How do dwarf hamsters die

Ensuring a healthy mix of pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables is an ideal approach, but many times we might be tempted to show our affection by giving these little guys tasty treats quite often. While this is not necessarily a cause for sudden death , it can become one in case of contamination. Furthermore, replacing and removing uneaten food is a critical part of taking care of your hamster.

The bedding you are using for your hamster is another element that can definitely impact his or her health. According to some reports, cedar can be harmful to animals, and hamsters might look like strong and determined creatures, especially given their active personalities, but they can be rather sensitive to their environment. On the same note, any type of bedding that contains a high level of phenol should not be used for small pets, in general.

Moreover, hamsters like a fresh space, which means that you need to clean the cage at least once every few days. Otherwise, mold and toxic ammonia can build up within the substrate, and you can only imagine what this leads to. On the other hand, even though you regularly clean the cage and, from time to time, you do this in a more thorough way, using warm water and soap, you should never use harsh chemicals.

Ideally, even when you use these products, you should rinse the cage and other items with clean water, so that no residue or scent is left on them.

Other aspects need to be considered as well, such as the location of the cage. Is it in direct sunlight or next to a boiler or stove? If so, then your hamster might be too warm or fumes might reach him or her. Heart diseases, such as cardiomyopathy, are quite common in hamsters. One of the reasons behind these issues might be the fact that they tend to be inbred. I don't trust 'cleaners' much I've had more problems with cleaners than I have when I haven't used them.

Then again, I could be the exception and not the rule. As for the cause of death, we can only speculate, unless you had an autopsy performed, and I sincerely doubt you want to do that, nor do I believe it's possible at this point. Still, some things it could be: Heart failure could have done it, though that's hard to prevent in a lil hammie.

Not even my syrian could go through that much in so little time. But then maybe mine just don't drink a lot? The wet bedding makes me think that it wasn't going to the hamster but instead soaking the litter. This could have brought the hamster's body temp down, and might have been at least a contributing factor to his death I am very sorry for your loss I've lost far too many in my long years of owning hamsters, almost all of them to old age.

And even those 2, maybe 3 years with them I do wish you far more luck if you do decide to get another hamster. Clean whatever cage you use thoroughly. Buy from a different pet store it could be that they just have bad breeders supplying their stock, or they could not be taking good care of their hamsters before you get them.

Keep close watch on the cleaners you use in the room he's in. Air fresheners, sprays, incense, etc. While I doubt this is the actual cause of death, again - its just something to watch out for. Some hamsters can be very sensitive to them. Others don't mind them much at all. Just like humans, it can vary from hamster to hamster.

Most take on the attitude of 'better safe than sorry', which tends to be a good attitude in general when dealing with hammies. RIP lil fluffer. May you run till your heart's content in that great big wheel in the sky. Don't bet on that though, I'm not sure if it's fatal or not. You'll have to ask someone with a Dwarf I've only had Syrians.

He may have had a stroke or something. I'm so sorry that happened though : You have my sympathy. Like This Unlike Spacemonkey 27 Oct PoptartShop is right, it sounds like a neurological problem with the falling over backwards issue. But how much should you give to your hamster? Does it need any special treatments?

This is what I asked myself when I first got my hamster — how much water will he need? Does he need a big bottle? Is a bowl okay? This article will answer all of those questions, and more. Table of Contents So how much water does a hamster need? This is the same whether we are talking about syrian hamsters or the small types. This does change according to how much your hamster is running around.

A more active hamster will need the full 10 ml per day. But a sedentary hamster or one who is very old and does not run as much will end up drinking less. What you feed your hamster will make him drink more or less water. If you feed your hammy exclusively dry food pellets, grains, seeds he will drink more water. But if you give him mostly vegetables then he will draw a lot of water from them, and not use the water bottle much.

For more info on what to feed your hamster, and what foods he draws water from, check out my food list article. I also cover the wide range of treats a hamster can safely eat.

How to give your hamster water The best way to bring water to your hamster is with a water bottle 1 or tube. This is what I have for my hamster, and he grew up drinking out of a water feeder. You can see in the photo above the kind of water bottle he has. But your hamster can easily drink like that, since all he has to do is push the ball with his tongue when drinking.

