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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Take care of your sick hamster
• Method 2 of 3: Dealing with specific conditions
• Method 3 of 3: Take care of your hamster
• Tips

It's always a sad moment when your pet gets sick. Most people love their hamsters because they look so cute and small. It's alarming when these cute critters aren't feeling well. Because they are so small in stature, they are not particularly resilient when sick or struggling with an infection. It is important to prevent them from getting sick as best you can, and if your hamster is sick, you should take steps to make it better as soon as possible.

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Method 1 of 3: Take care of your sick hamster

1. Look for signs that your hamster is sick. If you observe behavior that is different than usual, you should observe the creature even more closely. This could be a first indication that you the hamster is getting sick. You should pay particular attention to the following signals:
   • Is your hamster sleeping longer than usual? Keep in mind that older hamsters naturally sleep for a long time.
   • Has your hamster lost its appetite?
   • Is the bug no longer taking good care of itself?
   • Does he seem annoyed?
   • When awake, does it move slowly, or does it seem to have difficulty moving?
   • Has your hamster lost some of its coat or does it have bald patches? Keep in mind that this is normal for older hamsters.
   • Does your hamster have a wet chin or neck? This could indicate dental problems.
   • Does he have trouble eating? For example, does the food fall out of his mouth?
   • Does he have a runny nose, watery eyes or a wet bottom?
   • Do his droppings look different? Hamsters' droppings are rod-shaped. Watery feces indicate an excess of fresh fruits and vegetables. Hard, dry droppings indicate a shortage.
2. Keep the bug warm. There may be times when your hamster is unwell. There are some general steps you can take to get your hamster back to health. Make sure to keep it warm. Sick hamsters often lose body heat and can feel cold. You could place the cage on a pitcher of warm water to warm the bottom of the cage. You can also wrap a small pitcher of warm water in a towel and then place the hamster on top. Do this in a box that the hamster cannot escape from to prevent it from running away.
3. Check your hamster for signs of dehydration. If he doesn't eat or drink, or if he has a wet tail, he will quickly become dehydrated. You could check this by gently squeezing the animal's scruff and then releasing it. If the scruff of the neck stays up, the animal is dehydrated. You can then give it plain water or buy a powdered liquid replacement for people with diarrhea, such as O.R.S.
   • Prepare the powder according to the instructions on the package.
4. Give your hamster drops of liquid. If your hamster does not want to drink on its own, you could use a 1 ml syringe. Leave a drop of the liquid hanging from the end of the syringe and hold it to the hamster's lips. Hopefully he will lick the drop. If he doesn't, you could wet the fur around his mouth so that he absorbs the liquid when he washes himself.
   • Be extremely careful when giving liquid by mouth with a syringe. Due to its small size, it is quite possible that the creature is taking in too much liquid, which may cause it to inhale. The fluid could enter the lungs and cause severe pneumonia.

