Diabetes is a chronic condition in which an animal either does not produce insulin or the insulin produced is not effective. This disease has been documented in dwarf hamsters – especially Campbell’s Russian hamsters, but in other types as well. It is a condition rarely seen in Syrian hamsters. It is possible for hamsters to develop diabetes as they age due to hormonal changes. Diabetes in hamsters can cause serious complications, just as the condition can in humans. Special care and attention must be given to hamsters that have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diagnosis can be difficult, since there are other conditions that can mimic this disease, such as kidney and bladder infections. Symptoms include excessive thirst and copious urination. Excessive defecation can sometimes be a symptom, as well. If you suspect diabetes, consult your vet for a diagnosis.

At this time, treatment options are limited to changes in diet and encouraging more exercise. There is no cure for the condition. Do not feed your diabetic pet fresh fruit or vegetables. Avoid feeding commercial treats, as these often contain honey or other sweeteners. Remove peas and corn from their feed.

Age is a consideration with diabetes. If you have an older hamster that is displaying symptoms, diabetes might be a likely cause. (In younger hamsters, a kidney or bladder infection might be more likely.)

Species is a factor. Diabetes is rarely seen in Syrian hamsters and is usually found in dwarf hamsters. If you have a Syrian hamster, a kidney or bladder infection is more likely.

Weight is something else to consider. Obesity in hamsters (just like in humans) can contribute to diabetes. Avoid feeding your hamster “people junk food” such as potato crisps, French fries, cookies, cakes and candy. Although hamsters love these foods and it is fun to watch them eat these things, eating these types of foods can cause hamsters to have significant weight gain and does not give the nutrition that hamsters need. Weight gain and obesity can also make hamsters unwilling or unable to get the proper exercise, which also leads to diabetes. It is also wise to avoid feeding even healthy hamsters too much fresh produce and commercial treats. Treats are best reserved for special occasions, not for everyday feeding.

Complications include heart failure, blindness, cataracts, and kidney failure. Blindness and cataracts are not life-threatening for your pet. Hamsters are very near-sighted any way, so being completely blind is not too serious for them (however, some hamsters are more timid if totally blind) and they can still live productive lives. Heart failure and kidney failure are fatal, however, so great care needs to be given to avoid these complications.

If the complications of this disease become too debilitating or painful for your pet, you may want to discuss the option of euthanasia with your vet. At times, loving your pet can mean ending unnecessary pain and suffering. Your vet can give you your options. If you do choose euthanasia for your pet, be sure to only have a vet perform the procedure.

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With regular handling, hamsters are very friendly and inquisitive, each with its own unique personality. They are rarely ill except when very old and ready to leave us but there are a couple of diseases you should be especially aware of:

Wet Tail

This is a very dangerous illness – it is severe diarrhoea accompanied by a wet rear end and ulceration of the bowels. It is imperative you seek the advice of a vet if you suspect wet tail as it is fatal if not treated. Even with treatment, many hamsters do not survive and it can be better to have it put to sleep rather than see it suffer.

Colds

Hamsters can catch human colds so try and avoid close contact if you have one.

Blocked Scent Glands 

Hamsters have a scent gland on either hip, often mistaken for a scab by first time owners. These scent glands are used to mark territory and attract mates and can get more prominent when hamsters are on heat. In general, it is best to treat these like you would a mole on your own skin; check them every time you play with your hamster and if they become blocked, swollen, weepy or change drastically in appearance see a vet.

Tyzzer’s Disease 

This is a disease carried by wild mice. The hamster rapidly deteriorates and dies. Do not store your hamster products (or hamster!) in places like sheds or garages. Mice can contaminate food, cages, shavings and bedding, even before you buy these products so make sure you buy from a reputable and clean pet shop.

Abscesses 

These are soft pus filled swellings, often caused by bites, scrapes or foreign bodies getting under the skin. If your hamster has an abscess, clip the fur around the wound and bathe the animal daily in a lukewarm salt solution (one teaspoon of salt to one pint of water) making sure you keep the head out the water. Keep the fur short until the pus has drained away and the skin flattens again. If you are not confident about doing this or if there are no signs of improvement after two or three days see your vet as antibiotics may be required to treat a bacterial infection or it may be something more serious such as cancer.

