Advice on Caring for your Syrian Hamster
Syrian hamsters make good family pets. They are easy to look after and with plenty of care and attention become very tame. Hamsters are ideally suited to both children and adults, but are nocturnal and spend most of the day sleeping, becoming active in the evening and at night. Syrian hamsters generally live for 2 – 21/2 years.
Do I like company?
Syrian hamsters are naturally solitary animals and if well cared for are much happier alone; their territorial nature will cause fights if kept in a pair. If you do wish to keep more than one hamster together you should consider dwarf hamsters, rats or gerbils who naturally live in colonies.
Where do I like to live?
Syrian hamsters need a lot of exercise, so buy the biggest cage you can, ideally with a plastic base and wire top, or a plastic and wire top. Wire sides allow hamsters to climb around the bars of their cage which is a favourite pastime but a plastic topped cage is a good idea if you also have a cat.
Although cats should be kept away from your hamster, a plastic cage will help keep them more secure.
Multilevel cages are ideal as again they allow your hamster to climb making the most of the space in the cage. Modular systems with tubes and different rooms are excellent fun for hamster and owner; and
being extendable, over time you can create a maze of tunnels and rooms for your pet to explore. Cover the floor of the cage with woodshavings and provide a paper bedding for nesting. Hay and straw should not be used for hamsters because the tough strands could hurt their cheek pouches. Make sure you provide a house or bedroom to act as a refuge, somewhere your hamster can snuggle up and feel secure when they sleep.
What do I eat?
A good quality hamster mix, such as Pets at Home hamster food provides the basic diet for your hamster. Whilst in our care our hamsters are fed on Pets at Home food so we recommend you continue to do so to prevent any stomach upsets caused by a sudden change of food. You can supplement your pet’s diet with
very small quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables, such as carrot and apple but do not feed them too
much fresh food, as this can also cause an upset stomach. Vitamin supplements and mineral stones can also be added to their diet to help keep your hamster in optimum health.
It’s nice to give your hamster a treat from time to time, such as popcorn or fruit sticks; some hamsters also enjoy a millet spray occasionally – it’s as much fun to rip apart as it is to eat the seeds!
Food bowls should be sturdy and hard to tip over, ceramic bowls make a good choice, they are easy to clean and gnaw proof. Ensure that you remove any uneaten food and clean and refill bowls and bottles daily.
Playtime
Providing toys and stimulating natural behaviour by hiding treats around the cage will keep your hamster amused. Providing houses and tubes also allows them to have hidey-holes for food, as they would have in
the wild. Hamsters’ teeth are constantly growing and wooden gnawing toys help to keep their teeth short as well as being fun too, so make sure there is always a gnaw toy in your hamster’s cage.
As nocturnal animals, hamsters are very active at night and need lots of toys to play with while you are asleep. Tubes and tunnels are good fun and a wheel allows them to burn off some energy. A hamster ball is also a great idea to give them some exercise out of their cage without the fear of escape.
How to handle me
When you first take your hamster home they should be allowed to get used to their new surroundings for thefirst day or two without being disturbed. You should then start talking quietly to them so that they get used to your voice. The next step is to introduce your hand into their cage and perhaps offer a treat, soon they may climb onto your hand, or you can gently scoop them up. After that it is important that you handle them regularly to develop their confidence and maintain the relationship. On no account should a hamster be woken up rapidly and immediately picked up, this can be very frightening for them and may cause them to bite. Make sure your hamster is handled over a table or close to the floor in case of a fall and young children should be closely supervised when handling them. Most hamsters are very docile and with very little taming will come to you and eat from your hand.
Keeping me clean
Your hamster’s cage should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week using a pet safe disinfectant. If your
hamster uses one area of its cage as a toilet this may need cleaning more often, there are hamster sized litter trays available that make cleaning a lot easier.
Keeping me fit and healthy
Providing a healthy diet and hygienic conditions are key to keeping a healthy hamster, but there are a number of potential problems that you should be aware of:
Like all rodents your hamster’s teeth are constantly growing and it is important to provide them with wooden toys, mineral stones or treats to gnaw on.
Hamsters can catch colds like humans, so keep the cage out of draughts to help keep them warm; if the weather becomes cold give them more bedding and perhaps move the cage into a slightly warmer room. If they get too cold hamsters can sometimes become inactive, a bit like hibernating, if this happens warm them up by holding them in your hands.
All hamsters are susceptible to severe diarrhoea known as ‘wet tail’. This condition may be caused by illness but also by inappropriate foods or even stress brought on by moving house, or rough handling. It is important that you consult a vet immediately if your hamster shows these symptoms or any others which may indicate they are unwell.
Top tips for a healthy pet
Dental
Gnawing toys are an essential part of your pet’s dental routine to prevent tooth overgrowth and should always be available.
Grooming
Regular grooming helps to strengthen the bond between you and your pet and can highlight health problems too. Groom your pet once a week, or daily if it has long hair, to ensure a healthy skin and coat.
Fleas, mites & flies
Keep an eye on your pet’s skin and coat for signs of fleas and mites such as bald patches or irritation. Outdoor pets are vulnerable to fly strike during the summer months so make sure you keep them and their environment clean and dry.
Vitamins and Supplements
Vitamins can be added to your pet’s food or water supply to ensure it gets all the goodness it needs. Probiotic supplements can help maintain healthy digestion in small animals, and are especially useful in times of stress. Hay is a great source of fibre which is an essential part of the digestive process for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.
Cleaning and hygiene
Clean out your pet’s home at least once a week using a pet safe cage disinfectant.
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