Hamster pee's her bed/ (and can hamsters swim)

[sheribeee]

Hi, my lil girl hamster has started weeing in her bed. She smells awfuls and has urine soaked fur, im worried she may get poorly if it carrys on.
Does anyone know why she may have started this? or how to discourage it? Also can i bath her, and can hamsters swim? or should i just bathe her in a small amount of water?
Thanks x

[Jillius]

My friend has just been having the same problem. She bought a small hamster potty from a pet shop and put some of her bedding in that smelt of urine and now the hamster uses it all the time instead of her bed. It only took a few days to get her trained.
Good luck !

[wildwood]

They can actually swim but to be put in deep water they'll probably get a shock and drown. You can bathe them in one inch of warm water in a flat bottomed bowl. Only for a few minutes so you can wash the worst of the urine off. You need to make sure that they are thoroughly dried and warm before putting them back in their clean enclosure.

[Eve]

I have a sand pit (with bird sand) in part of my hamster's cage which he uses as a wee pit.

Does hammy have any other symptoms, how old are they?

They are sensitive little things so keep an eye in case they are eating less, drinking a lot, losing weight or feeling lumpy, not looking after herself properly etc...

Their eyes should be bright.

Any concerns pop her to the vet to have her looked at asap.

When one of my hamsters got old and was less hygienic I used to pop him in some lukewarm water which just covered his feet and gently freshen him up then dry him off and make sure he was warm and had a nice bed to go back to.

[sheribeee]

Thanks for your answers.
She is just 1 yr old, she is very active and doesnt seem any different.
We have been introducing her to our boy hamster every other evening in the bath (no Water) together, they just seem friends, no hanky panky, and i stay with them while they r in there approx 10 mins, usually b4 they have their evening in their balls.
That is the only change in her routine.
Gave her a warm little bath in the sink this eve, she wasnt impressed tho! her bed was clean yesterday and stinks already!!

[figure]

Check you pet shop for hamster pampers. They even come in pull-up style.