The Hamsters Water Bottle

Fresh drinking water should be freely available at all times. Preferably in a water bottle mounted on the side of the cage.
Use one with a metal sipping tube. Avoid plastic tubes that can be chewed and destroyed by the hamster gnawing.

The hamsters water should be changed every couple of days with fresh water. The sipping tube must be checked daily for possible blockages, or a sticking ball. The bottle may appear full leading you to believe the hamster has water to drink, but a sticking ball will deprive the hamster of water.
Check the bottle by inverting it (turning it upside down) press the ball, and squeeze the bottle gently to make sure the water is being delivered.

Sometime the water may drain because the ball valve is not sealing properly. Or the nozzle may sometimes come into contact with the bedding, if this happens the water siphons off. Check all the possibilities that may lead to potentially and serious dehydration.

Watch for the early signs of dehydration: Sunken eyes, a reduction in urination, confusion, irritability, a ruffled and unkempt coat, a rapid and sudden weight loss, and skin that loses its elasticity will stay compressed when pinched. It is always preferable to use a water bottle for the drinking water. Using a dish is not really appropriate for a hamster, they are inclined to pollute it with the bedding or tip it over.