Hamster

Torpor (pseudo-hibernation)

SignsCold, motionless body in winter, very shallow breathing, limp when touched. Looks dead

PreventionKeep room temperature at 20°C or above at all times. Leave the heater on overnight and while away; check with a thermometer

Wet tail

SignsRear end wet and soiled with diarrhea, foul odor, sudden loss of appetite. Worsens rapidly in young animals

PreventionReduce stress right after bringing it home and keep things quiet. Keep the cage clean and minimize environmental changes

Tumors

SignsLump under the skin, in the mammary glands or abdomen that grows day by day. Common after 18 months of age

PreventionHard to prevent. Feel the whole body weekly for early detection and consult a vet while the lump is small

Cheek pouch prolapse / impaction

SignsRed sac-like tissue protruding from the mouth, cheek stays swollen and does not go down, drooling

PreventionDo not give sticky or sharp foods or cotton nesting material. Do not leave the pouches stuffed for long

Skin disease (mites, ringworm)

SignsIntense itching, dandruff, hair loss, scabs. Often starts at the ears or back

PreventionChange bedding at least weekly and avoid damp. Watch closely, as mites arrive with new animals or bedding

Malocclusion (overgrown teeth)

SignsIncisors too long to close the mouth, leaves hard food, drooling, weight loss

PreventionAlways provide chew sticks and firm pellets to wear the teeth down. Block the bars to stop wire chewing

Fracture from a fall

PreventionHandle while sitting on the floor. Avoid high platforms and bar climbing in the cage; keep heights under 20 cm

First aidIf it drags a leg or a limb is at an odd angle, do not splint. Place it in a small box, keep it still, and see a vet the same day

Foot caught in the wheel

PreventionAvoid rung-style or slatted wheels; choose a solid-surface wheel sized to the body length

First aidDo not pull it free. Take the wheel apart with the hamster still in it. Press bleeding with clean gauze; see a vet for swelling or limping

Bite wounds from a cage mate

PreventionAlways house Syrians alone. Separate Djungarians once grown. Separate immediately at the first fight

First aidSeparate into different cages at once. Press wounds with clean gauze; see a vet if pus, swelling, or loss of appetite develops

Tooth damage on cage bars

PreventionIf it chews the bars, switch to a tank or acrylic cage. Provide several chew sticks and block gaps

First aidIf an incisor breaks, switch hard food to softened pellets and see a vet the same day. Press bleeding lightly with gauze

Salmonellosis

RouteOral infection from hands that touched droppings or urine

PreventionAlways wash hands with soap after care. Clean the cage somewhere other than the kitchen

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with an infected animal, bedding, or fur

PreventionDo not handle an animal with hair loss or dandruff bare-handed; see a vet. Wash hands after touching

LCM (lymphocytic choriomeningitis)

RouteContact with urine, saliva, or droppings, or inhaling dried dust

PreventionPregnant and immunocompromised people should have someone else do the care. Ventilate while cleaning

Allergy (fur, urine)

RouteInhaling fur, dander, urine, or bedding dust

PreventionWear a mask when cleaning. See a doctor if coughing, itching, or rhinitis persists

Food

• Main diet is hamster pellets, fed once a day in the evening
• Amount is 5–10% of body weight; about 1 teaspoon for a Djungarian
• Side foods such as komatsuna or carrot in fingernail-sized amounts

Water

• Use a water bottle and change daily. Check the spout for clogs every day
• Bowls cause drowning and contamination; a bottle is recommended

Toys & play

• Solid-surface wheel (15 cm+ for Djungarians, 20 cm+ for Syrians)
• Tunnels, chew sticks, crumpled tissue paper
• Fine sand for sand baths (Djungarian, Roborovski)

Nest, bed & hideout

• One dark, snug nest box. Wood or ceramic is ideal
• Nesting material: thinly torn paper towels. No cotton; it tangles

Bedding & litter

• Paper or hardwood chips at least 5 cm deep
• Avoid softwood chips; they cause dermatitis and affect the liver
• Place a sand-filled litter tray in a fixed corner and change daily

Cage / housing material

Tank or acrylic cage. Wire bars injure teeth and feet

Size & space

Floor at least 60 × 40 cm. Larger still for Syrians

Layout

• Keep the nest box and wheel apart; litter in the corner opposite the nest
• Bedding deep enough to dig, with at least two hiding spots
• No height differences; keep the structure low so falls are safe

Placement notes

• Avoid spots hit by direct sun, air-conditioner drafts, or TV noise
• A quiet room out of reach of dogs and cats. Floors get cold, so set it on a stand

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Free-roam time is not essential. If you let it out, do so during evening activity for 15–30 minutes
• Build an enclosure, remove cords, gaps, and other pets, and never look away
• Exercise balls risk suffocation and collisions; never for long periods

Temperature & humidity

Temperature20–26°C. Below 15°C risks torpor; above 30°C risks heatstroke

Humidity40–60%. High humidity causes skin disease and moldy food

Summer & winter

• In summer, keep the room cool with air conditioning and provide a ceramic or aluminum cooling plate
• In winter, place a panel heater under half the floor and check constantly with a thermometer

Nail trimming

Wear down naturally on bedding. If overgrown, trim only the clear tip with small-animal clippers. If you cannot, go to the vet

Brushing, skin & coat care

Self-grooms, so no brush needed. For long-haired Syrians, untangle mats with a soft toothbrush

Other care

Never bathe in water. Wipe dirt with a damp cloth. Sand baths remove excess oil. Check incisor length weekly

Protection from predators

• Never keep in the same room as dogs, cats, or ferrets. Put a lid and lock on the cage
• Crows and stray cats come by; never take it onto a balcony or outdoors
• Keep the cage area clean to deter cockroaches, ants, and mites

Foreign-body ingestion

Cotton and fabric fibers block the cheek pouches or intestines. Use paper nesting. Do not let it chew rubber, polystyrene foam, or plastic

Being stepped on

Always watch your feet while it is out. It burrows under floor cushions and pillows, so check before sitting

Getting pinched

Limbs and bodies often get caught in cage lids and sliding doors. Check the whole body before closing. Do not let it get into door gaps

Falls

Falls from a desk or hand cause fractures and internal injuries. Handle while sitting on the floor. Keep cage heights under 20 cm

Escape

Escapes through gaps as small as 1 cm. At night, darken the room and set a small box of sunflower seeds on the floor to lure it back. Check behind furniture and inside shoes

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving and quietly rest the bitten hand on the cage or floor
2. Without bringing the other hand's fingers near its mouth, blow gently on its face
3. Once it lets go, do not chase it; let it return to the cage or nest box on its own
4. Wash your hands and think about why it bit (smell, surprise, pregnancy) for next time

After the release

Wash under running water with soap and disinfect. See a doctor for swelling, heat, or pus. Check the animal again for anything abnormal

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Species, age, weight, diet, room temperature, when symptoms began. Bring stool and the food it eats in a bag

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch it lightly to check for a response. A healthy animal moves
• Check breathing by watching the chest rise and fall. Normal is about 70–150 breaths per minute
• Rest a finger lightly on the chest to feel the heartbeat. Normal is about 300–500 beats per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press the bleeding spot gently with clean gauze for 1–2 minutes
• For nail or tail bleeding, press flour or cornstarch onto the spot
• If it will not stop or blood is dripping, keep pressing and go to the vet at once

Transport

• Put nesting material in a small plastic carrier, keep it dark, and do not jolt it
• In winter, wrap a hand warmer in a towel and place it outside the carrier. Never directly against the body