster’s skin on the back of its neck- if it is tight and takes some time to go back to normal, it could be a sign that they are severely dehydrated.
- Lethargic: If your hamster is not as active as it used to be, this could be because the dehydration is exhausting its little body. During this time, your hamster might also spend most of its time sleeping and lazing around.
Why is My Hamster’s Pee Reddish-Brown?
It is common for hamster owners to mistake red hamster urine for blood. Even though this is an easy mistake to make, it must be kept in mind that this could also be entirely normal for hamsters.
This is because the pigment in the hamster’s bladder has the potential to change the urine’s color.
Moreover, reddish-brown pee can also result from a sudden temperature drop during the colder months.
Sometimes, when your hamster consumes foods like carrots, red cabbage, and beetroot, its pee could develop a brownish appearance.
Reddish brown pee could also indicate a urinary tract infection in rare situations. Female hamsters usually experience this as they are more prone to developing UTIs than their male counterparts.
Why is My Hamster’s Pee Brown?
If you find that your hamster’s urine is dark brown, it could mean blood in the urine. This might point toward a urinary tract infection.
Moreover, if the urine becomes brown when dry, it could point to the same thing.
Usually, brown pee points towards organ issues in the hamster, most commonly in the liver. If the hamster’s liver is not functioning correctly, its body will not be able to remove poop and other waste well.
This could cause the urine to change color and become brown. If precautions are not taken immediately, it could lead to more significant problems.
Moreover, hamster owners need to ensure that the brown liquid is pee. In some cases, it could also be diarrhea which can cause severe dehydration for hamsters and, if not paid attention to, lead to their death.
If you find that your hamster’s urine is brown, visit the vet as soon as you can. They will guide you and help you figure out what is happening inside the hamster’s body and how serious it is.
Why Hamsters Develop UTI Causing Brown Pee
UTI is usually caused by a bacterial infection inside the hamster’s body. Here are some reasons that could cause a hamster to develop UTI:
- Obesity and laziness: If your hamster is always lazing around and does not move around much during the day, it will start to gain weight. Extra weight gain can lead to obesity which can, in turn, lead to the hamster developing UTI.
- Anxiety: If you have suddenly changed your hamster routine or introduced something new in their enclosure, you might have stressed them out. Hamsters have a sensitive sense of smell, so even the slightest change in their environment can make them anxious, leading to UTIs.
- Poor diet: A hamster’s diet should contain lots of fiber. Even though pellets are an easy choice of food to give to hamsters, these are low in fiber and should be replaced with fruits and vegetables.
- Consuming too much calcium: Overconsuming any mineral or nutrient will destroy your hamster’s body. Unlike the human body, hamsters cannot flush out extra vitamins. Hence, they must have a balanced diet.
- Difficulty urinating: Is your hamster not urinating as much as it used to? This could be because it is experiencing a blockage in its urinary tract, leading to UTI.
- Poor living conditions: Spending too much time in unhygienic or dirty enclosures causes bacteria buildup. Hence, you must clean your hamster’s cage every couple of days and change their bedding regularly.
Read Do Girl Hamsters Get Their Period?
Brown Pee and Blood in a Hamster’s Urine
Another reason your hamster’s urine could be brown is that there is blood in it. This is extremely concerning and can be life-threatening if not paid attention to immediately. If this happens, take your hamster to the pet immediately.
Here are some reasons why there might be blood in your hamster’s pee:
- Bladder stones
- Injury in genitals
- Kidney malfunction
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Respiratory problems causing blood clots
- Overconsuming foods loaded with calcium
If you notice any change in your hamster’s pee, make sure to watch its activities. If it is not moving around much, you must take it to the vet, which could point toward a possible urinary tract problem.
Similarly, if there is swelling around the bladder, your hamster might be experiencing a bladder stone that might have to be surgically removed if the issue is severe.
In most cases, your vet will get your hamster to start an antibiotic course to get rid of any infections. If your hamster has been losing blood while urinating, it may even need blood transfusions.
Even though hamsters are intelligent animals, and one might get caught up with their personal routine, it is your responsibility to ensure that your hamster does not fall ill.
Make sure to spend some time with it every day to ensure that it is active, and there are no issues with its urine.
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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