- Plain scrambled eggs
- Tofu
- Milk-soaked bread
- Yogurt with probiotics in small amounts
- Baby food free of garlic, onion, and lemon juice
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Cooked chicken in small bits
What foods are harmful to a hamster?
Other Foods Not Suitable For Hamsters
- Dairy products
- Biscuits
- Bread
- Chips
- Chocolate (unless specifically made for hamsters)
- Dairy products
- Biscuits
- House and garden plants - not all, but better safe than sorry
- Jam
- Pasta
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?
- Wild Harvest Nutrition Diet and Advanced Nutrition Diet plan for Hamsters and Gerbils
- Supreme Tiny Friends Farm Hazel Hamster Tasty Mix 2lbs
- Sun Seed Vita Prima Dwarf Hamster Food
- Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Small Animal Food For Mice And Rats, 5-Pound
- Kaytee Fiesta Hamster And Gerbil Food, 4.5-Lb Bag
When and how often do you feed a hamster?
You should feed your hamster twice day, once in the morning and then again in the evening. It's very important to take out any uneaten food because this will quickly go mouldy and if your pet eats food that has any mould on it, they could get very ill.
How do you treat a sick hamster?
Keep hamsters away from drafty windows. Caring for a sick hamster often involves feeding the pet a special diet and administering medication as advised by a veterinarian. Specific conditions, such as diarrhea or lethargy, may require additional specific treatments.
What to feed a hamster that isn't eating?
Lack of appetite in hamsters is a symptom of several hamster diseases so if you notice your hamster is not eating or drinking, take note....Some fresh and natural foods hamster can eat include:Bananas.Cucumber.Carrots.Brocolli.Cauliflower.
How do you know if hamster is dying?
When a hamster is dying, its breathing will be more agitated, choppy and its pulse will begin to diminish progressively until exhausted. It is also possible that your hamster may suffer from tremors or a stiff jaw. Signs of a dead hamster include: No apparent breathing or movement.
What can I give my hamster to feel better?
Making sure it has a fresh source of water and providing foods high in water content can keep your hamster hydrated. This may help it feel better. Recognize that the best source of liquid for your hamster is water. You can also give it a weakened solution of unflavored electrolyte.
How long can hamsters go without food?
Most hamsters can survive for around 3-4 days without any food or water. That's because in the wild, hamsters are typically desert animals who will stash away resources for times of famine and drought, which means they likely already have some food hidden in their cage that you're not aware of!
Why is my hamster sick?
Healthy hamsters normally eat well, groom themselves, run and play. They also have full, shiny coats and bright eyes. Hamsters are sturdy little animals, but poor care, an incorrect diet and an unhealthy environment can cause illnesses and even lead to death.
How do you save a dying hamster?
How To Comfort A Dying Hamster?Keep Them At An Optimal Temperature. ... Provide Them With A Clean, Calm and A Quiet Sleeping Quarters. ... Avoid Dehydration. ... Give Them Attention. ... Provide Pain Management Medication. ... Stress. ... Transmitted Diseases. ... Wet Tail.More items...
Why is my hamster acting weak?
Lethargy As previously mentioned, hamsters are active and energetic animals, so if you see a hamster that lacks energy or is being sluggish, have them evaluated by a veterinarian. “Any time a hamster is acting lethargic we start to worry,” says Ochoa. “Hamster's do not show signs of sickness until they are very sick.”
What does it mean if a hamster stays still?
Sometimes hamsters freeze, staying very still If your hamster stops moving, then this could be in order to enhance their senses so that they can figure out what's going on around them.
Can a hamster recover from a cold?
Treatment. There is still no cure for the common cold. Once your vet has confirmed that your furball has a cold, he may prescribe antibiotics, but that will help with the symptoms of the cold, not the cold itself.
Why is my hamster barely moving?
If your hamster is not moving, watch it to see if it's breathing, since it may just be in hibernation. Make sure you watch it for over 2 minutes, as its breathing may slow to as few as 1 breath every 2 minutes when it's hibernating.
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.
Are hamsters eyes open when dead?
They won't even open or close their eyes if you're touching them in general but instead will remain unresponsive. A hamster that is dead also won't respond to any food or water that you try to give them.
