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Q&A for How to Care for Dwarf Hamsters
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QuestionCan dwarf hamsters eat celery?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Yes, but in limited quantities and only as a treat. Too much celery may cause your hamster to have diarrhea.
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QuestionWill wet tail kill a hamster?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Sadly, wet tail does have a high mortality rate and is difficult to treat. One of the problems is the hamster rapidly becomes dehydrated because of fluid lost in the diarrhea. Slowly dripping fresh boiled water into the hamster's mouth can help counteract dehydration, but the outlook is still serious.
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QuestionFor a new hamster, can I reuse my old hamster's cage, if it has been sanitized?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Yes, that is fine. It's a good idea to thoroughly disinfect the cage, then rinse it and leave it in strong sunshine for a while to dry. Make sure there is no damage, such as chewed sharp edges, which could injure the new hamster. However, it's best to provide a new house and toilet, rather than recycle the previous one.
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QuestionHow can you tell if your hamster is sick?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.Weigh him daily, because weight loss is a sign of ill health. Check that his poop looks normal, and if his eyes, nose, and rear end look clean and clear. Any discharge can also be a sign of sickness. If his appetite drops off or he is drinking more or less than usual, this could also indicate he's unwell.
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QuestionNeither of my two dwarf hamsters seems to drink a lot. What should I do?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.On average, a hamster drinks 2-4 teaspoons of water every day. However, if they are eating a diet that is high in moisture, such as cucumber, they will satisfy part of this requirement in the food they eat. Always provide fresh water daily, and a sipper bottle is better than a bowl because it's less liable to get contaminated. You should also double check that your sipper bottle is dispensing water properly; sometimes the little ball bearing gets stuck.
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QuestionMy hamster's penis is stuck out. It is also red and bleeding, and he's not eating or drinking. What should I do?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.This sounds like a penile prolapse, which is a serious condition. If the problem is spotted immediately, holding ice on the area can help reduce the swelling, and applying petroleum jelly can help to lubricate it back into place. However, if the penis quickly becomes traumatized and swells further, you should seek immediate veterinary attention, although sadly the outlook is not good.
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QuestionIs it good to give a dwarf hamster cardboard for filing down his teeth?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.As long as the cardboard does not contain glue, then it's fine for a hamster to chew on. The chewing action helps keep the teeth in trim, and the debris makes nice nest material.
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QuestionHow long are a hamster's teeth meant to be?Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.The sharp pointy teeth at the front of the mouth are their incisors. The upper and lower incisors should meet neatly point-to-point when the hamster's mouth is closed. The hamster should be able to open the mouth wide enough to grip a peanut between the tips of the incisors.
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