For example Teddy drank both room temp water, and cold tap water. He was fine with both, and there was no immediate difference. You can try bottled water, or tap water. Hamsters are fine with both. But most of his drinking is at night. I often put him in an exercise ball and let him roam the house. After about half an hour I put him back in his cage, and he goes straight for the water tube.

You can read my article on how to properly exercise your hamster in his exercise ball, and how long to leave him in one. So like humans, hamsters will drink a lot of water immediately after a workout. Aside from this, they will drink water after eating very dry food, and small sips of water when their body needs it. Rest assured that your hamster probably is drinking water. It depends a lot on your disposition, the quality of the water you give, and how clean the water bottle is.

This depends a lot on the quality of the water. Where I live the tap water is fresh and clean, safe for any human or animal. I know that there are places where this is not the case. So the water I put Sunday evening when I clean his cage, is still good next Sunday. If you know your water is not very fresh, I suggest changing it more often. Or switching to bottled water and leaving that for more days if you wish.

There really is no clear answer, your hamster is capable of drinking condensation on water pipes so taste is not a matter to him. But do keep the water as fresh and clean as possible, to avoid any problems for your hamster. If your hamster is very very active and drinks his water very fast, then obviously you will need to provide more water, or change it more often. A sedentary hamster can live with less water and not really need much.

So I unscrew the tube part from the bottle, throw out the remaining water, and get a clean paper towel. Rinse out the bottle just to be safe, then wrap the paper towel on the end of a spoon or fork. This way I can reach inside the whole bottle and wipe it all down. If your water bottle is not very long and you can get your fingers in, then do that and a paper towel.

Then, rinse once more and put enough water in the bottle. Do not clean the water bottle with any kind of soap or disinfectant. Those require much rinsing and even then it might not be safe for your hamster to drink. If the water bottle is damaged or really needs a thorough cleaning, consider getting a new one.

I looked around for a good water bottle, and looked at the reviews as well. You can find a good water bottle for your hammy on Amazon, and it can hold about 11 ounces of water for your hamster. Also make sure to clean the water tube itself with a Q-tip on the inside. Be careful to not leave cotton fibers on the tube, so your hamster will not catch its teeth in it. If you like this article, you can pin it to your Pinterest board by clicking the image below. The articles continues after the image.

The water bottle usually works, but here is how to check it. The small ball at the end of the tube must move freely, even at the smallest touch.

There should be no resistance when you try to push it with your finger. So keep the water bottle in the cage, and reach for it. Gently push with one finger to see if the ball gives way. If it gives way you will also see a bit of water come out. You might have to take the water bottle out and put it back in a better angle.

Some cages have a small hole on the side, to put the tube through. If it does, then you can be sure that the position the bottle will stay in is correct.

If none of this works, and the ball does not move when you push with your finger, take the water bottle out. Get a clean Q-tip and fiddle around the tube itself until you see what the problem is. Or, unscrew the water tube part and rub it inside with the Q-tip. What to do when your hamster does not drink water Your hamster not drinking water is a serious thing, and it must be checked. He will not be hurt by this, since he has part of his pouch there, and it is used to expanding to great sizes.

Hold your hamster in your hand, and gently tug at his scruff. When your let go, the skin should snap back easily. This means your hamster is not dehydrated and is drinking water. But if the skin on his scruff does not snap back easily, and instead slowly goes back to its initial shape, your hamster is very dehydrated. Especially if you still see a bit of raised skin where you tugged. If your hamster is indeed dehydrated, do the following: Check that the metal ball on the water bottle is fine, and lets water drip.

You might see air bubbles come out when you check, this is a good sign. If after a couple of days of changing his diet and checking his water, your hamster is still dehydrated bring him to the vet. He could be having a more severe problem. Remember, a very active hamster will drink more water and more often, so make sure you provide lots of water for him! Hamsters Living With Rabbits? Can hamsters live with rabbits? Would they get along? Sounds like a reasonable, if a bit misguided, question from an owner who would like to introduce his two pets.