Overgrown Teeth

Hamster’s teeth, like other rodents, grow constantly and need to be worn down by gnawing. Make sure you provide your hamster with something to gnaw, hard dog biscuits are ideal. If your hamster stops eating or is not eating as much check its teeth to make sure they are not overgrown or misaligned. The picture shows overgrown teeth – this much overgrowth needs to be treated by a vet under anesthetic, otherwise, teeth clipping is simple to do at home and your vet can show you how to do this.

Hair Loss

Hair loss can have many causes including skin infections, mites and stress. If your hamster is losing hair see your vet for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet!

Although we’ve mentioned a few possible treatments, it’s always best to seek professional help. We always recommend seeing your vet for any health-related issues your furry friend might have.

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You can’t just take your eyes off hamster pups, as these tiny cute little creatures will sure have your attention. Baby hamsters are born without any fur and are closely attached to their mother. Though you may have the desire to hold them, bare in mind that there is nothing you can do within the two weeks period after delivery.

REMEMBER NOT TO TOUCH THE BABIES!! Your action might harm the babies and change its scent thus confusing the mother. She will think that they are not hers, abandon them and worst she might even eat the babies (it does happen). Not to cause any stress to the mother, avoid cleaning up the cage within this period. It is advisable to place the babies at the bottom of the cage as none of them had opened their eyes yet.

After this two weeks ‘vital’ period, you can hold them but only for a brief period as not to disturb or stress the mum or babies. You can also clean up the cage and place fresh bedding in most of it. Remove just the soiled parts in the nest area and put a good portion of the old bedding in it. Put the babies back in the nest after it is cleaned up followed by the mother.

Once the babies eyes are opened (which should occur on the 11-12 days, but some take less/more), they should figure out how the bottle works. In order for them to reach it easily, put it lower and in an area where they frequently go. If they haven’t figured out how to use the bottle and you are worried about them not drinking enough, you can give them pieces of cucumbers to prevent dehydration. Do not put water in a bowl to prevent them from falling in and drown or catch a cold.

At three weeks, you can separate the babies if you observe any fighting among them but if they seem immature, less developed and not quite independent enough to leave mum just yet, let them stay together until they are four weeks old. When they reach five weeks old, independent and have a healthy development, they can be placed in new homes and play in new surroundings and environment.

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There are many different types of wheels out there, but all serve the same function: getting your little friend moving.

What Is a Hamster Wheel?

A hamster wheel is a wheel that can be attached to the side of a cage or tank, allowing your pet to exercise while staying in one place.

Hamsters are wild animals that can race across many miles of ground in a single night. This is their natural behaviour, and it’s a great exercise for them to stay fit and healthy.

Unfortunately, when they’re inside cages, hamsters aren’t able to run very far which has serious consequences on their health. Fortunately, there’s an answer: give your furry friend a wheel.

A hamster that’s been provided with a wheel for exercise will stay physically healthy and mentally stimulated.

It also prevents boredom, which can lead to dangerous behaviour such as chewing on other items, biting humans, and reducing their risk for obesity.

Why Do Hamsters Like The Wheel?

Because hamsters are nocturnal animals, and a running wheel replicates the activity they regularly do at night.

Hamsters are nocturnal animals who typically go to sleep in the morning and wake up around dusk. A moving wheel provides something similar to what a hamster would experience outdoors in nature during its nightly wanderings.

How to Make a Hamster Wheel Quiet?

This is a common question for many hamster owners. Your hamster, particularly if it’s a bigger breed, might be too big to be running on the wheel and that could lead to some loud squeaking.

Here are some options you can try out to make your wheel quieter:

The first option you can try is moving your wheel elsewhere in the room – perhaps near a wall. This will help dampen sound and prevent drafts from causing the wheel noise to worsen over time.

Another option would be lubricating the bearings with something like an oil or vaseline.

What Size Hamster Wheel for a Syrian?

Most Syrians will be comfortable with a wheel that is 8 inches in diameter minimum. This size is the most common because it accommodates both the height of the average Syrian and offers ample running room.

