Throwing up can be a response to stomach irritation or an attempt by the body to expel potentially harmful toxins. While this is often the case in humans, it could be unrelated in animals. For example, hamsters usually can’t vomit.
Hamsters don’t throw up because their stomach muscles are too weak, and they don’t have a gag reflex. However, hamsters often exhibit behaviors that resemble throwing up, including spitting up food they keep stored in their cheeks.
Learning that your hamster can’t throw up probably came as a relief. But if it’s not vomiting, then what is your hamster doing? In this article, I’ll describe the most common conditions that could be happening to your hamster and how to cope with them.
Why Hamsters Can’t Throw Up
In 2013, a study was conducted on why rodents can’t vomit. During this case study, researchers discovered that rodents don’t possess a reflex that causes them to throw up. In addition, their capacity to do so is physically constrained because their stomachs are poorly formed, and their diaphragms are weak.
While hamsters don’t have the ability to throw up, they do often spit up food that is stored in their cheeks—which is commonly mistaken for vomiting.
Why Your Hamster Looks Like It’s Throwing Up
Although you likely already know that hamsters can’t vomit, you may wonder what’s driving yours to make strange noises and spit up. Here are a few potential explanations for your hamster’s symptoms.
Your Hamster Is Spitting Up Food Stored in Its Cheeks
Your hamster may be spitting out the food it has stored in its cheek pouches. These pouches’ primary function is to temporarily store food and bedding. Therefore, if your hamster is spitting out food, it may just be moving the food they have stashed elsewhere.
Diet Change Caused Digestive Problems in Your Hamster
New foods can cause digestive problems in your hamster, resulting in them regurgitating food. In addition, certain meals have the potential to trigger allergic reactions, irritate the stomach, or completely block your pet’s digestive tract. Therefore, you should use extreme caution while feeding your hamster anything new.
Check out the list below to better understand what you can and cannot feed your pet:
| Food to Eat | Food to Avoid |
| Sugarless breakfast cereals or grains | Citrus fruits |
| Greens | Nectarines |
| Seeds | Raw Beans |
| Carrots | Almonds |
| Cucumbers | Celery |
Your Hamster Has a Bacterial Infection
When a hamster’s food or bedding becomes contaminated, it might cause your hamster to spit it up. If you suspect that your hamster may have a bacterial illness, you should take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Additionally, you’ll have to carefully clean and sterilize the hamster cage.
Your Hamster Has Food Intolerances
The inability to digest some foods is a serious condition that can make your hamster regurgitate. If your hamster hasn’t adapted well to the new diet you’ve introduced, it may experience food intolerance. If this happens, getting in touch with your vet immediately is essential.
However, illnesses caused by intolerance aren’t limited to food. They can also be triggered by the hamsters’ bedding and household items. Some hamsters will likely have an unfavorable reaction to things like cigarette smoke and everyday household items like spray, furniture polish, scents, and air fresheners.
Warning Signs of Hamster Sickness
If you think your hamster is showing signs of being sick, such as throwing up, check the list below to see if any of the symptoms apply to your pet:
- Lack of energy: Lethargy refers to your hamster’s lack of energy and is one of the earliest symptoms of an illness. Observing your hamster and noticing that it only wants to sleep, hide, eat, and drink may indicate something is wrong.
- Dull fur: Hamsters are very clean animals, as they usually groom themselves. However, their coats may appear dull, dried out, or damp when they’re ill.
- Overheating: Hamsters can experience heatstroke. When hamsters become overheated, they exhibit symptoms like rapid breathing. Overheating has several harmful impacts and can result in significant issues if not addressed immediately.
- Diarrhea: Several factors, including infections and dietary changes, can set off a hamster’s digestive system and induce diarrhea. If your hamster is experiencing these symptoms, visit your local veterinarian. Diarrhea in your hamster should be taken very seriously, as it can lead to complications like dehydration and even death.
How To Treat Hamsters Experiencing Vomit-Like Symptoms
Depending on the reason for the symptoms that resemble vomiting, you can give your hamster a thorough cleaning. After that, they should be alright. However, if you feel your hamster’s spit-up is related to food, you should immediately take it to the veterinarian.
The veterinarian will be able to aid you in determining which food is causing your hamster’s illness and the types of food that are most suitable for your pet. Calling a veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding your hamster is always the best idea.
When Should You Call the Vet?
Your hamster’s behavior and frequency of spitting up should help you decide if you need to take it to the vet.
For instance, if your hamster regurgitates its food after eating but seems to be okay after and even has bowel movements, the food could have just been difficult to digest. If this is the case, there’s no need for you to be concerned.
However, if you notice your hamster spitting up frequently, you should immediately take it to the veterinarian. Throwing up can indicate several serious health problems, so you shouldn’t ignore them.
Final Thoughts
Although it’s highly challenging for hamsters to vomit due to their weak and small stomachs, they can spit the food they hold inside their cheeks, which may look to some like throwing up.
Therefore, ensure your hamster isn’t exposed to any odd objects, maintain a clean habitat for it at all times, and, most importantly, keep a close eye on it. That way, if you have any of the mentioned indicators, you’ll know exactly what to do to alleviate them.