Hamster Health

I have gotten a lot of questions concerning hamster health issues. I will be honest, I haven't had a lot of health problems with my hamsters and I don't know much about the health problems that they can get. Here is a little information on some of the more common ailments, but if you really think something is seriously wrong... PLEASE find a rodent/exotics vet in your area and they can help you better than I can.

Hamsters can catch colds from humans so you must be sure to wash your hands and be careful around your hamster(s) if you are sick yourself. Signs of a common cold include sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. The most important thing you can do if your hamster is showing these types of symptoms, is clean the cage out immediately. Add lots of soft warm bedding to the cage and move the cage to a room that is warm, and be sure to put it up off the floor so it is away from drafts. If you follow these steps, and things don't clear within a couple of days, you'll probably need to see a vet.

Wet tail is diarrhea and is a very dangerous illness for hamsters. It can be fatal if not treated properly. Most pet stores sell something called "Dry Tail" that supposedly helps prevent and treats wet tail. I've never used it so I cannot verify this information. If you notice that your hamster has very runny stool or is wet and messy under the tail, immediately clean the cage and sanitize everything. You can try the Dry Tail, but like I said, I don't know how well it works. The best thing to do is call your vet and get the hamster started on an antibiotic. This is the only sure way to get rid of wet tail, and you need to act fast or your hamster could get worse.

I will be adding more to this page, as I find out more information on health concerns in hamsters. If you have information that you would like added, please e-mail me.

If you are thinking to yourself "Should I really take my hamster to the vet???"
Please click here for great information on why vet care is important even for the smallest pets!