Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:02 pm
Hamsters can go into shock if they are under stress if they get hurt, fall, or in some similar situations. When hamsters go into shock, health problems such as stress and heart failure can occur.
It is very important to know the symptoms when the hamster is in shock so that you can help it more easily.
If the hamster is in shock, you should immediately massage its body and put it in a quiet and darker room where there will be a calm atmosphere to make it better.
In today’s article, we will find out what to do if the hamster is in shock, as well as what caused shock in hamsters.
How do you know a hamster is in shock?
Hamsters can be injured very easily, fall from high surfaces, and get injured even when exercising, and the consequence of all this can be shock or trauma.
Hamsters are small in size, it takes very little for them to get hurt or break a limb from their body. If they fall from a height it can be stressful and painful for them and they get shocked again.
When they play with toys and an exercise wheel, they can easily fall, get some injuries, and they will be further scared, and get shock and trauma.
When hamsters get shocked then there is not enough blood and oxygen in their body, which can only cause health problems.
Since hamsters are usually prey in nature, they are very sensitive to stressful situations and shock.
Here are some symptoms that will let you know that your hamster is in shock or trauma.
They have a low temperature
When hamsters are in shock they immediately have changes in their body and get shock.
Their temperature decreases along with a decrease in blood circulation throughout the body.
If you touch the hamster, you will notice that your pet is very cold to the touch, and besides being cold, it will start to shake and be visibly upset.
Their appearance is stunning
When hamsters are in shock they have a confused look, this is obvious and happens whenever they are in shock or trauma.
At such moments, the hamster will freeze, or rather, it will not move and will remain static.
After some time has passed he will start moving again, he will just need some time to recover from the stress and shock.
Hamsters limp if they are in shock
When hamsters fall or injure themselves, they may limp, which means they are in shock.
Limping means that the hamster is seriously injured, it will be scared and will get a shock.
In addition to limping, hamsters will look very limp or lifeless, all this is a consequence of their natural fear.
There will be an increased heart rate
Hamsters are naturally animals with a very fast heart rate, but when they are in shock, their heart rate increases even more.
After some time passes and the hamster stabilizes, then its heart rate will be normal again.
If by chance the pulse does not return to normal, it means that the hamster cannot recover from the shock, which means that you will have to take it to the vet.
Short breathing
When in shock, hamsters change their breathing, they start breathing in short and shallow intervals.
When the hamster stabilizes from the shock it experienced, then its breathing will return to normal.
This is how you will know that the hamster has stabilized from the shock it experienced at that moment.
When the hamster is in shock it hides
When hamsters are in shock they run away and hide in a safe place.
They are frightened by the shock they experienced and will temporarily hide to recover from the fear and shock.
In a short time after the shock passes, he should go out and start behaving normally, otherwise he won’t eat and drink, which leads to dehydration.
If it does not come out for a long time, you will have to take it to the vet.
Hamsters get shocked when falling
When hamsters fall from a height, they get a shock, and in addition to the trauma, they will also get injuries and fractures to their body.
Therefore, let’s consider how the hamster acts when falling, and injuries are followed by shock and trauma.
Read more: How To Care For A Dying Hamster? (In Last Days And Hours)
The hamster fell on its back and went into shock
Falling on the back is not good at all for hamsters because apart from getting a shock they will also get very serious injuries to their body.
No matter how much they manage to reduce the risk of falling on their back, it always fails, and unfortunately, they can get injuries and shock.
When a hamster falls on its back, it can damage its backbone, but it depends on several factors:
- angle of incidence
- standing
- his age
- whether the floor is soft or hard
- falling position
It is easiest to notice if the hamster is seriously injured after its movement, if it moves with difficulty by twisting, then it has a serious injury, and you should take it to a veterinarian to examine it.
The hamster fell on its head
When hamsters fall on their heads they can suffer from serious injuries, brain damage and of course shock or trauma.
He may start to tilt his head to one side from the fall, which will mean he is very injured.
After the hamster falls on its head, it will hide and avoid socializing with you, it may take some time.
To help the hamster overcome the shock of falling on its head, you will need to approach it slowly when you want to touch it because the shock causes fear in our furry friends.