While rabbits are fairly even tempered and seem kind of relaxed, hamsters are another story. For a more detailed comparison between hamsters or rabbits, you should read this article here. Table of Contents So should hamsters be living with rabbits? No, hamsters and rabbits should not and can not live together. There are a few reasons for this. First, the hamster is very territorial, will fight anything that tries to trespass, and is very jumpy and easy to frighten.

Second, a rabbit is a very social animal, who will want to cuddle and also establish a hierarchy of sorts. Bunnies have a lot of personality, and they also have the advantage of being ridiculously larger than hamsters. The bunny will demand cuddles, grooming, run around, and generally own the place. This leaves the hamster in a subordinate position, which he does not take well to, and will bite, hide, and be stressed out of his mind.

In some extreme cases the hamster may end up dead, since a kick or bite from the a bunny can be fatal for it. Even the hamster breeds that can live together in pairs — more on that here — can end up fighting to the death.

Hamsters like having their own space, their own food, and keeping away from other animals. A hamster will mark things as his own with his scent glands. He will try to be the dominant one in any setting, and hamsters housed together can end up bullying one another. You might argue that your two Dwarf hammies get along just great. They might, but because they were introduced as babies, and grew up together. They grew up of the same size, species, and scent profile.

They have the same type of reactions, and will know how to read one another properly. A hamster will be jumpy and scared most of his youth, while he learns the new sights, smells, and sounds in your home. A scared hamster is unpredictable, and is very likely to nip. And this article here, to understand the difference between the two main types of hamsters, and thus the general disposition of hamsters. A quick word for those who assume rabbits are rodents — like I did until I got my own hamster and learned the differences: Rabbis are not related to hamsters, they are not rodents.

Yes they bite and chew and burrow, but rabbits are lagomorphs. That being said, rabbits are very social animals, and in the wild they live in colonies. They love being groomed, and they actually have a hierarchy. The top rabbit is the one getting all the attention, food, grooming and so on. Rabbits will actually come up to each other and ask for or demand attention, cuddling, and general social chit chat.

A rabbit will need much more than that. It needs both a living space, and an exercise space. The exercise space should be a minimum of 2. Rabbits can sometimes jump very high, and like to jump on top of things. Finally, for rabbits the living and exercise areas should be linked together, for easy access. If you want to know more about picking out a good rabbit habitat, you need to check out this site.

Alright, you might say that hamsters love a big cage anyway, and would do well in a habitat as large as the rabbit needs. A hamster will sleep the day away, much like the rabbit, and will make regular rounds of his space. A rabbit will do the same, and they are both very territorial. All of it. So finding bunny scent on the outside of their hideout will be a source of stress and lots of fighting.

Not only because of tensions coming up between the two. A hamster will have an omnivore diet. That means they can eat any type of food, with some exceptions — more on that here. However they will need grains and hard dry food to keep their teeth in check. A rabbit on the other hand will need a different diet. First off, hay, lot and lots of hay since they much on it pretty much all day. This can be a problem, since the hamster will try to use this as his nesting material.

Another thing rabbits need is fresh veggies and some fruits, which again can be attractive for the hamster. Finally, pellets are considered to be the best kind of feed for rabbits. A pellet is like a large kibble, with all the nutrients the rabbit needs, and all pellets in the bag are the same. A word from Teddy I hope you found out what you were looking for here. Best to keep us separate. If you want to know more about us hamsters, then your should check out the related articles below.

You can find a hamster breeder at hamster online communities, hamster shows and expos, and from online directories of hamster clubs. You may be already familiar with some of them or learn new places where you can buy a hamster. Continue reading to find out the best places to buy a hamster. Table of Contents What are the best places to buy a hamster? Pet stores3. Hamster Communities Online4. Hamster Shows5. Hamsters For Adoption6. Pet ExposHow to find a good hamster breeder?

Questions to ask a hamster breeder What are the best places to buy a hamster? But hamsters are adorable creatures that are loved by the young and old alike. They are affordable, relatively easy to care and of course, cute! But the problem many people encounter here is finding hamster breeders near. However, finding local hamster breeders is a lot easier than many people realize. This is because local hamster breeders are usually part of regional and local groups.

