The average hamster lifespan is two to three years, but with exceptional hamster treatment and a little luck, some can live more than four years or longer. Like all living creatures, hamsters can experience illnesses, injuries, and accidents.
Any time a pet becomes ill, it is sad. Since hamsters are so small and have a way of charming themselves to their owners, it is concerning when they experience illness.
You can hope your little pet will live a long and happy life with the right prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of an ill hamster. So what are the ways to treat your sick hamster at home?
Continue reading to find the answers to your quest.
How Can I Treat My Sick Hamster at Home?
1. Search for symptoms of illness in your hamster.
Keep an eye on the hamster if you notice any unusual behavior. This might be the first sign that he is getting sick.
What Does a Sick Hamster Look Like?
- He has a runny nose, teary eyes, or wet bottom
- Loss of appetite
- Droppings look different
- Slower than usual
- He is losing his fur ( except for older hamsters)
- He is irritable
- Dropping food from its mouth or not eating properly
- Sleeping longer than usual ( if he is a young hamster)
- He has a wet chin
2. Separate the Sick Hamster from Other Healthy Ones
Make sure the sick hamster is kept apart from its roommates. It would help if you didn’t keep the bigger Syrian hamsters in the same hamster cage; therefore, this should only apply to small hamsters.
The last thing you would like is for a sick hamster to infect the healthy ones or for a cage full of hamsters to stress out an injured one.
3. Keep the Hamster Warm
In some circumstances, your hamster might feel ill. You can do a few general things to assist in rehabilitating your hamster. Keep an eye on his temperature. Hamsters with illnesses frequently experience a loss of body heat and a cool sensation to the touch.
Consider placing a hot water bottle on top of the cage to provide him with some floor heating. Try placing the hamster on a tiny hot water bottle wrapped in a towel. To prevent the hamster from escaping, take care to perform this action in an escape-proof container.
4. Give Him Enough Water
He will quickly become dehydrated if he isn’t eating or drinking or has a wet tail. If you lightly squeeze his scruff and then release your grip, you will know that he is dehydrated if the scruff continues to stand up at a peak.
So, what can I give hamsters when they are sick? You can give him regular water or invest in a fluid replacement powder for individuals experiencing diarrhea, like Pedialyte or Dioralyte.
5. Clean the Cage of the Hamster
A sick hamster may exhibit respiratory disease symptoms if he sneezes, has discharge from its eye sockets or nose, or is hunched over and breathing with his stomach muscles. You can help with this in a few different ways.
- Ensure that his bedding is always spotless. Urine-contaminated bedding emits ammonia, which is very upsetting to the respiratory system. Make sure the enclosure smells clean and spot-clean any wet bedding with a spoon or scoop. The hamster experiences worse effects if you can smell ammonia or urine.
- Every day, spot clean, but try to do it in a way that doesn’t interrupt your furry friend too much or increase his stress.
- Verify that the temperature in the room is within the ideal range and adjust as necessary.
- If necessary, clean the hamster’s sticky nose with a wet cotton ball.
- This makes it easier for your pet to breathe by maintaining a clear airway.
6. Examine the Hamsters Teeth
Your hamster may feel sick if they have dental issues. An indication of overgrown tooth roots may be a clear or milky discharge from the eyes. Make sure your hamster is getting the right amount to eat.
A vet check is advised if he isn’t to make sure there aren’t any issues with overgrown teeth. The veterinarian can trim them back if there’s a problem. If this is the case, the hamster might gradually starve to death if the vet doesn’t trim its teeth.
Final Thoughts
Keeping a close eye on your hamster will help to spot any behavior change. Checking on him twice a day and getting to know how much he eats or drinks will give you a clue. However, if your pet falls sick, you can follow this guide to help keep him comfortable before visiting the vet.
I hope you have enjoyed learning these 6 ways to treat your sick hamster at home.
