Hamsters are generally healthy animals and can live up to age of three. Until then, there are a few things to look out for when it comes to their health to ensure they live a fulfilling life.
Hamsters may be small, but there are a lot of things to look out for to make sure they’re in tip top condition. This useful guide lists the main things you need to look out for, including parasites, tumours, and dental health.
Remember, most illnesses come with age, so until they reach two years of age, you should be able to enjoy your hamster and everything they do. With any pet, we recommend you finding a vet who specialises in a certain species, like hamsters and small mammals. This will ensure your hamster gets the best possible care should they need treatment.
Your hamster should be bright and awake at their usual time – this can vary depending on the individual but is usually late evening or night-time. They should not appear sleepy or lethargic and their coat should look clean and not sparse. Your hamster should have a good appetite and be interested in finding food to put in their pouch, nibbling on seed sprays, running in their wheel and they should be moving around normally without limping or struggling to get their balance.
Weigh your hamster using small scales, kitchen scales work particularly well. Monitor their weight and look out for unexpected or consistent weight loss/gain.
Weight gain, just like in humans is usually caused by eating too much or not eating the correct food, along with not getting enough exercise. It can also cause diabetes – dwarf species of hamsters are particularly at risk of developing this if they’re fed sugary foods or if they are over fed. Signs to look out for are increased thirst, increased urination and unexplained weight loss.
A hamster’s eyes should be clean, clear and bright with no cloudiness or discharge.
Discharge around the eye could be a sign of conjunctivitis or another infection. If you notice discharge along with a cloudy eye, that could indicate that the eye has been injured and would require urgent veterinary attention.
Hamsters should be clean, free of any discharge, flaky, scabby or crusty patches. Your hamster should not have noisy breathing.
If you notice any sneezing, wheezing, rattly or laboured breathing, this could suggest a respiratory infection. It can be exacerbated by poor ventilation in the enclosure or even dusty bedding such as sawdust which is not recommended for hamsters.
Your hamster’s top and bottom incisors (front teeth) should be light yellow in colour, smooth and wearing evenly against one another. Hamsters can sometimes suffer from overgrown incisors – there is more information on this below.
A hamster should be free of any lumps, bumps, scabs or wounds.
If you notice any wounds on your hamster, it is important to find the cause. Hamsters should not be housed together due to the risk of fighting. However, if you have been housing them together, they should be separated immediately, and each housed in an appropriate sized enclosure. If your hamster is housed alone and has a wound, it is likely that there is something sharp in the cage.
Check all their enrichment thoroughly for any sharp, broken or chewed edges. Also check around the edges of the enclosure – especially any areas where there is wire mesh as there could be a sharp piece of wire exposed. Keep a close eye on the wound and seek veterinary help if the wound is red or hot as they can easily become infected and turn into abscesses.
Your hamster’s skin coat and tail should be:
Should be clean with no discharge or urine on the fur.
Should be free of any sores or wounds.
A hamster’s nails should be a regular length. Most hamsters will not need to have their nails clipped as they will naturally wear down whilst climbing and exploring. Older hamsters may need their nails trimmed occasionally to stop them overgrowing and curling into their paw pads.
It’s quite common for hamsters, Syrian hamsters in particular to carry certain parasites, especially fur mites.
Incorrect bedding is one of the most common causes of fur mites. However, in some cases, your hamster may be suffering from hormonal changes or tumours, which may cause hair loss that appears to be symmetrical.
Consult your vet if your hamster is showing any of these signs of a parasite infestation:
Wet tail is often brought on by stress – like change in their surroundings or the presence of another animal in your hamster’s environment. A build-up of bacteria in the cage can also cause wet tail, so regular cleaning is very important. Symptoms of wet tail include:
Wet tail can prove fatal within days, and unfortunately doesn’t respond well to treatment. If you suspect your hamster has wet tail, take them to your vet as soon as possible.
Tumours are fairly common in an elderly hamster. They can grow very quickly because hamsters have a fast metabolic rate. Mammary tumours are the most common and are the most likely to be cancerous.
When you handle your hamster – and you should do this regularly – check for unusual lumps and bumps on their body. If you’re at all concerned, take your hamster to the vet.
As your hamster gets older, their nails will start to grow rather rapidly. Placing items like fruit tree wood for them to climb on can help file their nails down. However, your vet will be able to trim their nails if you don’t feel confident.
When your hamster reaches around two and a half years of age, you will start to notice a few common changes, including:
Becoming wobbly when walking about. Always keep an eye on your hamster if they’re housed in a mesh cage. Elderly hamsters can get caught in the bars if their nails have grown.
If you feel your hamsters are starting to struggle with one or more of these symptoms, talk to your vet. While they’re perfectly natural, you’ll want to make sure they’re comfortable and not in pain.
Your hamster’s teeth will continually grow, so make sure you provide them with a varied diet and plenty of things they can gnaw on, including safe fruit tree twigs.
Occasionally, hamsters can suffer with overgrown incisors (the front teeth). This is more common in hamsters that have been bred poorly or have been involved in an accident where they may have fallen with an impact.
Hamsters who chew their cage bars regularly can also be at risk of dental damage so it is important to make every effort to discourage it. They easiest way is to provide a very spacious cage with lots of varied enrichment including tunnels, fruit tree twigs and toys to chew, suitably sized wheels and scatter feeding. Changing the environment regularly will also help to keep them interested.
Regularly check your hamster’s teeth to make sure they remain a good length. They should be a light yellow colour, although they can be white when they’re very young. For more information on hamster teeth care, see our article on ‘how to look after your rodent’s teeth’.
If you would like some support, have any questions or need some advice on your hamster, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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