- Feeding. One of the most common symptoms of a sick hamster is loss of appetite. And because these guys are so little, not eating can be fatal.
- Water. Liquids are SUPER important. Like with food, move the water bottle close to their sleeping quarters for easier access.
- Keep 'Em Comfy. It’s common for sick hamsters to become chilled, so you want to keep them warm (but not hot, which can lead to death by heatstroke).
- Limit Activity. Even though they may love it, try removing their exercise wheel until they’re feeling better. Some hamsters continue to exercise when sick, and we don’t want that.
What foods are bad for a hamster?
Freshoods Not Suitable For Hamsters (NOTE: this list is non-exhaustive):
- Aubergine
- Acorns
- Buttercups
- Bluebells
- Bindweed
- Citrus fruits
- Elder
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Privet
What fruits and vegetables are safe to feed hamsters?
- Pear – Pears are thought to be healthy and digestible for hamsters. ...
- Although many hamsters don’t like to eat it, it is still healthy and safe for Syrian hamsters. ...
- Apple – Apart from the dry palettes, you can feed Apple to your Syrian hamster in a small quantity as a treat.
- Apricot – Dried Apricot and its stone/seed should be avoided. ...
What type of foods can you feed a hamster?
- Apple seeds and skins
- Grape seeds
- Fruit pits
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Garlic
- Onions
- Eggplant
- Chocolate (or any other sugary sweet)
What vegetables can you feed a hamster?
Cruciferous vegetables belonging to the brassica family that includes cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussel sprouts, and broccoli. They’re high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and low in calories. As with all vegetables you can give to hamsters, it’s best to start with a very tiny amount – half a teaspoon is plenty – to avoid diarrhea. 2.
How can I help my sick hamster?
If a hamster is ill or injured, keep them warm and encourage them to take some food or water (by dropper if necessary) until a vet can be seen.
Is my hamster sick or dying?
Hamster dying symptoms Hamster not eating or drinking: lack of appetite is one of the most frequent symptoms of diseases in hamsters. A dying hamster will not show interest in eating food or drinking water. You may also notice rapid or marked weight loss as well as signs of dehydration.
What do hamsters do when they are dying?
Expect that a dying hamster will have unusual vital signs. As they suffer pain and become more nervous and stressed, their pulse rate might increase which leads to difficulty breathing. A slower heart rate, on the other hand, may indicate that your hamster is getting weaker and is dying.
How do you revive a dying hamster?
Instead of warming up your hamster slowly in a warm room, you can warm it more rapidly. Put the hamster, in its cage, in a warm place such as an airing cupboard. Depending on the temperature, the hamster may wake within 2 - 3 hours.
Should I hold my dying hamster?
Should I Hold My Dying Hamster? You'll need to exercise caution if you wish to hold your hamster while it's dying. For hamsters dying of a painful illness or disease, being handled will cause too much pain and stress. Instead, you'll need to interact with your hamster without touching it.
How do I know if my hamster is in pain?
Hamster health checks They don't show outward signs of pain, so may suffer before you realise. Stressed hamsters are likely to become ill, so keep a close eye on them and look out for them behaving differently - such as developing repetitive behaviour - as this can show that something's wrong.
Is my hamster dying or hibernating?
Don't use body heat as an indicator Don't worry if your hamster feels cold. During hibernation your pet's body temperature will drop to match the environment, so coldness isn't always a cause for concern. If your hamster is also rigid and unresponsive, even in a warm temperature, however, it may have died.
Why is my hamster wobbling and falling over?
If hamster is having problems with balance and keeps stumbling and falling over, it is suffering from a problem with its vestibular system. The vestibular system is the mechanism within the inner ear and brain that helps mammals - including us - keep balance.
Why is my hamster shaking and having trouble walking?
Some known medical issues that can cause shaking in a hamster are diabetes, stroke, heatstroke, skin parasites, or congestive heart failure. Other common signs to look out to determine if your hamster has a condition are nasal discharge, watery stools, weight loss, rough appearance, and glazed-over eyes.
Why is my hamster not eating or drinking?
As we've already mentioned, the loss of appetite in hamsters may indicate that your hamster is sick. Hamsters are small rodents that are very sensitive and can catch infections, abscesses, parasites, fungi, colds, respiratory problems, and other diseases very easily.
How do you save a dehydrated hamster?
