Hamsters are small in size with a high metabolic rate. When facing sudden illness or accidents, their condition can deteriorate rapidly. Below is a systematic emergency care guide, covering handling methods for common emergencies and preventive measures to help owners respond to crises promptly.
1. Common Emergencies and Their Treatments
1.1 Dehydration
Symptoms
Sunken eyes, poor skin elasticity (slow recovery when skin is pinched), lethargy, reduced urine output, or thick urine.
Causes
Insufficient water intake, diarrhea, high-temperature environments, or loss of appetite due to illness.
Treatments
Rehydration:
Dip a clean cotton swab in diluted electrolyte water (e.g., pet-specific electrolyte solution or weak honey water) and gently apply it to the hamster’s lips to encourage licking.
If the hamster refuses to eat or drink, use a 1ml syringe (without the needle) to slowly drip fluid into the corner of its mouth—0.1-0.2ml each time, every 2 hours.
Adjust Environment: Move the cage to a cool, well-ventilated area and avoid direct sunlight.
Veterinary Check-Up: If there is no improvement within 24 hours, underlying causes such as diabetes or kidney disease need to be ruled out.
1.2 Hypothermia (Low Body Temperature)
Symptoms
Cold body, huddling into a ball, weak breathing, slow movement, or unconsciousness.
Causes
Excessively low ambient temperature (below 15℃), prolonged exposure to cold winds, or poor physical condition.
Treatments
Slow Rewarming:
Place the hamster in a small warm container (e.g., a thermos sleeve) with a soft towel at the bottom.
Wrap the hamster in a towel soaked in 40℃ warm water (avoid direct contact with hot water). Check its temperature every 10 minutes until it returns to 36-38℃.
Energy Supplementation: After rewarming, use a cotton swab to apply diluted glucose water (1:10 ratio) to the hamster’s lips. Once it regains consciousness, offer small amounts of easily digestible food (e.g., cooked egg yolk).
Prevent Recurrence: Maintain the cage temperature at 20-28℃. In winter, use a ceramic heat lamp or hand warmer (placed outside the cage) for additional warmth.
1.3 Injuries (Trauma/Fractures)
Symptoms
Bleeding, swelling, deformed limbs, difficulty moving, or pain responses (e.g., squealing, hiding).
Treatments
Stop Bleeding:
Minor Scrapes: Gently press the wound with sterile gauze and apply pet-specific hemostatic powder (e.g., hemostatic gel).
Severe Bleeding: Press the wound with a clean cotton ball and seek veterinary care immediately (suturing or blood transfusion may be required).
Fracture Immobilization:
Make a simple splint using cardboard or popsicle sticks, and secure it with medical tape (avoid wrapping too tightly to prevent impaired blood circulation).
Keep the injured limb still and minimize movement.
Prevent Infection: Clean the cage, replace with sterile bedding, and prevent the wound from coming into contact with dirt.
1.4 Choking/Ingestion of Foreign Objects
Symptoms
Difficulty breathing, frequent coughing, stretching the neck, secretions around the mouth, or sudden collapse.
Causes
Ingesting bedding (e.g., wood shavings, paper scraps), food getting stuck in the throat, or nesting materials becoming tangled.
Treatments
Gentle Cleaning:
Use tweezers to carefully remove visible foreign objects (e.g., food stuck between teeth).
If the object is deep in the mouth or nasal cavity, do not pull it forcefully—seek veterinary help immediately.
Heimlich Maneuver (Emergency Use Only):
Hold the hamster upside down and gently pat its back with the palm of your hand (professional guidance is required; non-professionals should use this with caution).
Preventive Measures: Avoid using fine bedding and provide large, non-toxic nesting materials (e.g., hay, paper towels).
1.5 Pseudo-Hibernation (False Hibernation)
Symptoms
Stiff body, very shallow breathing, low body temperature but not fully unconscious (weak response when touched).
Causes
Sudden drop in ambient temperature, insufficient energy reserves due to food shortage.
Treatments
Immediate Rewarming:
Hold the hamster in the palm of your hand to warm it with your body temperature, and gently massage its body to promote blood circulation.
After rewarming, wrap the hamster in a towel soaked in warm water (30℃) for 10-15 minutes.
Energy Supplementation: Once the hamster regains consciousness, feed it diluted glucose water. Later, provide high-calorie food (e.g., nuts, cooked egg yolk).
Adjust Environment: Maintain a stable temperature in the cage, avoiding temperature fluctuations exceeding 5℃.
2. General Principles of Emergency Care
Stay Calm: Hamsters are sensitive to vibrations and noise. Handle them gently to avoid increasing stress.
Isolate and Observe: If multiple hamsters are kept in the same cage, move the injured or sick one to a separate container to prevent fighting or disease transmission.
Record Symptoms: Document the onset time, symptoms, diet, and environmental changes to provide a basis for the vet’s diagnosis.
Prioritize Veterinary Care: If you cannot determine the condition or treatment is ineffective, contact an exotic pet specialist immediately (regular pet hospitals may lack experience with hamsters).
3. Preventive Measures
3.1 Regular Checks
Inspect the cage and toys weekly for damage, and avoid sharp edges or small parts falling off.
Observe changes in the hamster’s behavior, feces, and weight to detect abnormalities early.
3.2 Safe Environment
Use non-toxic bedding (e.g., paper cotton, corn cob bedding) and avoid pine or cedar shavings (aromatic hydrocarbons may cause respiratory damage).
Place a chew stone in the cage to prevent overgrown teeth from causing eating difficulties.
3.3 Scientific Diet
Provide commercial hamster food and avoid high-sugar, high-fat foods (e.g., human snacks, mixed grains with excessive seed oil).
Wash and dry fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before feeding small amounts (e.g., broccoli, carrots) to prevent diarrhea.
3.4 Temperature Control
Use cooling plates or ceramic nests in summer, and provide warm nests and heating equipment in winter.
Avoid placing the cage near air conditioning vents or heaters.
4. Home First-Aid Kit Checklist
Basic Tools: Sterile gauze, cotton swabs, tweezers, medical tape, small round-tip scissors, thermometer.
Medications: Pet-specific hemostatic powder, diluted glucose powder, electrolyte solution (e.g., pet oral rehydration salts).
Others: Notebook (for recording conditions), insulation bag, disposable gloves, small towels.