Falling from our hands
When we hold hamsters in our hands, it often happens that they fall because they are very active and want to move all the time.
When the hamster falls from a height on our hands, it is a heavy fall, which causes a shock in the hamsters. They are delicate, and when they fall, they can easily injure their limbs and experience trauma and shock.
Even if the hamster is not injured, he will still experience a certain shock from the fall and fear. If you notice that the hamster is not injured and the hamster is breathing hard, then it has experienced a shock.
That’s why it’s best to be seated when holding the hamster to reduce the height in the event of a fall and the risk of injury and shock.
Can hamsters die from shock?
Yes, hamsters can die from shock, because shock causes stress and fear that lead to disease and fatal consequences in our pets.
Shock and stress can cause health damage in hamsters, especially Tyzzer’s disease. Stress increases the bacteria Clostridium piliforme which is directly linked to Tyzzer’s disease.
At the same time, problems with the liver gradually occur, and in the end, the failure of its work.
The shock is also dangerous for the heart because it can cause a heart attack, and then heart failure and diseases.
When hamsters have heart failure, it can be noticed by the following symptoms:
- breathing problems
- lack of appetite
- rapid breathing
- irregular breathing
- the appearance of blue color on the skin of hamsters
- difficulty and fatigue when moving
When hamsters have heart failure it is very difficult for them, and it is even more difficult that there is no treatment for heart failure.
Only in such unwanted situations is it left for us to take better care of the hamster for the rest of its life.
Shock and trauma are dangerous and can cause death, but the hamster can also recover, it all depends on where and how much the hamster was injured when it had a shock.
In any case, hamsters should be exposed to shock as little as possible, the less the better for their health and life.
How to help your hamster when it is in shock?
Since the shock is a serious matter that can have serious consequences for the health and life of the hamster, the most important thing is how we as owners will react when our pet is in shock.
Here are some steps we need to take to make it easier for the hamster to recover from shock or trauma.
Read more: What Temperature Is Too Hot For Hamsters? (Let’s Discover)
Examine the hamster
When the hamster is in shock we need to examine it to see if and how much it is injured.
There may be injuries such as:
- fractures
- bleeding
- open wounds
- sprain
Depending on the injury, if necessary you will have to take the hamster to a veterinarian.
The most common injuries in hamsters are fractures and wounds on their body.
Hamsters in shock need warmness
Heat is very important so that the hamster can recover more easily and quickly from the shock.
That’s why we need to use a heat lamp, a heated cage, and a hot water bottle.
As we said, hamsters do not want to be held in our hands when they are in shock, so we will have to approach carefully.
When we want to touch the hamster, it may bite us, so wearing gloves is the best solution.
A comfortable place
When hamsters are in shock, they need a calm and comfortable place to calm down and overcome the shock.
Therefore, when they are in shock, they will be most comfortable:
- in a quiet place
- a place where it is warm
- with no other pets or people around
- a darker room
Broken bones
When hamsters fall they can break bones in their body, which causes shock and stress.
When hamsters have fractures, it is recognized by their movement, or by the curvature of a limb.
The bones can heal by themselves, but our recommendation is to take the hamster to the vet anyway because otherwise the bones may not heal properly and the hamster will always crouch when it walks.
Wounds from injuries
Wounds from injuries will cause shock and fear in hamsters.
Therefore, if the hamster is bleeding, we should help it to stop the bleeding.
Take a towel or toilet paper, wipe the blood and gently press the area to stop the bleeding.
Just be careful not to press the hamsters too much because it will hurt them and they may run away from you, be soft and gentle while cleaning the wound.
Disinfect him with a diluted antiseptic or a solution with water and salt, so that his wound does not get infected.
Disinfection is the prevention of the appearance of pus, redness or swelling at the wound site.
If the wound is too deep and you cannot stop the bleeding, then take the hamster to the vet.
Hamsters need company when they are in shock
When hamsters experience shock they need attention and friendship.
Regardless of whether the hamster is injured or not from falling or something similar, however, in order to overcome the shock, you need to spend some time with it, to keep it company.
Take your time and make sure that they will help your pet to cope with the shock more easily, talk to him gently and quietly to help him overcome the shock and trauma faster.
