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Does your room smell like a pigpen because of your hamster's cage? If you investigate the source of the smell, you may find out it's not the cage, but the hamster itself that is beginning to stink! Though under normal circumstances hamsters should never really need a bath, which can disrupt their natural oils and possibly be detrimental to their health, here are some methods of cleaning your hamster.
Steps
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Never bathe your hamster. Only bathe your hamster if there is something stuck in its fur or if he has come in contact with a toxic chemical. Bathing your hamster in water washes out their natural oils and can seriously harm them ! Hamsters can’t swim very well and therefore can drown, they will be extremely stressed during the process as well which can kill a hamster. The rapid temperature changes can also give your hamster a cold which can make them seriously ill.
- During estrus, female hamsters can also have a different odor when they are in heat.
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Clean the hamster cage more frequently. The best way to address a smelly hamster is to partially clean out its cage more frequently. Change your cage-cleaning habits and see if the smell improves.
- Touch up problem areas daily and change all of the bedding every 6-8 weeks.
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Ensure that your hamster really needs a bath. The only time you should give your hamster a bath is if there is something on its coat that could harm him, e.g. something toxic or sticky on his coat or something stuck to him that he could choke on if he tried to clean himself. Go to an Exotic Vet before attempting this at home.
- If you've spilled something harmful on your hamster, you will probably wish to bathe it.
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Try a sand bath first. If your hamster is not life-threateningly dirty, a sand bath should be sufficient.The hamster will roll around in the sand, and the sand will cause most dirt to fall off naturally.
- Buy reptile sand at the pet store and put it in a little bowl for your hamster.
- Make sure to buy sand, not dust, as dust can cause respiratory problems for your hamster. It is like inhaling smoke as a human every day.
- Try to buy children's play sand from a hardware store. You can sterilize it by baking it in the oven at 400 °F (204 °C) for 15 minutes.
- If the sand is a permanent fixture in your hamster's cage or playpen, make sure to check it daily as your hamster may start using it as a litter box.
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Make sure there is no other way to remove the problem substance. For example, if your long-haired hamster has gum in its fur, you can simply cut it out.
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Go to an Exotic Vet before doing any of this at home because they know how to help and how to help sick dying hamsters. Fill a basin with one or two cups of room temperature water. Add one drop of unscented pet shampoo. Wet a washcloth and in the basin and wring it out. Then rub gently on your hamster. If there are suds or any kind of lather, you've used too much shampoo. Start over.
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Swab your hamster with the cloth. Very carefully rub in the direction of its fur, like you would when you're petting it.
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Wipe your hamster off with a soft, dry towel. Gently wipe your hamster with a very soft towel in the direction of its fur to remove water and dampness.
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Place your hamster back in its cage. Be sure the cage is clean and fresh , and place the cage in a place that is a little warmer than normal if possible. Make sure there's absolutely no cold air draft.
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Consider whether a bath is absolutely necessary. Only consider this if your hamster has come in contact with a toxic substance that can't be spot cleaned, and you can't bring it immediately to the vet. It is not uncommon for hamsters to die from being bathed, either by drowning or because they got sick after the bath. Some situations that might warrant a bath include:
- It fell in something that was potentially dangerous or toxic such as neat disinfectant, white spirit, corrosive substances such as an acid, nail polisher remover
- The coat got covered in something that would be toxic or cause a stomach upset if the animal groomed and swallowed it (non-food substances such as those mentioned, or chocolate, jam, honey)
- The hamster was covered in something really sticky which could irritate the skin (chewing gum that could not be removed by spot cleaning or cutting fur) or that would cause a bowel obstruction if the hamster chewed it off the skin (blue tac, putty, wax) or a substance that would damage the skin such as urine
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Fill a bowl with a couple centimeters water. If you absolutely must bathe your hamster as a last resort, get a bowl and fill it with a couple centimeters of lukewarm water.
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Bathe your hamster very gently with plain water. Moisten your hamster, taking care to keep the water away from her face. You can also use a cloth or an old toothbrush with soft bristles to gently clean the hamster. Again, make sure not to get water on or near the hamster's face.
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Add unscented pet shampoo if necessary. If water alone will not remove the toxic or sticky substance, you can use a very small amount of the mildest unscented pet shampoo you can find. Be very careful to keep the shampoo and water away from your hamster's face.