What does a hibernating hamster look like?
If you look closely at your hibernating hamster, you will notice that he is taking short, uneven breaths and is limp when you pick him up. His paws, ears and nose will be very cold to the touch. Hamsters do not wake up to drink when they are in hibernation and will become dehydrated.
Feeding Your Hamster: General Guidelines
The easiest and safest approach to feeding your hamster is to go with a complete meal that you can find at a pet or store. “I recommend one of the...
Can Hamsters Eat Carrots?
Carrots are safe for hamsters to eat, however, they should be given in moderation, said Dr. Carol Osborne, owner of Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center...
Can Hamsters Eat Tomatoes?
Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family and un-ripened tomatoes, along with the plant’s stems and leaves, contain tomatine, a solanum alkaloi...
What Other Fruits and Vegetables Can Hamsters Eat?
The following foods are safe for your hamster to eat: 1. Broccoli 2. Cauliflower 3. Kale 4. Cucumbers 5. Celery 6. Bok choy 7. Sweet potatoes (shou...
What Shouldn’T You Feed Your hamster?
While it may seem like you can give a hamster just about anything, there are some foods to steer clear of, including: 1. Apple seeds and skins 2. G...
How do you treat a hamster with a cold?
Just like the common cold in people, there is no 'cure.' The most important thing is to support the hamster's immune system so it can fight the inf...
How do you tell if a hamster is hibernating or dead?
First, think about the room temperature—if it is over 60 degrees F (15 degrees C) then the hamster is unlikely to be hibernating. Then, watch to se...
Can hamsters die from a cold?
Sadly, yes, hamsters can die from a cold. A fit young hamster with a healthy immune system may be able to fight off the infection. However, elderly...
What to feed hamsters?
The following foods are safe for your hamster to eat: 1 Broccoli 2 Cauliflower 3 Kale 4 Cucumbers 5 Celery 6 Bok choy 7 Sweet potatoes (should be removed of their skins before feeding, as molds can flourish in the skins and cause digestive tract upset and other ailments) 8 Apples 9 Cherries 10 Strawberries 11 Raspberries 12 Peaches 13 Mango 14 Cantaloupe
What is the best way to feed a hamster?
The easiest and safest approach to feeding your hamster is to go with a complete meal that you can find at a pet or store.
What Human Foods Can Hamsters Eat?
All human foods should be fed in moderation and are not necessary if you’re feeding your hamster a well-balanced pelleted diet. Foods that are safe for hamsters include:
How much food does Cindy Cribbs give her hamsters?
Cindy Cribbs, owners Haven for Hamsters Rescue and Sanctuary, feeds their hamsters about a tablespoon of food once a day. Giving your hamster any more food than that may lead them to hoard their food. “People may think they are eating all their food when in fact, they just hid it from you,” she said.
How to give hamster treats?
If you want to give your hamster a treat by hand, try petting them with one hand while giving them a treat with the other , according to Osborne. “Feeding your hamster by hand is good way to socialize your pet and to bond,” she said.
Can raisins harm hamsters?
Similarly to grapes, raisins have an unknown toxic effect that has been documented to damage the kidneys of cats, dogs and ferrets. Raisins aren’t known to cause toxicity to hamsters, but it’s best to discuss if giving raisins to your hamster is appropriate with your veterinarian.
Can hamsters eat hard boiled eggs?
The following foods are safe for your hamster to eat: Sweet potatoes (should be removed of their skins before feeding, as molds can flourish in the skins and cause digestive tract upset and other ailments) There are additional foods you could feed a hamster, like a bit of a hard-boiled egg for protein, Osborne said.
How to feed a hamster?
Feed your hamster by hand or syringe. If your hamster doesn’t seem to be eating or drinking from its dishes, you can feed it by hand or by syringe. This may be easier for your hamster than moving to its dish. It can also provide vital nutrients and liquids.
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 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 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 hamster recover from illness?
Increase your hamster’s protein intake. Protein can help your hamster build strength. Adding some tasty, protein-rich foods to your hamster’s diet may help it fight illness and recover. Remember to wash the dish as necessary with certain high-protein foods such as eggs or milk.
How to make a hamster nest?
