Happy Hamsters

Whilst hamsters are quite resilient critters, they can, as with all things become ill. What is worrying, is that they are quite good at hiding the signs of hamster illness too, so you will need to learn your pet’s mannerisms and habits well to spot the signs. Here is a brief guide to some of the more common issues.

Abscesses are an issue for many hamsters, and tend to occur if they have been a little too excited and cut their skin. However, they often occur in the mouth, from food injury. Watch for your hamster holding on to its food in the cheek pouches for an extended amount of time.

The problem can be easily and quickly fixed by your vet, who simply drains the abscess providing immediate relief.

As with any mammal, diarrhea can be a problem if left untreated. Usually as a result of too many fresh vegetables, switching them to a diet of dry food and giving them access to plenty of water will usually resolve the issue within a couple of days.

However, diarrhea can be a symptom of wet tail; which can be extremely dangerous to your hamster’s health. Before jumping to conclusions however, check for signs of lethargy, a loss of appetite, a ruffled coat and a humped back.

Caused by stressed most often; due to cage crowding or a sudden dietary change, wet tail can be treated well if spotted early enough. If you suspect this hamster illness, be sure to visit your vet at the earliest opportunity.

There are other signs that your hamster may be ill; so things to look out for each day are discharge from the eyes and/or nose, sneezing, and huddling in a corner.

Looking after a hamster is quite easy, and hamster illness is really quite rare; just be a responsible owner however, and all should be fine.