Method 2 of 3: Dealing with specific conditions

1. If you notice respiratory problems, take action. If fluid comes out of his eyes or nose, when he sneezes, or if he is crouched and breathing using his abdominal muscles, this could indicate a respiratory disease. There are a number of things you can do to help your hamster do this.
   • Make sure you keep the bedding clean at all times. A bedding soaked in urine releases ammonia, which is very irritating to the respiratory tract. Use a spoon or small scoop to remove the wet bedding and keep the cage smelling fresh. If you smell urine or ammonia, the effect for the hamster is a thousand times worse.
   • Clean the wet areas in the cage every day, but try to do this in a way that does not disturb your hamster too much to prevent it from experiencing further stress.
   • Check that the room is at the correct temperature and adjust it if necessary.
   • If your hamster has a sticky nose, try wiping it clean with damp cotton balls. This will help keep the airways clear, making it easier for the animal to breathe.
2. Help with dental problems. Dental problems can prevent your hamster from feeling well. Clear or milky discharge from the eyes may indicate overgrown tooth roots. Check that your hamster is eating properly. If he doesn't, it is best to go to your vet with your hamster to make sure there are no problems with overgrown teeth. If this problem arises, the vet can cut the teeth. If this problem is not corrected, and thus the teeth are not clipped, the hamster will slowly but surely starve because it is unable to eat.
   • Another indication of dental problems is a wet chin or neck. This happens when the sharp ends of the teeth pierce the cheek or tongue, making swallowing painful.
   • Prevention is better than cure. This means giving your hamster suitable items to chew on so that the animal can keep its teeth short.
   • Don't overfeed your hamster with soft foods, such as strawberries or bananas, as they don't need to chew a lot. Instead, give the bug dry pellets and a piece of wood for it to gnaw on. Also place cardboard rolls (kitchen roll or toilet roll) or boxes in the cage. These items will keep your hamster's teeth healthy. In addition, he will enjoy demolishing such items.
3. Treat digestive disorders. If your hamster has a wet tail, it will have a wet bottom, making it slower and likely to have a worse mood. Take immediate action as this can be deadly. Wet tails are the result of dirty cages, so you should keep the cage very clean. To treat this condition, you should immediately get broad spectrum antibiotics from your vet.
   • If your hamster has diarrhea, stop feeding it fruits and vegetables until it has fully recovered. This condition is usually caused by an obstruction in the stomach or intestines. The best way to avoid such an obstruction is to add some alfalfa hay to your hamster's diet.
   • Constipation is caused by a lack of water in his diet. Make sure your hamster has access to fresh drinking water at all times. If your hamster seems to be constipated, you may want to give it some carrots or other fresh fruits or vegetables, as well as more water.
4. If there is a fracture, take action. A fracture can be fatal or heal, depending on the severity of the fracture. If your hamster has broken its leg and the bone is visible, you should see your vet. If the fracture is not too severe, the vet will bandage the leg and apply a wound dressing. If there is a severe fracture where the bone has punctured the skin, the vet will likely suggest putting the bug to sleep.
   • If the leg is crooked, but the bones are not visible and he is eating normally and appears healthy, limit the movement in the cage for four weeks and remove his wheel. This forces the animal to rest and put as little stress on the leg as possible. This gives the bones the best chance to grow back together. You could also take your hamster to the vet so he or she can bandage the leg. Your vet will also likely recommend that you limit the room to move in the cage.
   • Never give your hamster painkillers unless prescribed by the vet. The small size of the animal makes the risk of an overdose very high.

Method 3 of 3: Take care of your hamster

1. Keep a close eye on your hamster. This gives you a good insight into the normal behavior of your hamster. Watch the creature at least twice a day and try to determine how much it eats, drinks and how active it is during the times when it prefers to play. This knowledge helps you recognize behavior that is not normal. For example, something is wrong if the animal eats or drinks less than before.
   • Understanding these small details can help you spot a possible illness early on if symptoms are visible during his daily routine.
2. Expose your hamster to stress as little as possible. Stress has a negative effect on the immune system, making your hamster less able to fight infections and make itself better. Stress in a hamster includes feeling threatened or unsafe, so keep other pets, such as cats and dogs, from staring at the creature for hours on end. Consider covering half of the cage with a towel so that the hamster has privacy and can get himself to safety if needed.
   • Avoid loud noises as these can scare your hamster. Avoid anything in the ambient air that could be bad for the hamster's respiratory tract, such as cigarette smoke or spray air fresheners.
3. Limit extreme temperatures. The ideal room temperature for a hamster is between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius. When it is very hot, the hamster may experience stress from the heat. Make sure there is a fan near the cage to promote air circulation and keep the bug cool. At temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, especially longer than 24 hours, your hamster may be triggered to hibernate. During hibernation it is not possible to wake the hamster, which may make it look like the animal has died.
   • If you suspect this is the case, you should place the hamster in a cage that is safe for hamsters, such as its transport cage, and then put it in the storage room with the boiler for a few days. A hamster that has gone into hibernation can be awakened this way.

Tips

• Always wash your hands after taking care of a sick hamster.
• Do not give your hamster a bath with water. If your hamster gets wet, it can die more quickly. Instead, you should get some sand that is suitable for chinchillas so that your hamster can roll in here.
• If your hamster is screaming or making strange noises, it probably doesn't want to be treated or is just tired. Try to treat the bug at a later time when it doesn't struggle too much.
• Pyometra is a common problem in older female hamsters. She will likely stop eating and be very thirsty, and you may notice a purulent discharge from the hamster's vagina. This will contaminate the bedding in her cage. It is an infection of the uterus and should be treated with antibiotics from the vet. This might help, but it is better to have your hamster spayed if the animal is strong enough to do so. Pyometra is likely to kill the hamster if left untreated. However, surgery carries a high risk, so you should be prepared for the worst.
• Even if you take precautions, your hamster can still get sick. Stay calm. If you know you tried your best, it wasn't your fault.