Hamster Health Care Information
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Always be on the lookout for any signs of illness in your hamster. A clean and dry environment is the first key to making sure your hamster remains in good health. You should always make sure that there is no spilled water or other mess in the housing are, and you should clean your hamster’s home often.
Humans do not have to worry about most of the diseases found in hamsters. A disease that can be passed from an animal to a human are know as zoonotic diseases. Ringworm and salmonella are two common examples of zoonotic diseases. A great way to prevent transferring a disease is to simple make sure you always wash your hands before and after handling your hamster. Your veterinarian will be able to tell if your hamster has a zoonotic disease and then they will tell you how to prevent the spread of the disease.
Hamsters who live alone are less likely to catch a disease than those who are kept with several other hamsters. Also, use care when introducing any new hamster to your existing pets. Even healthy looking hamsters can be carrying a disease, you just don’t know about it yet.
Unlike many other types of pets, hamster do not require annual wellness exams. However, you still need to find a qualified vet before any emergency occurs. Ask people who you know have a hamster and see which vet they take their pet to. For future reference, ask them what their rates are for various services.
Besides catching a disease, a hamster can also be injured or suffer poor health due to improper house cleaning. Be on the lookout for these common things:
Abscesses
Fighting with another hamster can result in a wound that gets infected and causes an abscess. To treat the abscess, you can drain it and then apply treatment, but this is quite painful for your hamster and should be avoided. The best way to deal with an abscess is to just make an appointment with your vet.
Colds/Pneumonia
If you notice any type of wheezing, difficulty breathing, or eyes glues shut, you need to take your hamster to the vet immediately. Other things you might notice are weight loss, nose discharge, and general lethargy.
Tyzzer’s Disease
This is a very contagious disease that usually results in the death of the hamster. Some hamsters will stop moving around, they will develop a scruffy-looking coat, and they will have diarrhea and dehydration. Other hamsters will show not signs at all – they will just die. The disease is quite common among hamsters who live in an unclean environment, and hamsters who are under a lot of stress. Fortunately, it is rare in animals with clean housing and who are well-cared-for.
Diabetes
This is a noninfectious disease that has been documented in Campbell’s Russian hamsters. A hamster who has diabetes will use suffer from excessive thirst and frequent urination. Changing the diet is usually the extent of treatment. Fruits are not good for a diabetic hamster. You may also want to limit, or completely remove, peas and corn from their food. An accurate diagnosis can be done by a qualified vet, and they can also give you recommendations on how to take care of your hamster.
Glaucoma
Winter White hamsters have been found to have glaucoma. Although there is no cure for glaucoma in hamsters, your vet can prescribe some eye drops to help with the pain.
Cheek pouch troubles
The cheek pouches that hamsters use for food storage and transportation can become pierced, impacted or otherwise damaged. Symptoms include not being able to empty the pouches or having an everted cheek pouch (one that is turned inside out). Take your hamster to the vet as soon as you suspect that she may have a cheek pouch injury.
For more information on hamsters health visit http://www.hamstercareanswers.com.
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