A problem with wheels that are too small can be foot injuries, leg injuries, or back injuries due to being unable to get into a full stride while running.

What Size Hamster Wheel for Dwarf and Roborovski Hamsters?

For Dwarf and Roborovski hamsters, the size of their wheel should be at least 6 inches.

Bigger wheels are better for all types of hamsters; however, a big enough cage may limit how large you can go with your pet’s toys due to space limitations.

Conclusion

When it comes to your pet hamster, the wheel is important for exercise and mental stimulation.

If you do not provide a hamster with an adequate amount of physical activity or mental stimulation, they may suffer from health problems like obesity or depression.

Therefore, keep your furry friend happy while they are at home by getting their very own wheel.

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A great way to do this is by getting them their own exercise ball!

The exercise ball is a great way to provide some fun physical activity while you’re cleaning your hamster cage – they’ll be able to run around and explore your house without getting into trouble.

What’s the Best Exercise Ball You Should Buy For Your Hamster?

There are several types of balls available in the market and they’re all designed essentially for the same thing.

We recommended that you get a suitable size for your hamster (5″-7″ for small hamsters like dwarf or roborovski and 10″ or more for Syrian) and buy from a reputable brand such as Kaytee, Savic, Lee’s, and others.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to give your hamster more space and time outside of its cage, an exercise ball is a perfect solution.

It is also a great way to provide your pet with hours of fun and burn your hamster calories.

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You should not just buy any old bag of pellets and call it a day; many factors go into deciding which food is right for your little friend.

This blog post will detail some considerations when selecting the perfect food, as well as links to the most popular brands so you can find one that’s just right for your furry friend.

What Is The Best Type of Food For Hamsters to Eat?

Sunflower seeds are the best food for hamsters because they’re high in protein, fat, and some vitamins.

There’s also a bonus of making sure that their teeth won’t become too long or be overly sharp since the sunflower hulls will inevitably grind down their teeth while the hamster is chewing on them.

Hamsters also are omnivores and eat lots of different things besides sunflower seeds. They enjoy eating vegetables, dried fruit, meats (insect or mealworms), biscuits, nuts, and others.

How Often Should You Feed a Hamster?

There are a lot of factors that go into how often a hamster should be fed, but the most important one is how active your hamster is.

If they’re only running around in their cage for about 10-15 minutes total per day before going back to their house and sleeping again, on average, they may need a small bowl of food as well as some treats at least every other day or two.

But if they’re more active and spend hours playing in their wheel, exploring their habitat, or rolling all over the place then you may want to feed them bigger amounts more frequently.

In general, hamsters should be fed twice or three times a day. Frequent small amounts of food like one to two tablespoons spread out over the day are best.

Overeating is a big cause of early death in hamsters because it can lead to fatty liver disease where all the fat accumulates in their livers and can make your hamster obese.

What Foods Are Not Good For Hamsters To Eat?

Do not feed a hamster any of the following: chocolate, avocados, tomatoes, chili peppers, and onion.

Chocolate contains a substance called methylxanthine that is toxic to them.

Additionally, make sure that there are no fruits or vegetables which contain pesticides.

Finally, never feed a hamster alcoholic beverages (including wine), caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea (including decaffeination methods involving the use of a chemical solvent).

What Types of Treats Can You Give Your Pet Hamster?

You can give occasional treats to your hamster with an apple slice or a hard-boiled egg yolk.

They will also enjoy eating live insects such as mealworms and crickets which are important sources of essential fatty acids for your pet’s health.

Where Can I Buy Food For My Pet Hamster?

There are many pet shops available through an online search. Perhaps the best place to find supplies is at a specialty or small-chain store near you. Besides that, you can search on the Amazon website as they offer plenty of brands.

You’ll need to invest in a small tub of fresh vegetables and fruits, some dry seed mixes, or even live bugs like crickets or mealworms. Don’t forget to provide your hamster with clean water at all times for drinking.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you in your search for the perfect hamster food.

We’ve reviewed all of our favourite options and given you some tips on how to find what’s best for your furry friend.

Remember, it’s important that the diet of a hamster not only meets their needs but also helps them live as long and healthy a life as possible.

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