Now, the good news is that these groups usually have a website and can easily be found with a quick Google search. These hamster fan clubs usually have an online directory of hamster breeders in their states. You can go through this directory to find the closest breeder to you. The California Hamster Organization is an example of a hamster fan club and it is based in Southern California. There are also online communities like Hamster Hideout where you can connect with hamster lovers and breeders in your area.

And the organization has three regional clubs that have lists of breeder members. The regional clubs have also been known to organize hamster shows. Hamster Shows Hamster shows are events where hamster breeders bring out their hamsters for exhibit and sale. These shows are usually run by hamsters enthusiasts who are very passionate about these adorable little furry creatures and want to promote them as pets while also campaigning for the welfare of hamsters.

Finding a hamster show is easy in the UK as local NHC run hamster shows from time to time following a well-established schedule. Hamsters For Adoption Hamsters are usually put up for adoption at small animal rescue organizations and traditional animal shelters. These hamsters are homeless and you could be the one to give a hamster a home forever. Pet Expos Pet expos give you an avenue to meet hamster lovers and breeders. You get to chat way about these adorable creatures as well as buy a hamster and their supplies.

Most major cities usually have pet expos at least once a year. If you live in a rural area, you should check out county fairs as well as 4-H shows as they are great places to find hamsters. How to find a good hamster breeder?

As discussed above, you can find hamster breeders from online communities, hamster shows, and expos. But you see. The fact that anyone can style themselves as hamster breeders makes things a bit complicated when you want to get hamsters from a breeder. This necessitates the need to differentiate good breeders from the wannabe breeders. One of the ways by which you can spot One of the best ways to know sensible breeders from mediocre ones is to ask questions, lots of questions. My advice to anyone considering getting a new pet is to do some research and learn about the pet.

You can get reliable information about hamsters from Hamsterlopaedia by Chris and Pete Logsdail. Good breeders keep detailed records of their breeding stock. This makes every individual hamster easily identifiable. The records kept should contain the following information about individual hamsters: Birthdate Sex Color Show wins Medical records Mating and breeding log. The breeding log should record all their matings and details such as the number of offspring and any postnatal deaths while the medical records should detail past illnesses of the hamsters if any and the treatments.

Questions to ask a hamster breeder 1 Why do you breed? Now, I think good hamster breeders usually have a vision in mind which ultimately relates to improving hamsters by establishing healthy lines that have good temperament.

These hamsters should be able to meet the NHC show standards which are all about promoting good health and aesthetics. Responsible hamster breeders should not allow their hamsters to end up at shelter homes. The diet given to hamsters mums-to-be is very important and should be especially rich in protein.

Babies and mother hamsters are not supposed to be disturbed for the first two weeks. You should get some information about the care given to hamsters if the breeders keep detailed records.

Also, you should ask about the age at which the baby hamsters are available for rehoming. Baby hamsters are not supposed to be handled until they are 14 days old as this is when their eyes open.

After that, the baby hamsters need to be handled regularly. The reason for this is to keep them tame and nice. A good breeder will provide you with all this information and more. Your hamster is only going to trust you if you feed it properly, so this is a must. What Can Dwarf Hamsters Eat?

You should feed your hamster daily, they require fresh food every day. You also need to remove any uneaten food as it will rot quickly. You should feed your hamster with hard treats twice a week. Hard treats help your dwarf hamster keep his incisors filed down, which is good for his overall dental hygiene. This is similar to dog treats that are used for dog hygiene. You can actually use this, as well — you can let your hamster chew on small dog biscuits, commercial hamster treats, or a small branch taken from a fruit-bearing tree.

You can also feed your hamster with soft treats, once or twice a week. Soft treats include protein sources such as cooked meats; low-fat, no-salt cottage cheese, or a hard-boiled egg. You can also include wheat bread and scrambled eggs for your hamster. Something people often overlook is to keep your hamster hydrated, as well as fed. Buy a hamster-sized water bottle with a stem and ball bearing from your local pet store.

