Chubby Cheeks - Species Appropriate Hamster Care for Beginners

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The Chinese hamster, or Cricetulus griseus, is sometimes also called the striped hamster because of the darker stripe running down the spine. Size-wise, they can grow as long as four inches. If your hamster is overweight, it is also possible that your hamster is getting enough exercise. While it can be difficult to force your hamster to exercise, in a big enough cage with enough toys for exercise, your hamster should do it naturally. Digestive issues: Digestive issues such as constipation, diarrhea, or bloating can also cause a swollen belly in a hamster. These issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including an inappropriate diet, stress, or a medical condition. If you think that your hamster is becoming overweight (or the vet has told you they are!) you are welcome to make an appointment for a ‘Weight Consultation’ with one of our veterinarians.

Right now, it is still more common to see a Campbell’s dwarf hamster in a pet shop than a Winter White dwarf hamster. But that, too, is starting to change. Important Winter White Dwarf Hamster Facts An overweight hamster may have some visible signs that can indicate that they are carrying excess weight. Here are some things to look out for: These are easily the most popular pet hamsters of all. They most likely owe their popularity to their early introduction into the United States in 1942. At that time they were used as laboratory animals. If you are wondering what some of the most popular cute hamster names are of this year, then this is your list. If all of this sounds appealing, then maybe a Syrian hamster is the right hamster breed for you. But there are plenty more to choose from! Syrian Hamster Breeds

The easiest way to determine if your hamster is heavier than they should be is to visually examine them. If they feel heavier in your hands and have a slight podge in places other than their cheek pouch, then they may be overweight for their breed.

It’s important to provide your hamster with a balanced and appropriate diet to ensure that they stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight. And yes, as we did mention above, some Hamsters can be trained to come when called. So, if you want your Hamster to learn his or her name, get some treats and utilize some patience! Coloration is relatively muted, with a sandy brownish-grey dorsal coloring and light grey ventral coloring. 16. Romanian Hamster This hamster is very similar to Campbell’s Dwarf hamsters but has a different body shape and comes in different colors. They also tend to be a bit more mild-mannered and reserved than Campbell’s hamsters. Labored breathing: In severe cases, an overweight hamster may have difficulty breathing, which can lead to labored breathing or wheezing.A hamster’s gestation period is only between 15 and 22 days, depending on the breed, so by the time you notice your female hamster is plumpy, you will likely not have a lot of time to prepare. You will want to put the pregnant hamster in a cage by herself and thoroughly clean the cage to make her environment as pleasant as possible so that she does not eat her babies. Why Is Being Overweight Dangerous For Hamsters? Prevention is always better than cure, so the best thing to do is to instil healthy eating habits with your hamster from the start.

Dwarf hamsters only need to be fed 1 – 2 tablespoons of hamster food per day. You can give this amount all at once, once a day, or break up the amount and feed your hamster twice a day. We will be focusing on their gut function and their diet, looking at whether their food is appropriate and whether they are being fed the right amount. Additionally, they are naturally very round hamsters, so it can be difficult to figure out if they are overweight just from looking at them. Campbell Dwarf Hamsters As one of the nicest breed of hamster, they will also happily welcome a workout partner/cage-mate of their own kind. This species can cross-breed with Campbell’s hamsters, so it’s difficult to find a 100% Winter White Dwarf hamster. 5. Chinese HamsterPut your hamster on a diet. If you find that your hamster has an above-average weight, and he's gotten a little lazy, it may be time to put him on a healthier diet with more time for exercise. Allowing your hamster to stay overweight for too long is very unhealthy and can lead to more serious problems, such as: a reduced lifespan, type 2 diabetes, heat intolerance, skin issues, heat, and other circulatory system problems. [7] X Research source Campbell’s Dwarf hamsters are best kept in small groups, but they can still become territorial. This means that they’re best kept in very large hamster cages. However, if you suspect that your hamster is overweight after weighing them, looking at the diet that you are feeding them, as well as the amount of exercise that your hamster gets on a daily basis, will help guide you and your veterinarian as to how to help your pet lose the necessary weight they need to be healthy and happy again. Get creative — build a hamster play area using old boxes, cardboard tubes (toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, etc.), ramps, and more. Then hide treats in and around the play area for your hamster to find. Use these items to create a maze for your hamster with treats at the end. If you would like to have the healthiest hamster that you can, then yes, taking your hamster from overweight or obese, to a normal healthy weight, is what is going to be best for them.

One expert recommends involving children in the process of preparing the hamster’s habitat before he arrives. This is a good way of making sure everyone in the family knows how to be a responsible pet owner. Caring For Your HamsterOne great way to give your hamster exercise is to let her climb the stairs. Because a dwarf hamster is so small, it'll probably need to be stairs that are covered in carpet. If you buy a Syrian hamster with long hair, you will need to groom him or clip the ends of his fur to prevent matting. Like its counterpart, the dwarf Winter White Russian hamster also has several names. These include: the Djungarian hamster (after a region in Mongolia where it lives) and the Siberian hamster (after a region in Russia where it lives). A hamster living inside a cage does not have the opportunity to move around as much, so it is up to the hammie parent to provide exercise opportunities and toys that will keep your hamster stimulated and interested. Choosing the correct sized cage is one of the most critical factors that may limit your hamster’s activity levels. You can also give a hamster the twigs from apple, pear, hazelnut and beech trees to chew on, although make sure they're from trees that aren't sprayed with pesticides.