Hamsters are very delicate animals that often get sick, and then it is necessary to take care of them as best as we can so that they recover.
One of the most important things to pay attention is when hamsters are sick is their nutrition.
What to feed a sick hamster?
When hamsters are sick, you should feed them with chicken meat, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and a little honey. Also when hamsters are sick, they need to be well-hydrated, and rested, and have a temperature of 65-75 degrees in their environment.
In today’s article, you will find out what should be the nutrition of hamsters when they are sick, as well as other measures that are needed in addition to nutrition so that they can recover faster.
What to feed a sick hamster?
When hamsters are sick, we should pay attention to their diet and give them more protein food.
In this way, we will provide them with sufficient amounts of energy and strength so that they can recover faster.
Sources of protein for hamsters are:
- eggs
- chicken
- fruit
- vegetables
- honey
By eating this kind of food, the hamsters will recover much faster, of course, we must not forget the water, which is also an important factor because they need to have enough hydration while they recover.
When hamsters have a diet rich in protein, low in carbohydrates, and plenty of fresh water, you can be sure that they will recover in record time.
Sick hamsters can sometimes completely stop eating which is too dangerous for their life, so you need to be persistent and give them food that meets their needs.
That’s why protein food, even if eaten in small quantities, will contribute to the hamster’s recovery.
Chicken
When you give chicken meat to sick hamsters, make sure that it is always well prepared. Hamsters should eat cooked chicken, do not give them fried chicken.
Fried food is not good for their health and can even cause bigger health problems.
Cooked chicken meat is ideal for hamsters and is better processed in their digestive system with the best possible utilization of nutrients.
There is a lot of protein in chicken meat that will help the hamster to recover and regain its strength.
Hamster owners often say that hamsters love to eat chicken and that it is very rare to see a hamster refuse such food.
Hard-cooked eggs
Eggs have a lot of protein in their composition and are excellent for the recovery of your sick pet.
It is best to give them hard-cooked eggs because eggs processed in this way will have no potential pathogens and will not be a threat to the health of the hamsters.
You can also give scrambled eggs to the hamsters, but they still require the use of oil to prepare them and thus can be more harmful than cooked eggs.
Cooked eggs will help your hamster recover much faster and should therefore be part of their diet especially when they are sick.
A vegetable
Hamsters should also eat a certain amount of vegetables when they are sick.
Vegetables will help them get well because they have many vitamins and minerals that are important for health, and are also great for better hydration when hamsters are sick.
Here are some vegetables you should give your hamsters when they are sick:
- cucumber
- carrots
- broccoli
- spinach
- lettuce
Give him moderate amounts of these greens, and if he doesn’t like a vegetable, there is no need to force him to eat it, because there is a large enough selection of vegetables.
When feeding hamsters vegetables always be careful when giving them lettuce as it can cause diarrhea in hamsters.
Fresh fruit
Fruits, like vegetables, provide minerals and vitamins that are great for your hamster’s recovery.
By eating fruit, the hamsters will also get carbohydrates that will also help them recover completely and quickly.
Here are some fruits that you can freely give to hamsters:
- an apple
- bananas
- pears
- grapes
The fruit will give the hamster strength and help him have more energy by introducing a certain amount of sugar into the body.
A little honey
When hamsters are sick, you can also give them some honey to help them get better faster.
Hamsters should not usually eat honey because it has a lot of sugar, but in very small amounts it can help them without any negative effects.
It is best to put some honey in boiling water to dissolve it and then give it to the hamsters with a syringe.
Whenever you decide to give them some honey, pay attention to the origin of the honey, it should be of excellent quality, otherwise, it can have bad effects on the health of the hamsters.
How to help a hamster when it is sick?
When hamsters are sick, proper and healthy nutrition is part of the care so that they can recover faster.
But there are some other things you should do such as:
- correct temperature
- veterinarian control
- hydration
- cleaning the cage
- less exercise
- quiet surroundings
All these extra things will help the hamster to recover and heal faster.