Treatment and care for a dehydrated hamsterGive your hamster slices of fruit and veg. ... Add an electrolyte water to his water bottle. ... Place the hamster's water in a shallow dish, so he can access it easily. ... Rehydrate by mouth, with an eye dropper or small syringe (no needle).More items...
What to do if your hamster is sick?
If your hamster is ill or injured, there are things you can do to treat it. After you observe the behavior of your sick pet and note the signs and symptoms, you can go about treating it for those ailments. It’s worth mentioning that the best treatment is illness prevention. That being said though, no amount of hamster care can guarantee your little ...
How to make a hamster more comfortable?
You can use a heating pad or a heat lamp. Make sure the sick hamster has a way to escape the bright light as in providing a hamster house to hide in and make sure not to over heat the habitat. This heat treatment will make the hamster more comfortable and less stressed. Stress typically leads to a lowered immune system.
How to clean hamsters?
Begin by putting on some gloves (or washing your hands thoroughly afterward) and removing all the waste.
How to sanitize a pet?
Sanitize all of the surfaces by using a diluted soapy water mixture or a 10% bleach solution. (1/4 cup of bleach to 2 1/4 cups water); rinse these surfaces well. residual bleach vapors can be toxic to anyone especially a small pet in an enclosed space.
How to treat a reluctant patient?
Some tips for administering treatment of a reluctant patient include: mixing the meds with it’s favorite food or using a syringe to slowly feed any liquid medicines that it won’t drink on it’s own. Be careful when performing this treatment method though, so as to not induce choking on the liquids.
Can a Syrian hamster and a dwarf hamster be housed together?
This should only apply to dwarf breeds because the larger Syrian breeds shouldn’t be housed together in the same hamster cage. The last thing you want is to spread any illnesses to the other healthy ones or have an injuried hamster get stressed out with too much activity going on in its cage.
Can you medicate a hamster?
You can easily give an overdose that poisons and kills these little guys. If you get medications from your vet though, it might not be easy to get your ill hamster to take its medicine.
What to do if your hamster has a wet tail?
If your hamster has a wet tail, he will have a wet bottom and will be slower and crankier. Act immediately because this can be deadly. Wet tails come from dirty cages, so you should keep his cage very clean. To treat this issue, get a broad spectrum antibiotic immediately from your vet.
Why does my hamster have milky eyes?
Teeth problems can make your hamster feel unwell. A clear or milky discharge from the eyes can be a sign of overgrown teeth roots. Check to see if your hamster is eating properly. If he isn't, then a vet check is advisable to make sure there isn't a problem with overgrown teeth.
What happens if a hamster sneezes?
Respond to respiratory problems. If the hamster has a discharge from his eyes or nose, if he sneezes, or if he is hunched up and breathing using his stomach muscles, then he may have respiratory disease. There are certain things you can do to help with this. Make sure his bedding is clean at all times.
How to keep hamsters cool when they are sick?
Sick hamsters often lose body heat and feel cool to the touch. You can try standing the cage on a hot water bottle so that he gets under floor heating. Also try wrapping a small hot water bottle in a towel and rest the hamster on it. Be careful to do this in an escape proof box so the hamster doesn't run off.
How to tell if hamster has dental problems?
Another sign of dental problems is a wet chin or neck. This happens when spurs of teeth dig into the cheek or tongue, making it painful to swallow. Prevention is easier than a cure. This means you should give your hamster suitable items to chew on in order to keep his teeth short.
How to get rid of a hamster cage smell?
Use a spoon or a scoop to spot clean any wet bedding, and make sure the cage smells clean . If you can smell urine or ammonia, then the effect is a thousand times worse for the hamster. Spot clean every day, but try to do this in such a way that it does not disturb your hamster too much and add to his stress.
What temperature should a hamster be?
Limit extremes of temperature. The ideal room temperature for a hamster is between 68 to 72 degrees. If it is very hot, the hamster can suffer from heat stress, so make sure there is a fan blowing near the cage in order to circulate air and cool him off.
How to feed a hamster that won't eat?
Try a 1cc syringe to give baby food and liquids if your hamster won’t eat out of your hand. Place the syringe in the corner of the mouth behind the front teeth. Then depress the plunger. Your hamster may even grab the syringe and feed itself.
How to sanitize hamster cage?
