As a hamster owner, you’re probably aware of their sensitivity. They get scared easily, and stress often leads to severe health issues. But can fear actually end up killing your precious pet, or is it not that serious?
Hamsters can die from fear. Animals with weak hearts and chronic heart conditions, or those generally more fragile because of their age, can get heart attacks from the sudden increase in heart rate caused by the automatic response to what the body considers a threat.
This article discusses the fight-or-flight response in detail and how an increased heart rate can kill animals. I’ll also list some signs of fear and how you can help a hamster with a heart attack.
Can a Hamster Be Scared to Death?
Hamsters can be scared to death. When scared, a hamster’s heart rate increases immensely as a way to respond to a possible threat, and this could lead to a heart attack.
Very intense fear can cause a heart attack even in humans, but it’s pretty rare.
How Does a Hamster Die From Fear?
When animals are scared, their fight-or-flight response kicks in. It’s just our way of protecting ourselves from any threat.
This response follows a sudden release of hormones, increasing the heart rate and other bodily reactions. It usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, but the fight-or-flight response can even last up to an hour.
What Is the Purpose of the Fight-or-Flight Response?
When an animal’s life is in danger, an increased heart rate gives them the energy and power to react, fleeing or fighting the threat. It’s how the body tries to survive whatever it perceives as danger.
It allows more oxygen to reach the lungs, which also helps give the body more strength to survive a dangerous situation. That’s why scared people start breathing quicker and heavier, and an asthma attack is sometimes triggered.
If an animal already has a weak heart (for whatever reason), it can die from that sudden extra pressure on the organ.
You should read this article if you’re interested in learning more about the fight-or-flight response.
Signs of Intense Fear in Hamsters
When your hamster suddenly gets scared, it can get aggressive, try to flee, or freeze completely. An immediate heart attack is possible if one already has a weak heart. However, it can also take a while for the heart to give in, as the fear response can last quite a bit.
There are some clear signs of your hamster being scared. Even if you don’t notice whatever might be scary to them, their body language should give away that something’s seriously wrong, and you should act immediately.
Here are some of the signs of intense fear:
- Fast and heavy breathing
- Fast heart rate
- High-pitched noises (squeaking, for example)
- Hiding
- Trying to escape
- Shaking
- Aggression (biting and scratching, for example)
However, the signs listed above can have other causes. We’ll look into some of these below.
Fast and Heavy Breathing
When you’re sure nothing in your hamster’s environment is scaring it but he’s breathing heavily and fast, your pet might be sick. Fast and heavy breathing is usually a sign of respiratory issues. This symptom should be dealt with right away because it’s often life-threatening.
As soon as you notice heavy and fast breathing, you should take your hamster to the veterinarian. Respiratory issues can evolve quickly and become a death sentence after a couple of days.
Fast Heart Rate
A hamster’s heart rate can increase for several reasons, not only because of something scary. One of the most common causes is prolonged stress. When you’re stressed, your mind is tricked into thinking you’re in immediate danger, which activates the fight-or-flight response.
The average heart rate of a hamster is between 300 and 600 beats per minute.
The fast heart rate can also be caused by illness or extreme pain. It’s an automatic response to physical harm. Other possible causes are contact with toxic products and not getting enough sleep.
Trying To Hide, Escape, or Being Aggressive
When stressed, hamsters try to hide wherever they can or escape at every opportunity. The stress will also often cause aggression as a defense mechanism. They will try to bite whatever and whoever is around.
Trying to approach a stressed hamster with your hands is not a good idea. Your hamster is already on edge, so it won’t appreciate someone coming into their personal space.
If you can’t spot your hamster most of the day, or it continuously digs and bites the cage, your hamster might be very stressed.
If you want to learn about other reasons your hamster might be shaking when you don’t suspect they’ve been scared, read this article from the Care Animal Hospital website.
Things That Can Scare a Hamster
Plenty of things scare animals. You don’t have to take note of something scary before your body registers it and activates the fight-or-flight response.
Realistically, we’re aware that most of the things we encounter won’t harm us, but our bodies just react to certain things automatically.
Here’s a list of things that can scare animals, including hamsters and humans.
- Loud noises: Things dropping on the ground, fireworks, cars beeping, etc., can take you by surprise.
- Flickering lights: When a light suddenly turns on or starts flickering, it can surprise you.
- Sudden movements: Something suddenly approaching fast often causes an automatic fear reaction.
- Being awoken: Something waking your hamster when it’s deep asleep can be very scary.
- Pain: Physical pain can cause an intense stress response. The fear and panic caused by the sudden onset and intensity of the pain can cause a heart attack.
Signs Your Hamster Has a Heart Attack
When your hamster is having a heart attack, it will usually show apparent signs, allowing you to act quickly. If you suspect something might’ve scared your hamster, you should keep a close eye on it immediately, for at least up to an hour.
When hamsters get a heart attack, they usually show the following signs:
- Rapid breathing
- Heavy breathing
- Wheezing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hiding
- Seizures
- Aggression
- Loss of balance
Humans experience many of the same signs when they get a heart attack or suffer from heart failure.
What To Do When You Suspect Your Hamster Is Having a Heart Attack
You probably don’t want to hear this, but a heart attack is often a death sentence to a hamster. They are tiny and sensitive.
Hamsters often die quickly from illnesses and wounds, so a heart attack, which is a very sudden cause of death, is something they usually succumb to.
On top of that, it’s more difficult for veterinarians to treat tiny animals. They can only try their best, but the odds are often against them.
You should rush to your vet when you notice the signs of a possible heart attack. It’s all you can do to attempt to save their lives.
Conclusion
Hamsters get scared quickly, and it triggers their fight-or-flight. The same happens to humans, but they are generally stronger and can handle the sudden increase in heart rate.
Heart attacks in hamsters are usually a death sentence. It happens quickly and is hard to treat before it kills your pet. However, if your hamster hasn’t passed away, and you suspect a heart attack, you should rush to the veterinarian.