How to Take Care of a Hamster
If you are thinking of having a hamster as a pet,
there are some basic things you should know about their needs.
Of course, you will want to learn as much as possible about what they need in order to thrive. But this list will give you an introductory overview.
Food:
Provide plenty of healthy, fresh food. Take the time to learn about which foods are best for your hamster (a wide variety of veggies, fruit, proteins and grains), and which ones to avoid (never feed chocolate or foods containing sugar). Also provide hard dog biscuits so they can gnaw in order to keep their teeth from growing into the roofs of their mouths.
Water:
The water bottle needs to be placed so that even the smallest hamster can drink from it. Make sure it doesn’t leak water into the cage. Since hamsters should never be bathed in water (it can remove the natural oils from their coats and cause pneumonia), puddles of water in their cage can endanger them, too.
Shelter:
The cage needs to be big enough for activity, but make sure the bars are not spaced so far apart that the hamsters can get out between them.
Cat litter, plain paper or aspen shavings make good bedding for the bottom of the cage. Never use newspaper (the ink is toxic), cedar or pine because they can cause serious allergic reactions or death.
Toys:
Hamsters need activity to stay physically and mentally healthy. Since they like to burrow and tunnel, tubes are good additions to their habitats. Dwarf hamsters especially thrive on activity and need toys to channel their energy. Solid wheels are safest, since open rungs can injure tiny feet and legs.
Handling:
Always be gentle but confident when handling your hamster. You need to have a secure grip so it doesn’t wiggle out of your hand, jump to the floor and break fragile bones. This is especially important with the dwarf hamsters, since they are extremely active and fast moving. But it is also important not to pinch or squeeze too tightly; otherwise you could injure internal organs or nerves. It is best not to let toddlers or very young children handle hamsters, especially without supervision from adults, since children usually don’t develop fine motor skills until after about 5 years of age, and they can unintentionally injure a tiny animal like a hamster.
Health:
If your hamster does become sick or injured, be sure to take it to a vet who is experienced with treating small animals. It is a good idea to plan ahead by asking other hamster owners or pet store personnel for some recommendations. That way, if an illness or accident occurs, you will not waste precious time tracking down a qualified vet. The extra time you save by knowing ahead of time who to contact could mean the difference between the life or death of your pet in an emergency.