Use diluted, soapy water or a bleach solution of ¼ cup bleach to 2¼ cups water to sanitize the entire habitat. Clean all of the surfaces in the cage and make sure to rinse them thoroughly, especially if you’re using a bleach solution. Bleach vapors can be toxic to a hamster in an enclosed space. Warm your hamster.
How to get hamsters to eat?
Replace your hamster’s food and water. If you haven’t done so already, wash your hamster’s food and water dishes in hot and diluted, soapy water. Dry them thoroughly and then add fresh new food and water. This can minimize the risk of your hamster becoming more sick and may stimulate its desire to eat.
How to keep hamsters from dying?
Using an isolation habitat can keep your hamster comfortable, prevent stress from other animals and activity, and minimize the risk of disease transmission to cage mates.
What to do if your hamster doesn't respond to your attempts to make it comfortable?
If your hamster doesn’t respond to any of your attempts to make it comfortable and keep it fed and hydrated, take it to your vet. Getting the appropriate treatment in a timely manner could be key to helping your hamster recover. Remember that food and water are vital to hamsters, in part because they are so small.
How to help a dying hamster?
1. Watch for mild signs of illness. Hamsters that are ill or dying will usually exhibit one or many mild physical signs. Paying attention to your hamster (s) on a daily basis can help you identify potential problems, give it comfort, and seek veterinary help if they symptoms don’t go away within a couple of days.
How to stop hamster from eating too much?
If your hamster seems very hungry, let it eat for a few minutes. Then take a break and try feeding or giving it more food. Letting your hamster eat without a break can make its illness worse and may also make it feel worse.
What does it mean when a hamster sneezes?
Cold Virus: If you hamster is sneezing, wheezing or has a runny nose, your hamster likely has a cold. Try a heat treatment (discussed in Treat a Sick Hamster .) and strongly consider a trip to the vet. Mites Infestation: If the coat of your hamster is disheveled, patchy or falling out, your hamster might have mites.
What to do if your hamster has a wet bottom?
Diarrhea: If your hamster has a wet bottom and its stools are runny, it likely has diarrhea. Unlike in humans, this is a very serious condition for hamsters. Get them to the vet immediately for treatment and make sure the sick hamster drinks enough water.
How long do hamsters live?
Hamsters have a lifespan of two to three years but some have been known to live up to four years or longer due to exceptional hamster care and a bit of luck. During a hamster’s life, like all living things, it can become ill, sick or injured from various ailments or accidents. With proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a sick hamster, you can hope for your little pet to be fortunate enough to live a long (in hamster years) and happy life.
Why is my hamster's skin red?
Fungal Infections: With similar symptoms to mites, a fungal infection will make the skin itchy, red and scaly. Again a trip to the vet will be necessary. In regards to pet fungus infections, always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your infected hamsters or anything in their hamster habitat.
How to tell if a hamster is sick?
In order to determine is your hamster is sick with an illness, you must first observe its behavior . If the hamster’s behavior is off from what it normally is, that a sure sign something might be wrong with your little pet. Check how it acts and interacts with you or other hamsters. Another thing to observe is to check its body for physical signs ...
How to treat hamsters?
The best treatment of hamster illnesses is to prevent them from ever happening. If you can provide a healthy diet, plenty of fresh water, and a good exercise regimen, your hamsters will in turn be healthier and less likely to succumb to an illness. It’s also important to keep a clean and comfortable living space for them.
Why do hamsters have wet tails?
It often occurs in young and baby hamsters and requires immediate treatment. A weakened immune system from stress caused by a separation from their mothers or poor food quality are the cause of this.
How long do hamsters live?
Unfortunately, hamsters are not immortal and also just have an average lifespan of between 2-3 years. If your hamster is experiencing old age or a known disease, after that there are points that you can do to take care of it.
Can hamsters tell when they are under the weather?
Unlike people, sick hamsters can not tell us when they feel under the weather. Rather, it is up to you, as a pet owner, to look out for indicators that all might not be well.
Can hamsters die from heatstroke?
It’s common for sick hamsters to become chilled, so you want to keep them warm (but not hot, which can lead to death by heatstroke). Give them some extra bedding to make a nest and curl up… this can help fight the yucky cold feeling of their illness.
Do hamsters exercise when sick?
Even though they may love it, try removing their exercise wheel until they’re feeling better. Some hamsters continue to exercise when sick, and we don’t want that. Injury or dehydration are possible outcomes.
