Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:25 pm
Hamsters require constant care in nutrition, maintaining their cage, and other vital things for their health.
We, as owners, take care of their hygiene, cleaning their poop, and everything else that is needed to be happy and healthy.
But if you sometimes notice their poop is green, why does that happen?
Usually, their poop should be dark in color, firm, and long. When the hamsters’ poop color changes, it signifies that something is wrong with it.
Why do hamsters have green poop? The most common cause of green poop is if your pet eats green leafy vegetables or other green foods. Other causes of green poop include diarrhea, poor hygiene, stress, allergies, food poisoning, low temperatures, and antibiotics.
Today’s article will find out why hamsters have green poop and how to deal with such situations.
Is it OK for hamsters to have green poop?
No, when hamsters have green poop, something is wrong with your pet; it could result from poor diet, lifestyle, and health problems.
As a rule, hamster droppings should be:
- in dry form
- solid form
- brown or black
- to have no odor
Hamster poop should not leave traces where they are; otherwise, when there is wet poop, it is a sign of diarrhea and health problems for your pet.
When hamsters have healthy poop, it is a sign that their diet is proper, which should consist of:
- grains
- seeds
- commercial pellets
- vegetables
- fruit
Whenever hamsters have green poop, we need to take specific measures such as paying attention to their diet and checking that their health is OK.
If hamsters have green poop, it does not necessarily mean that they will die, but it certainly needs to be treated and returned to normal.
Why do hamsters have green poop?
The leading causes of green poop in hamsters are their diet and lifestyle and certain diseases.
If hamsters get sick, their poop can easily change color from brown to green.
Let’s see together the reasons for the appearance of poop in your furry friends.
Nutrition
The main reason for green poop in hamsters is food, namely green leafy vegetables because green leaves contain chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants that plants use in conjunction with light to produce food for photosynthesis.
Such vegetables are, for example, spinach, but we must emphasize that they are entirely safe to eat for your pets. Various food mixes contain green color, which also causes green poop in hamsters.
If hamsters eat food that has artificial green color, green poop will appear again, but it will be lost when they stop eating such food, so in such situations, it should not worry you.
If hamsters eat unhealthy foods and sudden spills in their diet, they can cause green poop.
Care should be taken to their diet always to be varied and always on time; you should never leave the hamster hungry, as this can be a reason for changing the rhythm of his diet and the appearance of green poop.
The diet of hamsters with green leafy vegetables and fruits should be intermittent to avoid such unpleasant situations with its poop.
Respiratory infection
Respiratory infections can be another cause of green poop in hamsters.
In addition to fecal problems, respiratory infections cause stomach problems and pneumonia.
Symptoms that indicate a respiratory infection followed by green poop in hamsters are as follows:
- runny nose
- sneezing
- lethargy
- wheezing
- discharge from eyes
If you notice these symptoms followed by green poop, you should take your hamster to a veterinarian.
Allergies
Food proteins cause allergies manifested by the appearance of green poop in hamsters.
Sometimes, their digestive system can not process all the protein, and green poop appears.
Wheat and bread, for example, cause green poop, so hamsters’ digestive systems cannot process all the starch, sugar, and carbohydrates.
Problems with their skin
Hamster skin problems cause green poop, followed by a decrease in your hamsters’ appetite.
When you notice the following symptoms, you will know that skin problems lead to the appearance of green poop, and these are the following:
- irritation
- fur loss
- decreased appetite
In any case, skin problems require treatment, so you should consult a veterinarian.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea signifies something is wrong with your hamster, and then green poop appears.
The cause may be bacteria such as salmonella, which does not occur very often in hamsters.
Diarrhea can also occur for the following reasons:
- disease
- change in diet
- travel
Diarrhea can also occur due to Tyzzer disease, which occurs if hamsters eat poop with the bacterium Clostridium piliforme, and then the following problems occur:
- dehydration
- death
- loss of appetite
Diarrhea is dangerous, and if your hamster is not normalized, it can have fatal consequences for his life.
Wet tail
Wet tail occurs due to diarrhea in hamsters, resulting in green poop.
When hamsters have a wet tail infection, they have the following symptoms:
- blood in the poop
- lethargy
- aggression
- dehydration
- convulsive poses of the hamster
In such situations, as soon as you notice this phenomenon, you should not wait; the hamster must be taken to the vet as soon as possible because a wet tail is an infection that, if left untreated, can cause death in your pet.
Low temperatures
Low temperatures are the reason why hamster droppings are green.
