How To Prolong Hamster’s Lifespan?

Pet hamsters live an average of two years. Learn how you can maximize their lifespan by seeking treatment promptly when you see these signs of illness.

Basics on Hamster Health

• Diarrhea: Bacterial infections or eating too many greens or fruits can result in diarrhea. Symptoms include brown stains and a wet bottom. The dehydration of diarrhea can kill, so add glucose to the drinking water and see the vet immediately.
• Heatstroke: Never leave a hamster in the hot sun as heatstroke can ensue. If you see symptoms like listlessness, lethargy and sudden collapse, remove your pet from the sun and cool it in an air conditioned room immediately.
• Respiratory problems: Hamsters can catch colds. When your pet starts sneezing, exhibiting labored breath or discharge from the nose, try to keep it warm and take it to the vet.
• Skin diseases: Bald patches can result from malnutrition, old age, or mites. If a bald patch appears scaly, irritated, and infected, consult a vet immediately. Possible factors include mange, mites or ringworm. However, hamsters have bald scent glands at the sides of their hips—don’t mistake these for bald patches!
• Wet tail: A highly contagious bacterial disease. Symptoms include severe diarrhea (wet tail), loss of appetite and bleeding from the rectum. Isolate the infected pet at once to prevent the disease from spreading and take it to a vet. Hamsters can die very quickly form this.