Prevention from Diseases
A
healthy hamster is a happy hamster. If you want your hamster to be strong and
healthy you have to help prevent it from falling into the arms of diseases.
The
most important thing is still to give your hamster a well-balanced diet.
Providing it with lotsa of vitamins, proteins and all other necessary
nutrition. NEVER try to save money by buying some cheap brand of food for your
hamster. If you really want to save, then I strongly recommend NOT having a
hamster at all. You cannot have the best of both worlds, to be able to save and
to have a healthy hamster. Not buying cheap brand does not necessary mean to
buy the most expensive brand on the shelf, choose one that looks fresh and have
a clean packaging. Look under the section of accessories and equipment for the
brand of food I recommend. Giving your hamster continuous supply of fresh
water, do not refill the bottle only when the bottle has run dry. Make it a
habit to change the water in the bottle once every 2 days.
The
cage should be kept clean, daily removal of soiled material, cleaning out the
potty and weekly washing of the cage is a MUST. This is to prevent the growth
of bacteria and infestation of diseases in the cage.
Stress
causes a lot of illnesses in hamsters so try to minimize the stress that will
be experienced by them.
Common Illnesses
Diarrhea
Diarrhea
is commonly caused by feeding of over excessive moist food such as vegetables
and fruits as well as contaminated food. Stop the feeding of moist food for a
few days but continue providing water, the diarrhea should subside. If it still
persist then consider bringing your hamster to the vet.
Wet Tail
Wet
tail is a bacteria infection in the intestine of the hamster. Wet tail is very
similar to conditions of diarrhea. But it is more severe than diarrhea; the
hamster will not only be dirty at the anus but even at the top of the tail. Wet
tail is often due to sudden change in diet, extreme stress on the hamsters
and/or dirty cage. Wet tail can be fatal so do consult a veterinarian
immediately.
Cold
Hamsters
can easily catch cold both from bad weather as well as from us. So be sure to
stay away from your hamsters when you have a cold. What seem to be just a minor
cold to you could be fatal to them. a mixture of warm water, honey and milk may
help relieve minor cold for hamsters but if the cold is sever do bring them to
the vet.
Broken Limbs
Broken
legs and arms are actually one of the most common aliment for hamsters. They
tend to break their fragile limbs when they fight, fall off the 2nd
storey of their cage or get their little feet stuck in the holes of the wheels.
Separate
the injured hamster immediately, isolate it in a small tank or carrier so that
it does not have much space to run about and further aggravate the injuries.
The injury should recover in a week or two but chances are that the hamster
will most likely be limping from then on.
Fur Loss
Fur
loss is quite common for hamsters in warm countries such as
Purchase
mites and lice spray from pet shop if you see small black dots moving on the
hamster’s body.
The
best alternative is still to consult a veterinarian for advice.
Vaginal Bleeding
Hamsters
unlike human do not have menstrual cycle. But they do experience some vaginal
bleeding when they are about to give birth or may be just some light bleeding
which are not of any harm.
But
do consult the veterinarian if the bleeding persists.
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