Hamsters are used to living in warmer temperatures. Low temperatures can change the color of the poop and contribute to hamsters’ disease and get pneumonia.
Sudden temperature changes will make the hamster sick, and its poop will turn green.
Hamsters should be kept at a 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit temperature to function normally and be healthy.
Stress
Stress causes discoloration of the poop of hamsters because, in such situations, they have problems with the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.
Hamsters are always the prey of other predators, and therefore they are under a lot of stress all the time; it is little necessary for the hamster to be upset and in a state of stress and, as a result, to have green poop.
Here are some of the most common stressful situations for your pet:
- small cages
- loud sounds
- other pets like cats
- changes in temperature
- too much light
When hamsters are under stress, they change their behavior; you can notice it after the following side effects:
- aggression
- fur loss
- hyperactivity
- scratching
- biting their cage
Antibiotics
Sometimes the medicines we give to hamsters can also cause green poop.
Because some antibiotics cause inflammation in the small intestine, and as a result, green poop appears.
Hamsters, unlike other animals, are pretty sensitive to antibiotics and can easily have side effects, such as problems with their poop.
The hamster therapy should be chosen carefully; of course, it should be done by a veterinarian; you should never take it on your own and give medication to your pet.
Even some antibiotics can cause much more dangerous conditions for hamsters; here are some medications to avoid:
- Gentamycin
- Penicillin
- Tetracycline
- Amoxicillin
- Cephalosporins
- Vancomycin
Because hamsters are susceptible to antibiotic reactions, they should only be used when necessary for their health.
Dirty cages
If the hamster cage is not cleaned in time, it causes the appearance of green poop due to the bacteria in it.
You should always regularly clean your pet’s cages and change their bedding, and it is best to do this once a week.
When changing the bedding, you should always be careful to leave some of the old bedding so that the smell that your hamster is used to remains; otherwise, it can be stressful for him, so it is best to replace the old bedding with new bedding gradually.
Our recommendation is to change the bedding and clean the cage for two days, i.e., gradually.
When you separate them from other hamsters
If your hamster lives with another hamster in its cage, any separation will cause stress and green poop.
Hamsters are very attached to the environment once they get used to it; every change affects their health.
It will take time for them to get used to the fact that their friend is out of the cage, and when the nervousness and stress pass, expect the condition with the green poop to normalize and be normal again.
The gallbladder causes green stools in hamsters
Sometimes due to certain health conditions, the gallbladder of hamsters may produce too much yolk, and the color of their poop is green.
If it results from a green vegetable diet, then it will be normalized with dietary changes, but other symptoms may occur in your hamster.
If the hamsters also show specific symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, and lack of interest in movement and play, you should take them to a veterinarian for an examination.
Relocation
The very change in the environment in which they live causes stress and green poop.
It is, in fact, a typical condition that will be normalized in a short time, but it can still happen.
For example, when you buy a hamster and have to change its habitat, diarrhea and a wet tail can occur, resulting in green poop.
Abscess
Abscesses are infections that cause small breaks in the upper part of the skin and can cause cuts and scratches on the skin.
This phenomenon usually occurs due to malnutrition or eating food with abrasive materials, which eventually leads to the appearance of green poop in hamsters.
We recommend that whenever hamsters have such problems, it is best to consult a veterinarian to prescribe appropriate therapy.
read more: Can Hamsters Breathe Under Bedding? All You Need To Know
Cedar bedding
Cedar bedding is not the best choice for your hamster, as it can eventually cause green poop.
This type of bedding can cause problems and irritation in your hamsters. Initially, they will lose their appetite and eventually have green poop.
A better choice of bedding for your hamster is Aspen shavings, which they will be comfortable with and will not have such problems.
read more: How Long Can Hamsters Live With a Tumor?(Treatment and Cure)
Conclusion
The appearance of green poop in hamsters is a common occurrence that can create problems with their health.
Hamster droppings should be brown or black and in solid form; this is a sign of a healthy hamster.
The appearance of green poop in hamsters can occur for various reasons such as relocation, poor diet, stress, skin problems, poor bedding, low temperatures, diarrhea, and other reasons.
Whenever hamsters have green poop, the most important thing is to find the cause of such occurrence and react in time to normalize its condition. Otherwise, the consequences of green poop can lead to severe consequences for their health and life.
Finally, keeping hamsters requires a lot of dedication and care both for their diet and hygiene to be healthy, happy, and have a longer lifespan.