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Rinse the hamster. If you used any shampoo, be sure to use plain lukewarm water to rinse the hamster off and completely remove any shampoo residue.
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Pat your hamster dry with a soft, clean towel. Place your hamster on top of a dry towel and use the other end of the towel or a second towel to gently pat your pet dry. If you rub, be sure to do so very gently in the direction of its fur.
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Place your hamster back in its cage. Make sure to get most of the water off before putting your hamster back in its cage to sleep off its agitation. Make sure your hamster has plenty of substrate to dry itself on and to keep it warm.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionAt night is it alright to leave them in the dark?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.Absolutely. Hamsters like to be active at night and emerge when they feel it is dark and quiet.
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QuestionMy hamster has lots of mites but the vet can't see him for 2 weeks. Will it help if I bathe the 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.Unfortunately bathing is unlikely to be effective. This is because some of the mites hamsters get actually burrow into the skin and so will stay snug and safe even after a bath. Also, it's not uncommon for hamsters to have small numbers of mites which don't bother them. If your hamster has lots then it could mean your hamster's immune system is weak and not fighting them off. In this case 2 weeks is a long time to wait and your hamster needs to be seen before this. Explain the problem to your vet and see if they can offer you something earlier.
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Tips
- Start by putting a few drops of water on its back and rewarding the hamster with treats to get it use to water. Do not force the hamster let it get used to water and always watch it and make sure its head is always above water so it won't drown.Thanks
- Comfort your hamster as you bathe it. This will minimize agitation and fright.Thanks
- Research other articles or talk to a current hamster owner to find the best way to clean your hamster.Thanks
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Warnings
- Do not make your hamster swim because they could get tired, stop swimming, and drown.Thanks
- Bathing your hamster will cause it stress, which can lower its immune system. Be vigilant about signs of illness after bathing.Thanks
- Do not use any kind of shampoo on your hamster as it may cause irritation.Thanks
- In addition to causing chills, soapy water can strip necessary oils from a hamster's fur and skin.Thanks
- Do not attempt to dry your hamster with a hairdryer.Thanks
- A smelly hamster may be sick. Consider taking the hamster to the vet.Thanks
- Always double check with your vet before bathing your pet.Thanks
- Remember: If you are going to put a hamster sand bath inside your cage, check the sand every day because the hamster could be using the sand bath as a toilet and you don't want that.Thanks
- Do not bathe your hamster unless you need to for your hamster's health.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- A bowl of lukewarm water
- A hand towel
- Very mild pet shampoo (only for extremely sticky hamsters)
- An assistant, preferably one with whom your hamster is familiar.
- Chinchilla sand and a bowl to keep your hamster clean in the future.
- A clear space so that you can have all your materials.
- Paper towel or napkin to pick up roaming stools.
- Treats to reward your hamster
About This Article
Article Summary
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You should not bathe a hamster unless it’s absolutely necessary, like if it has something stuck in its fur or it came in contact with a toxic chemical, because bathing it could do more harm than good. If you must bathe your hamster, fill a basin with 1 cup of room temperature water and a drop of unscented pet shampoo. Wet a washcloth with the soapy water and rub the hamster in the direction of its fur, as if you’re petting it. Then rub the hamster dry with a soft, dry towel and return it to a clean cage, in a spot that’s a little warmer than usual. For more tips form our Veterinary reviewer, including tips on how to clean your hamster without giving it a potentially dangerous bath, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you, that helped so much. It's been almost 2 weeks since my husband brought Loki home, and this article explained a lot to us. We are looking forward to bonding and learning more about our new hamster." ..." more
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"Thank you, that helped so much. It's been almost 2 weeks since my husband brought Loki home, and this article explained a lot to us. We are looking forward to bonding and learning more about our new hamster."
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"We found a hamster in our house and checked if someone lost it, but no one knows whose it is. It's covered in mud, so I think I'll bathe it. I searched and found this very helpful article. Thanks!"
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"This helped me a lot. I just got one a week ago, and I have never had a hamster before. I had so many question that I wanted to ask my mum, but I read this and now I have a happy, clear brain."
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"I found using a new unused toothbrush to gently brush my hamsters fur very helpful. She likes to roll so I used it to clean her fur. As long as you're gentle and take time, they don't mind."
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"It gave me a lot of good information on bathing hamsters and on when it's the wrong and right time to clean your hamster. I'll bookmark this page for future use."
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