The 5 Most Common Health Issues Of Hamsters

If you have a Hamster, you should know about the health problems your Hamster can have, so here`s a short list of some common issues. First is skin disease and allergies. They are like humans in that they can suffer from skin disease when their cage and area gets dirty.

It can also be caused by inappropriate bedding, like Cedar, so don`t use this type of bedding. Their bedding and body can also get infested with ringworms and mites, so be sure to clean their cage and living area on a regular basis.

Because Hamsters are such tiny creatures, they can be easily injured by the objects around them. They can get bruises and scratches from rubbing their bodies up against things in their cage, so be sure to check them regularly, for skin infections and/or abscesses from bruises/scratches.

Next are digestive issues and the two most common digestive problems are Wet Tail and Diarrhea. This is usually caused by a shift in their diet, infection and stress. They can get diarrhea if you give them a lot of veggies in a day or too much fresh food.

They can also have this problem if they are undergoing treatment and taking medications such as Penicillin. If your Hamster has diarrhea, stop feeding fresh foods and veggies and consult your vet! Do not resume regular fresh food feeding until the problem is solved.

Wet Tail is caused by bacteria that is accumulated and causes wetness around the tail of the Hamster. If your Hamster has a poor appetite, is inactive and seems sick, you should get him to the vet pronto as this can be fatal to your pet! It is very contagious, so when purchasing one, check the bottom of the Hamster for 'wetness'.

Number 3 is Hairloss and their frequent rubbing normally leads to bald spots somewhere on their body. There are some Hamsters that get aggressive at times and will chew the fur of other Hamsters, causing hair loss. It can also be a sign of an underlying disease like an Adrenal Tumor or Kidney Failure.

Number 4 is Dental Issues. Hamsters chew constantly because their teeth grow constantly. You must provide them with lots of toys to chew on to keep their teeth from growing too long or it will cause them to have dental problems.

Number 5 is Respiratory Issues and a runny nose and eyes as well as Diabetes are common in Hamsters. Signs of Diabetes are the Hamster will urinate frequently and are always thirsty. If you see any of these signs or think your Hamster is sick, get him to the vet right away!