Put plenty of plain, unscented toilet paper in the habitat. Tear the toilet paper into strips, which your hamster will use to make a nest that in which it can curl up and get warm. Use a heating pad or heat lamp to warm the habitat to 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit (21-29 degrees Celsius).
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 clean hamsters?
Begin by putting on some gloves (or washing your hands thoroughly afterward) and removing all the waste.
How long does it take for a hamster to die from a wet tail?
They are like 10-15 dollars at a pet store (petsmart or petco). You will want to act fast though, wet tail can kill a hamster within 48 hours of the first symptoms.
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 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.
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.
Do you need a vet for a hamster?
It’s important to find a veterinarian early on before you ever need to treat a sick hamster. Not all vets have the expertise to cure hamster illnesses and injuries. Therefore, it’s important you look around to find one that can. It might sound crazy to need a veterinarian for a pet hamster but it’s the right thing to do if you have a sick ...
How to nurse a sick hamster back to health?
There are some general things you can do to help nurse your hamster back to health. Make sure to keep him warm. 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 get fluid out of hamster's mouth?
Hang a drop of the fluid on the end of the syringe and hold it to the hamster's lips. Hopefully he will lick it off. If he doesn't, then wet the fur around his mouth so that he grooms himself and takes in the fluid. Be extremely cautious about syringing fluid into his mouth.
What do hamster droppings look like?
Do his droppings look different? Hamster droppings should be rod-shaped. Watery droppings indicate too much fresh fruits and vegetables. Hard, dry droppings indicate not enough.
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 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.
Why is my hamster constipated?
Constipation is caused by lack of water in his diet. Make sure fresh water is available for him at all times. If your hamster does become constipated, give him some carrots or other fresh fruits or vegetables as well as more water.
How to help a hamster that is sick?
Talk to the pet's veterinarian for advice. She will be able to recommend a course of therapy and tell you how best to deliver the hamster's medicine, whether orally, in food or water, or by injection.
How to get hamster to eat meds?
Dissolve the medicine into food, alternately. Place the proper amount of drops onto a piece of your hamster's food and then offer the food to the animal. You might place it directly into the cage, or you can tempt the hamster with the treat from your hand.
How to give hamsters medicine?
Oral medication is usually given to hamsters in liquid form, with a small syringe or dropper. Make sure that you have a dropper as well as the bottle prescribed by your veterinarian. First, read the directions on the bottle of medicine. Look closely for the proper dosage.
How to get hamster to stop squirming?
In that case, first, try to insert the mouth of the dropper into the side of the animal's mouth where it has no teeth. Squeeze the medicine out and it will be swallowed.
How to restrain a hamster from licking a medicine?
Administer medicine. Take the dropper with your free hand, while continuing to restrain the hamster. Hold the dropper to the animal's mouth and, if it licks the tool, gently push the medicine out. The hamster might not be cooperative.
How to get rid of a hamster's poop?
If the veterinarian has suggested it, you might be dissolving meds into your hamster's water supply. Take the animal's water bottle from the cage and open it. Fill the bottle with water and add the medicine from the dropper.
How to treat hamsters?
Pick a place where you can safely administer medicine to your ailing hamster. Your hamster might be most comfortable on the floor. Avoid using tabletops or counters, because the animal could fall and be seriously injured. Also make sure that there are no nearby glasses, knives, or other sharp objects.
What to feed hamsters?
(Baby food can be fed through a medicine or eye dropper.) But be cautious. Don’t let your hamster continue to eat without a break… this can make them worse.
What to do if your hamster is not improving?
After a few days, if you’re not seeing your hamster improve or their condition is getting worse, head to your veterinarian. They’re going to be able to help you understand what’s going on and treat the exact cause. And probably give you a lot of peace of mind.
How do you know if your hamster is sick?
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. So what do you do? Try moving their food dish closer to where they sleep so they can reach it… sounds pretty simple, but it may help.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
Why do hamsters have lip scabs?
Lip Scabs: lip scabs on a hamster’s mouth are another form of fungi or bacteria infections. Hamsters with a weakened immune system through poor hamster care and a substandard living arrangement are more susceptible to this condition. Often it’s a vitamin deficiency in their diet.
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.