If you own a hamster, you’ll likely want to do everything you can to make their lives happy and healthy. Aside from regular vet visits, do hamsters need vaccines?
Hamsters don’t need vaccines. However, they’re susceptible to various health issues, such as wet-tail, tapeworms, and dental problems. Your hamster should have an annual vet exam and twice a year if it’s older. Fecal matter tests are also helpful for detecting parasites.
In this article, I’ll discuss a pet hamster’s healthcare needs, what health issues can affect it, and the signs of a healthy and sick hamster. Let’s get started!
What Preventative Veterinary Care Do Hamsters Need?
Hamsters are commonly used as test subjects for vaccines intended to be used in humans and other animals. Vaccines for animals are regulated through the U.S.D.A (United States Department of Agriculture). Currently, there are no vaccines approved for use in hamsters specifically. Because of this, you’re unlikely to find a vet who will administer a vaccine to your hamster.
Although hamsters are common and popular pets, they’re still considered exotic animals. Some vets don’t specialize in hamster care, and it’s a good idea to conduct research on specialized vets in your area who can provide excellent care for your hamster.
Once you’ve found a suitable vet for your hamster, below is the preventative care your hamster needs:
Physical Exams
You should take your hamster for a physical exam once a year. If your hamster is older (approaching two years old), you should take it in for an exam twice a year because older hamsters are prone to more health issues than younger ones.
Of course, if your hamster appears ill (more on this in the following sections), you should take it to the vet for evaluation.
A typical physical exam for a hamster includes the following:
- Measuring your hamster’s weight
- Taking your hamster’s temperature
- Checking your hamster’s heart rate and breathing
- Evaluating the fur and skin for lesions or irritation
- Looking at the hamster’s teeth to make sure they are not infected or growing excessively
- Checking any problems you may have noticed with your hamster
Fecal Matter Tests
In addition to a physical exam, a vet may conduct a fecal matter test. There are some illnesses and parasites that don’t have immediate symptoms or warning signs, and a fecal matter test is an excellent diagnostic tool for these issues.
After taking the fecal matter test, your vet will check the sample under a microscope. This helps them to check for bacteria and eggs that can cause sickness and infection.
What Are Common Hamster Diseases?
There are some conditions and illnesses that uniquely affect hamsters, although some issues can be seen in other animals as well.
Here are a few common health issues you should look out for in your hamster:
Wet-Tail
“Wet-tail” is commonly used to refer to proliferative ileitis, an infection that results in extreme diarrhea. Stress is believed to be a contributing factor. While it commonly affects hamsters when they’re between three and six weeks old, it’s possible for them to contract it at any age.
The term “wet-tail” is because a hamster’s tail and hindquarters become wet and matted due to watery stool.
If left undetected or untreated, wet-tail can quickly become fatal, and a hamster can die of the illness within a few days to one week. It’s, therefore, extremely important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible if you notice your hamster has a wet-looking tail or hindquarters.
The good news is that wet-tail can be treated if it’s caught soon enough, and your hamster can recover with fluid treatments and (possibly) antibiotics.
Dental Issues
Hamsters are rodents, meaning their teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. Their teeth must be regularly ground down by chewing on hard things such as wood and food pellets. However, there are a few issues that can arise if a hamster’s teeth grow too long.
Hamsters are vulnerable to abscesses (a swollen area usually filled with pus) that can easily become infected. It’s also possible for a hamster’s teeth to become so long that they start to grow into the roof of the mouth or the nasal cavity. If a hamster develops dental issues, it will likely need to see a vet regularly for teeth trimmings and antibiotic treatments if there are infections.
You can help prevent dental issues with your hamster by providing it with plenty of hard objects to chew on and feeding it hamster pellets.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms are parasites that feed off the food their host eats. Hamsters can contract them from infected food, water, and sometimes insects. It’s also possible for a hamster to pass on tapeworm eggs to their owners.
Initially, a hamster won’t show any signs or symptoms. However, as the tapeworm grows, it will leech more nutrients from your hamster’s digestive tract. This can cause them to lose weight and become weak and lethargic.
A fecal matter test is required to diagnose a tapeworm. Treating a tapeworm infestation typically involves using anthelmintic drugs to kill the parasite. For a more severe case, your hamster may also need fluids and electrolytes to help restore energy and nutrients.
Hair Loss, Skin Irritation, and Skin Infections
Various factors can lead to skin irritation in a hamster. Some hamsters can experience allergies from the bedding in their habitat, making them itchy and over-grooming themselves. This can likewise lead to loss of fur and bald spots.
Hamsters may also develop abscesses and infections from minor cuts. These can be caused by fights with other hamsters or simply rubbing against a sharp corner in their enclosure. Hamsters of the same sex are prone to fighting with each another, so keeping them separate can help prevent this problem.
Also, be sure your hamster has adequate space to move around and doesn’t injure itself on anything in the enclosure.
How Do I Know If My Hamster Is Sick?
Understanding your hamster’s behavior is key in determining if something is wrong. Significant changes such as appetite and weight loss can indicate something is wrong.
At the first sign of illness, you should take your hamster to a vet for a professional opinion before attempting to give them any kind of treatment yourself. Since some health problems can have overlapping symptoms, a professional diagnosis is important to make sure you know what’s affecting your pet.
A few common signs of illness in hamsters are:
- Runny nose
- Discharge in and around the eyes
- Diarrhea
- Low energy
- Loss of appetite
- Low body temperature
- Sneezing and/or wheezy breathing
What Are the Signs of a Healthy Hamster?
Most of this article has described how a hamster will look and behave when they are sick. If you want to know if your hamster is healthy, here’s a list of things to look for:
- Shiny fur
- Bright eyes
- Clean ears
- Healthy weight
- Even teeth
- Energetic and playful
- Consistent appetite
Conclusion
Although hamsters don’t require vaccines, there are still measures you should take to make sure they’re healthy. Annual physical exams and fecal matter tests will determine the overall health of your hamster.
Common ailments affecting hamsters are wet-tail (diarrhea), tapeworms, dental infections, skin irritation, and hair loss. These can be treated with either the proper medicines or by changing the bedding and layout of your hamster’s enclosure.