Caring for your hamsters - SMALL PETS 5
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
SMALL PETS 5
Caring for
your hamsters
The charity dedicated to
helping sick, injured and
homeless pets since 1897.
Caring
for you
r hams
Hamste ters
rs are t
most po he best
pular o known
They liv f all the and on
e for ar small ro e of the
ound tw dents k
o or thr ept as p
ee year ets.
s.
2
The most common and largest type Home comforts
of hamster is the Syrian hamster, also
The ideal home for a Syrian hamster is
known as the golden hamster. These are
a large wire cage with a plastic base no
naturally solitary and will fight if you try to
smaller than 60cm x 30cm floor space,
keep them in pairs or groups – breeders
by 30cm tall. Hamsters love climbing
have to be careful to introduce mating
on different levels so a cage even taller
pairs only when the female is in season.
than this is better but be careful not to
If you want a Syrian hamster, only
make it too high in case they fall and hurt
keep one!
themselves. Wood should be avoided
Dwarf hamsters grow to about 8cm as it absorbs urine and quickly becomes
and enjoy company of their own kind smelly and unhygienic.
but it’s best to keep a pair or group of
Dwarf hamsters can squeeze through
females as males tend to fight. Never
small places so are best kept in a tank
mix species.
or aquarium no smaller than 60cm x
Ideally your new hamster should be 30cm floor space, by 30cm tall. The tank
between four and eight weeks old and needs a securely fitted wire lid to allow
bought from a responsible breeder ventilation and stop them escaping.
or good pet shop. Hamsters in pet
Dust-extracted bedding is good for all
shops should have clean, good-sized
types of hamsters. Hamsters can be
accommodation (see Home comforts)
litter-trained, which helps to keep their
and access to food and fresh water.
cage cleaner. Dwarf hamsters need beds
Hamsters become sexually mature as deep enough to allow them to burrow.
young as four weeks, so make sure that You should also provide shredded paper
males and females have been correctly or dry peat as nesting material. Avoid
sexed and separated – the breeder or fluffy bedding that could wrap around
pet shop staff should be able to show a hamster’s limbs and cause stomach
you the difference between the sexes. problems if eaten. Make sure your
If they are not confident, you cannot hamster’s home is away from draughts,
be sure that you have not bought a sunlight and direct heat. Clean out the
pregnant hamster. cage at least once a week.
Blue Cross occasionally has hamsters
available for rehoming.
3
Food for thought The other common problem needing
veterinary help is wet tail, which is
A commercial hamster mix is a good
diarrhoea associated with stress,
basis for your pet’s diet. Hamsters also
especially in newly weaned babies.
like small pieces of fruit and vegetables,
You can minimise the risk by preparing
like a slice of apple or a small sprig
the cage before you bring the hamster
of cauliflower. Hamsters hoard food
home and leaving them undisturbed,
in their beds, so do not give them too
except for feeding, for the first two or
many green vegetables because they
three days. Be careful handling your
will rot. Remove all uneaten food every
hamster when you have a cold as you
day. They also store food in their cheek
can pass this on to them.
pouches (see Health matters).
It’s useful to know that hamsters have
A hamster’s front teeth, like those of
scent glands on opposite sides of their
other rodents, grow continually so they
flanks, which can look like small, dark
need to gnaw to keep them in shape.
patches. These are normal. The testicles
Dog biscuits make both good hamster
of male hamsters enlarge in the spring,
treats and teeth trimmers. Fresh water
so two large swellings at the bottom end
must always be available from a free-
of your hamster are usually nothing to
access drinking bottle fastened to the
worry about. However, if you are at all
cage. Check this daily to see that it has
concerned about your hamster’s health,
not become blocked and also to change
do consult a vet.
the water.
Finally, it is worth remembering that
Health matters hamsters are short sighted, especially
those with pink eyes, so keep a close eye
Storing food in cheek pouches can on yours if let out of the cage.
occasionally lead to problems. If your
hamster seems to have permanently
stuffed cheeks, it could be because
food has become impacted.
Sharp pieces of food may
also occasionally pierce
their pouches. Always
seek veterinary advice
because, if either of
these has caused an
infection, the hamster
may need antibiotics.
4Exercise and
entertainment
Hamsters are most active during
the evening which can be a problem
if they are kept in a child’s bedroom.
They like cardboard tubes to chew and
run through and, if you put up a wooden
ledge, they will enjoy climbing on it.
Many experts now advise against using
hamster wheels with spokes because it
can cause an injury. Solid, wide wheels
are safer. Hamster exercise balls should
not be used as hamsters can quickly Getting to know you
become exhausted with no means of
Hamsters rarely bite if they are used to
escape.
being handled correctly from an early
age. Never put your hand into your
Company hamster’s bed as they may be asleep
One Syrian hamster will be happy, but and will be startled. If your hamster
two or more means serious fighting – is nervous, check they are properly
so keep them alone. Dwarf hamsters awake then hold your hand in the cage
can enjoy company but this isn’t always without trying to touch them, so that your
presence and smell becomes familiar.
the case. Males are likely to fight but
Soon your hamster will get to know you
females tend to get on better. Don’t mix
and become easier to handle.
species and remember, hamsters can
reach sexual maturity at just one
month old.
Don’t forget...
Keep Syrian hamsters alone as adults
Hamsters as children’s pets will fight. Dwarf hamsters can be kept
in female-only pairs or groups
Hamsters are naturally nocturnal so
Hamsters enjoy fresh fruit and
if they are disturbed during the day
vegetables, but like to bury their food.
and become alarmed, they may bite.
Give them tiny portions to minimise the
Children need to be supervised when
amount left to decompose and remove
handling hamsters and, as with all pets,
uneaten food daily
an adult needs to be responsible for
making sure the hamster is properly Clean out the hamster house every
cared for. week to maintain a healthy environment
5Happy, healthy pets
Blue Cross advice leaflets are packed Blue Cross
full of top tips to help owners with their
Blue Cross has been dedicated to the
pet questions. They cover a wide range
health and happiness of pets since 1897.
of topics, from training a puppy to caring
Abandoned or unwanted, ill or injured –
for an older cat. So if you need some
we do what's needed to give every pet
support to help you with a pet problem,
a healthy life in a happy home. We're a
whether it’s about a dog or a degu, we’re
charity, so the more help you give us,
here for you.
the more help we can give pets.
You can read and download our leaflets
online at www.bluecross.org.uk How you can help
Visit our website to take advantage of Blue Cross doesn’t receive any
all its features, including: government funding, so we rely on
the generosity of pet lovers like you.
• blog posts from Blue Cross experts
There are lots of ways you can help
• latest news
the sick, injured and abandoned
• events near you
pets in our care, like making a
• pets needing new homes
donation, fundraising for us or
Or you can join in the chat on our leaving us a legacy.
online communities. Find us on Twitter
Image used on page five of this leaflet © iStockphoto.com Jianfei Su
Please call us on 0300 777 1897
and Facebook – just search for Blue
or visit www.bluecross.org.uk
Cross.
Blue Cross
Shilton Road, Burford, Oxon OX18 4PF
Telephone: 0300 777 1897
Fax: 0300 777 1601
EA7142/0313
Email: info@bluecross.org.uk
www.bluecross.org.uk
Registered charity no: 224392 (England and Wales), SC040154 (Scotland)You can also read