The ball regulates how much water comes out each time the hamster takes a drink. Dwarf hamsters have a really strong and high metabolism, so they need food throughout the day, flawlessly. There is some debate about whether you should feed them in the evening or in the morning, though. It may be best to do both, that way, your hamster will have food all day, every day.

Fruits: apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, seedless grapes, lychee, mangos, melons, peaches, plums, raspberries, raspberry leaves, and strawberries.

Vegetables: carrots, celery, broccoli, dandelion leaves, cauliflower, clover, kale, bean sprouts, asparagus, chickweed, chicory, cucumber, corn, spinach, watercress, radicchio, romaine lettuce, turnip, peas, green beans, chestnuts, squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini. Nuts, seeds, and grains: pumpkin seeds, peanuts, millet, flaxseed, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, oats, barley, walnuts, lentils, soybeans.

Other foods hamsters can eat grasshoppers pet food , mealworms pet food , boiled eggs, plain grasshoppers, plain tofu, whole grain bread, codfish with bones removed , low-fat cottage cheese, brown pasta, unsalted peanut butter. The best thing to feed your dwarf hamster with is a hamster food mix. It has natural veggies and fruits to add some variety and improve the nutrient content of the mix.

It has a great choice of seeds, mealworms, and other healthy treats. This food mix is great for all hamsters, and your pet is definitely going to love it.

This mix is full of all the nutrients your dwarf hamster needs to keep a healthy body. Take a look at some of the best and tastiest treats for your furry friend.

Tiny Friends Farm Lovelies This is a well-known brand for hamster treats, and you can be sure that all hamsters are going to love these treats. These treats are safe for both Syrian and dwarf hamsters, and your hamster is surely going to find them satiable. It includes honey in the food, so hamsters naturally love it. Nuts Your hamster will definitely enjoy all sorts of nuts. Natural sources of fiber, such as timothy hay and alfalfa hay, are good sources of fiber.

Another thing that you should know is that Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters absolutely love insects, and you should feed them not all insects if you can. There are insects that are definitely worth considering: mealworms, wax worms, crickets, and grasshoppers. The general rule is that a single tablespoon of the mix is enough, and mix that with a couple of treats. You should also try to keep it interesting for your pet.

Provide your hamster with different types of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds on a daily basis. This way, all uneaten food will stay in the bowl and be ready to get eaten later. They provide a designated area for feeding and they keep all the leftover food clean. Hamsters also have the habit of filling their cheek pouches with secret stashes of food to build secret food stores near their bed.

This is a natural instinct to keep food hidden away from other animals who may try to steal it. If you have more than a single hamster in the same cage, you may even find hamsters hiding food from one another. Buy a ceramic food bowl, as hamsters are likely to topple a plastic food bowl and the mix will end up all over the place. You should definitely observe your hamster eating — this is a great way to find out what they like and what they dislike.

Hamsters, just like humans, have different taste. For example, they can get sick from eating too much watermelon. Hamsters need a single tablespoon of the mixture a day and adding to that the occasional treat and fresh food — that should be more than enough. Overfeeding your hamster is bad. Dwarf hamsters have very fast and high metabolisms, and they can eat just as much food as larger hamsters can.

Hamsters, as a species, can have problems with certain foods. Almonds contain cyanic acid, which can make your dwarf hamster very sick. Seeds can also be harmful, and most often are, so make sure to remove all seeds from the food before you serve it.

Also, you should always remove uneaten food. Something that you should keep in mind is that dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. The main cause of diabetes is poor feeding habits and high-sugar treats that are provided by the owner. This means that the responsibility of keeping your hamster diabetes-free befalls exclusively on your shoulders.

You can recognize the most common symptoms of diabetes as your hamster will start to urinate more frequently and it will become quite lethargic. Consult with a veterinarian if you notice this. A poor diet can also cause diarrhea. You will recognize this by a loose stool, and you should, once again, consult a vet. There are also other symptoms to a sick hamster, and take note that all sicknesses can be caused by an unhealthy diet.