Hamster Illness: Prevention, Recognition and Care

Hamsters are lovable little creatures, so keeping
them safe and healthy is a top priority for
hamster owners. Since hamsters are such small
animals, any little illness can turn into a big
deal fairly quickly. Hamsters don't have the
strong immune system that larger animals have,
so treating any hamster illness quickly and
effectively is important to guarantee the health
of your hamster.

The following are some common hamster illnesses
and the treatment that needs to be given to cure
the illness:

Wet Tail: Wet tail is a serious hamster illness
that should be treated with extreme caution and
immediate action. The condition is caused by a
bacterial infection that quickly spreads to the
hamster's digestive system. It's often caused by
stressful situations (i.e. a hamster that has
just been moved to a new home or has just been
weaned will sometimes get wet tail). You'll
notice that a hamster has wet tail if they start
to have severe diarrhea that is pale and mushier
than usual. The anal area around the tail will
look wet, which is how this illness got its
name. Hamsters that have wet tail will be
lethargic and often visibly in pain, as well as
suffering from dehydration. It's very important
to contact a veterinarian immediately if you
notice symptoms of wet tail. Keep the hamster
hydrated until help is available. Veterinarians
will often prescribe wet tail medication and wet
tail supplements. Also note that wet tail is
contagious, so other hamsters should be moved
out of the cage immediately as to not become
infected.

Ringworm: The main sign of ringworm in a
hamster is a small circular ring or missing fur.
If you notice this on your hamster, call a
veterinarian immediately to get treatment.
Ringworm is extremely contagious, so you'll also
want to remove the infected hamster from the cage
if other hamsters are living in the same cage.

Constipation: Constipation can happen when a
hamster is dehydrated or is eating mostly dry
pellet food and not enough fresh fruits and
vegetables. You'll notice that your hamster
might be constipated if it is not defecating as
often as normal, or if it appears to be hunched
in pain. To cure hamster constipation, make sure
that your hamster has plenty of fresh water at
all times. Also, be sure to feed your hamster
fresh fruits and vegetables regularly.
Vegetables with high fiber content are
especially good for hamster constipation because
they will encourage regular bowel movements.

Mites and Ear Mites: Mites can attach
themselves to hamsters just like many other
animals. Skin mites cause hamsters to scratch
continuously, resulting in loss of fur in an
infected area. Mites can also infect a hamster's
face and ears. In this case, the hamster's skin
will become crusty and dry. A hamster will
scratch the itching spot, causing cuts and loss
of fur. Because the scratching can get severe,
it's necessary to contact a veterinarian for
anti-mite spray, injections and other remedies
to cure the illness.

Colds: Hamsters can catch common colds from
drafts, or from another animal (or human) that
has a cold virus. Symptoms of hamster cold range
from sneezing to heavy breathing. A hamster might
also remain hunched over or have a wet nose if
they have a cold. To make sure your hamster does
not catch a cold, place their cage out of the way
of drafts from doors and windows and never bathe
your hamster. If your hamster does catch a cold,
make sure that it has plenty of fresh water and
soft food until they recover.

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Alison Wood is a co-founder and managing partner
of Woodmors.com, a new commercial/informational
website offering an array of products and ideas
for everyday living. For more articles on small
animal care, product reviews and pet related
interviews please visit ==>>
http://www.woodmors.com/small_animals

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