Content

• Steps
• Warning

You may have noticed that your hamster has been behaving abnormally lately. One of the reasons behind this change in behavior is that a hamster is already pregnant. When you know what signs to look for and how to handle a hamster, you can determine if your hamster is pregnant, while also ensuring the safety of your new baby hamster.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Determining a pregnant hamster

1. 

   Determine the sex of the hamster. Obviously, only the female hamster becomes pregnant. Most people know the sex of your hamster, but if you don't, see How to sex a hamster for more information on how to determine if your hamster is female.
   • Grasp the nape of the hamster (firmly grip the skin above the hamster's shoulders but not clamped) and gently turn the hamster over to check its gender. Male hamsters will have a condition emerging around their tail that causes their buttocks to pop, while female hamsters do not have this feature, instead being more prominent under-belly nipples.
   • If you've always thought your hamster has a female based on its name when you bought it, you should probably check it out.
   • Note that if you guess a hamster is pregnant because it sees its belly bulge, then it's probably already in the period where you should refrain from touching it, as holding a hamster in late pregnancy will cause it stress.

2. 

   
   
   Think if your female hamster has been around a male hamster. The average gestation period of a hamster is 15-21 days, so your hamster has to be paired with a male hamster for about 3 weeks before it can become pregnant. If a female hamster has not seen a male hamster for more than 4 weeks, she cannot become pregnant.

3. 

   
   
   Consider the hamster's age. Hamsters can begin to reproduce when they are 6-7 weeks old. The only way to rule out the possibility of a hamster pregnancy due to sexual immaturity is that it is under 6 weeks old.
   • This also means that you need to be careful separating your hamsters when they are almost 6 weeks old, as hamsters by this age will begin to mate. Male hamsters also need to be separated from their mothers.

4. 

   
   
   Eliminate diseases. The bulging abdomen alone is not enough to determine if a hamster is pregnant. A swollen abdomen can actually be a sign of another disease or condition. Diseases that can make your hamster look pregnant include:
   • Endometriosis, an infection of the uterus that causes the uterus to swell with pus.
   • Hyperplasia of internal organs, such as the liver or spleen, may also be a sign of cancer
   • Heart disease, a condition that can lead to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen
   • Bowel problems cause swelling of the abdomen due to poor digestion
   • You may notice other signs that the hamster is sick, including more thirst (the water bottle drains faster than usual), loss of appetite (note if you have less food to eat) and muscle fat loss. body (usually in the flank).

5. 

   Observe the hamster's bulging abdomen. This may be the first feature to help you realize that your hamster is pregnant, but if it is not, watch if your hamster's belly is starting to get bigger. If the hamster is still eating and acting as usual and has had the opportunity to mate, this is most likely a sign that the hamster is pregnant.
   • Note that normally a hamster does not "show" it is pregnant until the end of the third stage of pregnancy (over 10 days), so when you notice a hamster's belly enlargement, it may be less than a week. Again it will give birth.
   • In addition to the larger belly, the hamster's nipple will also be larger. However, the nipples of a small hamster are also hard to notice, so don't worry if you can't find them underneath the fluff. The hamster can be uncomfortable to hold at the end of pregnancy, so don't lift it to find a nipple.

6. 

   Observe the drive behavior. The female hamster usually nest in late pregnancy, so having the hamster collect material and bring it to a quiet corner in the cage may be a sign that she is about to give birth.

7. 

   Watch out for food storage. A pregnant hamster may begin to eat less than usual and also hides more food, which can be hidden in its nest. Of course, based on this behavior alone, you won't be able to confirm pregnancy, but this is also an additional sign.

8. 

   Watch for signs that your hamster is about to give birth. In the late stages of pregnancy, a hamster may become more stalked. Signs of a hamster about to give birth include: being restless and constantly switching from eating to grooming to nesting and may howl as you approach.

9. 

   Take the hamster to the vet. If you can't keep track of all of the above, your veterinarian may be able to help you determine if your hamster is pregnant. However, doctors often warn that even someone with an animal care professional can stress the hamster and cause the hamster to abandon or eat the baby.
   • If your hamster's belly is swollen for more than 7-10 days without giving birth (or if there are no other pregnancy behavioral features attached), take it to the vet, as it may be a symptom of the baby hamster. some illness, not pregnancy.
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Part 2 of 2: Making sure your hamster baby is safe

1. 

   Do not touch the mother's belly to feel the hamster. Pregnant hamsters are extremely sensitive to disturbance, and if stressed, they will most likely harm your baby after birth. You will definitely put stress on the mother if you touch her belly, which in turn puts the hamster's health at risk.

2. 

   Give the mother hamster nutritious food throughout her pregnancy. You should pay more attention to the diet of the mother hamster to ensure the health of the baby. Feed the mother hamster its usual diet, as sudden changes can make the hamster uncomfortable in the stomach. However, the hamster's ideal diet is a hamster pellet, since the hamster doesn't know how to choose healthy (but not as good) food.
   • A very small amount of milk or cheese will provide calcium for the baby hamster in the womb and also help the hamster to have more milk after birth.
   • You can feed your hamster a moderate amount of hard-boiled eggs, nuts, barley and oats as an additional source of protein.
   • The vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables like broccoli, cucumbers, cauliflower, apples, grapes, bananas and strawberries can be good for a pregnant hamster. However, you should only feed a very small amount to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

3. 

   Letting the mother hamster alone starts around 13 days after mating. A pregnant hamster prefers to be alone for at least 2 days before giving birth. This means that by day 13 after a hamster is mating, you should not interfere with the hamster's cage or nest. You also need to be very careful when feeding the cage; If not, the mother hamster may eat her baby after giving birth.
   • You may not know when a hamster is mating, so just assume that the time when a hamster "shows" pregnancy is the 10th day after it is mating.

4. 

   Separate the remaining hamsters into another cage. In addition to stress, having other hamsters in the cage may also cause the mother hamster to eat its offspring. To ensure the safety of your baby hamster, separate the other hamsters into a separate cage as soon as you are sure that the mother hamster is pregnant.
   • If the hamster in the same cage begins to fight rather than get along as usual, this could be a sign that one of them may be pregnant, especially when there are other symptoms. go with.

5. 

   Don't hold a baby hamster for the first two weeks. In the 2 weeks after birth, the mother hamster will recognize the baby by its smell. If you hold the hamster in your hand, even by accident, the mother will attack the baby. About 2 weeks after giving birth, the baby hamster should be safe when you pick it up.
   • This also includes unintentionally spreading your odors into the cage. Do not clean the barn during this time.

6. 

   Adjust the water bottle position. Remember that the water bottle for a hamster is usually set at the right height for an adult hamster, so adjust the position of the water so that the hamster can drink.

7. 

   Start to feed your hamster after 7-10 days. Although your baby hamster is not completely weaned until after week three, you can start placing food in the hamster's cage after 7-10 days. Baby hamsters can eat pellets, but you should soak them in soft water before feeding them.

8. 

   Take your baby hamster to the vet right away if you notice that the hamster has abandoned the baby. Especially when a parent hamster is born in the first place, it may leave the baby or eat the baby due to environmental stressors. If this is the case, separate the mother hamster from her baby and take the baby hamster to the vet immediately. Your doctor can refer you to an animal rescue station or veterinary hospital capable of taking care of an abandoned hamster. advertisement

Warning

• Do not grip the nape of the hamster, otherwise you may bulge the hamster's eyes.