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ILLNESS |
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Illness
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| Many books state that hamsters are generally robust little animals with few health problems. You might be lucky (especially if you've got a Robo or Chinese hamster) but sadly, Syrians in particular, can be affected by a number of illnesses. See Hamsters in Sickness and in Health. | ||
| Some conditions can be deadly for the hamster if not treated immediately, or can be passed onto other animals or humans. Therefore, if your hamster appears unwell it is worth getting them to a vet quickly. | ||
| The main ways to prevent illness are to ensure your hamster is cleaned out regularly, has clean water and is given a well balanced diet and any mouldy food is removed from its cage daily. | ||
| Also, their cage/tank should not be in direct sunlight as they can suffer from heat stroke. The temperature should remain constant around their home - if it is too cold they could go into hibernation. They should not be exposed to fumes, e.g. in garages, air fresheners, etc. Nor should their cages be put in a stressful place - by stereo speakers or near other animals that might torment them. | ||
| Campbells are prone to diabetes. Apart from being told that diabetes is in the family, the first sign of it is likely to be them consuming vast quantities of water. In this case you can test their urine with a Diastix (you can get this from your vet). Due to their small size not much can be done for them in this case, except to ensure there is always enough water. You may need to put a second water bottle into their cage as their water consumption can be incredible. They will need cleaning out daily as their bedding will become wet very quickly. Also, include essential fatty acids in their Diet. | ||
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