Pet Hamster

Hamsters are one of the most popular pets to own. They are cute and adorable, and their care and maintenance are not as demanding compared to other pets. Their lifespan averages 2-3 years, and as long as you keep them healthy, you do not have to worry about costly veterinary services.

Here are a few tips on how to care for hamsters:

Provide a healthy diet –hamsters usually eat about half an ounce of food per day, and most of it are eaten at night. You will need to always leave food for your pet in its cage. The best type of food you can give your hamster is the pellet type or block type that has 15%-20% of protein. You can mix these with seeds. You can also provide supplemental food such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Give them a well-balanced diet with a quality assortment of foods so that they can get the adequate vitamins and nutrients their little bodies need. Ensure that they have fresh and clean water every day.

Give your pet hamsters a healthy environment– clean their cage regularly and make sure they have daily exercise by providing exercise wheels and tunnels, and allowing them a place to burrow. All these elements in their habitat will enhance their physical and psychological wellbeing. Each hamster in a cage should have at least 19 square inches of floor space, with at least 6 inches of cage height. The accessories in the cage should be cleaned approximately twice a week with non-toxic disinfectants and warm water then rinsed thoroughly. Their food and water bowls should be washed every day.

Temperature, lighting, and bedding – the ideal temperature for your hamster’s habitat is anywhere between 65-80°F.  Also, hamsters are crepuscular; they like to rest and burrow during the day, and are most active at dusk. If you are using artificial lighting at night, try to keep your hamster cage area dark to stay true to its natural light conditions. The bedding material you use should be absorbent and non-toxic. Wood shavings and ground corn cobs can be used as bedding for your hamster. Do not use cedar wood shavings since these are toxic to them.

Unlike pet dogs and cats, hamsters do not need regular veterinary care. The only time you might actually need veterinary services is if your pet encounters any medical or health problems. Some common illnesses hamsters are prone to are hair loss (alopecia) and wet tail (proliferative ileitis). Wet tail is caused by bacteria and symptoms include diarrhea, dehydration, and messy fur. Hair loss is caused by demodectic mange.

Photo: http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb20/coolcool4u/PET/Ham012.jpg

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