Correct temperature
When hamsters are sick, they need to have a normal temperature so that they can recover faster. The ideal temperature for hamsters is between 65-75 F, so they will have ideal conditions for recovery.
If the hamster is very hot or cold then he can stop eating, which when he is sick is very bad for his health.
No one would want a hamster not to eat when it is sick, because it needs enough nutrients to heal faster.
Veterinarian control
If you notice that your hamster is sick, you should immediately take it to the vet for an examination.
The sooner you take him, the better for the hamster, so that he can start treatment prescribed by a veterinarian to get better.
When hamsters are sick they show certain symptoms:
- coughing
- diarrhea
- heavy breathing
- dry fur
- constipation
- frequent urination
Apart from these symptoms, they may also have a wet tail, wounds on the body, and other symptoms and signs that indicate that something is wrong and they need treatment at a veterinarian.
Some of these symptoms and signs can cause fatal consequences, for example, a wet tail, if not treated promptly the hamster can die in a few days.
Hydration
When hamsters are sick, they must be sufficiently hydrated, otherwise, they can become dehydrated and have fatal consequences for their lives.
The best way to hydrate hamsters is of course clean and fresh water, which you must change often so that the hamster can recover faster.
Electrolytes can sometimes be added to the water to help hamsters recover. In addition to water, for hydration, hamsters need to eat vegetables and fruits that are rich in water, such as cucumber.
Read more: How To Treat Your Hamster Ear Infection At Home?
Quiet surroundings
When hamsters are sick, you need to provide them with a quiet environment so that they can recover more easily.
If you have other pets, separate them in another room so they don’t bother the hamster.
Talk quietly to your pet, do not play loud music or TV, because he needs silence.
Read more: How Much Does It Cost To Remove A Tumor In Hamsters?
Less exercise
Hamsters are always very active, but when they are sick they should not tire themselves too much until they recover.
So it’s not a bad idea to remove the exercise wheel for a few days until the hamster recovers.
You wouldn’t want him using the exercise wheel and wasting his energy when he is sick and weak.
Read more: How Much Does Hamster Abscess Treatment Cost?
Cleaning the cage
Cleaning the cage when the hamsters are sick should be more frequent so that the hamster can recover faster. When the cage is clean, the appearance of bacteria that can worsen the condition of your pet is prevented.
This is especially important if you keep several hamsters in one cage, you should clean the cage daily so that all the hamsters do not get sick.
If you can, it is best to partition the cage so that the sick hamster does not have contact with the healthy hamsters, but this option is a little more difficult to do.
Always wear gloves while cleaning the cage to protect yourself from transferring the disease from the hamster to you.
If you are pregnant, then it is best to have someone else clean the cage, so that no bacteria can be transferred.
Clean the cage with water and disinfect with an agent or you can use a solution of vinegar and water.
FAQs
Do hamsters get sick easily?
In general, hamsters are strong little animals, but if they don’t have a proper and healthy diet if the cage is dirty, then they can easily get sick and eventually die.
Can hamsters get sick from dirty cages?
Hamsters can get sick if their cage is not clean, especially the biggest danger is the occurrence of diseases such as wet tail, a disease that if not treated in time can kill the hamster in just a few days.
Do hamsters heal fast?
Hamsters can heal quickly especially if they have an injury on their body, they clean and lick the wounds themselves, which allows them to heal faster.
It is more difficult and slower to heal when they have bacterial infections and diseases that are internal to their organism and require veterinary treatment.
Conclusion
When hamsters are sick, you should feed them more protein so they can recover faster.
In addition to protein from chicken and eggs, you should also give them vegetables and fruits so that they can have enough nutrients to heal.
Maintaining cage hygiene, a calm environment, sufficient hydration, and other steps are also important so that the hamster can recover more easily and quickly.
Be careful if the hamster not eats enough when they are sick, because they may stop eating which is very bad and dangerous for their condition especially when they are sick.
Read more: What To Do If A Hamster Tumor Burst? Let’s Find Out
