you choose to have more than one hamster Your hamster’s teeth will likely be brownish- in the enclosure. To meet this need, various white or yellow. Because their teeth never hamster cages have built-in tunnels and exer- stop growing, hamsters need a chew toy, cise wheels along with a food dish and water chew stick or wooden toy available at all time Caring for bottle. Some habits provide climbing tubes. to wear down those constantly growing inci- sors. If your hamster’s teeth become over- Your Hamster It’s important that you regularly clean your grown, or you see a broken or chipped tooth, hamster’s habitat. Your hamster will tend to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

About Hamsters urinate in one or two corners of its habitat. Hamsters were first discovered in Syria in the Scoop out the wet bedding every day and re- Hamsters rarely need baths, but if you feel it early 1800s; their range extends from the place with fresh bedding. A small scoop makes needs one, spot-clean your pet using a damp Middle East to the Steppes in Russia. The most this an easy task. lukewarm washcloth or unscented baby popular types of hamsters are Syrians, Russian

Dwarfs, Chinese Dwarfs, Roborovski (referred wipes. Keep your hamster out of drafts while Change your hamster’s bedding once a week . it dries. For dwarf hamsters you can provide a to as Robos) and Djungarian (referred to as Be sure to also remove any food your hamster small dish of small animal dust weekly for your DJs). may have stored. dwarf hamster to roll around in to help re-

move oils from its fur. Leave the dust bath in This small rodent makes one of the most popu- Clean your hamster’s habitat thoroughly once lar introductory pets in the U.S. Hamsters are a month. Wash the habitat with lukewarm for just a few hours, no more than 12. Hairless by nature clean and easy to care for. They eat soapy water, and be sure to avoid ammonia- hamsters can benefit from a small amount of little, they are readily available and they’re in- based products. Thoroughly rinse with water unscented baby oil rubbed into their skin to expensive. Most importantly, hamsters are to remove any residue. Make sure the habitat help keep it soft. also a playful source of entertainment. is completely dry before adding fresh bedding.

Hamsters have poor eyesight, relying mostly Water and Food on their sense of smell and a keen sense of Grooming hearing They rub their scent glands on objects, Most hamsters don’t actually need to be For the most part, hamsters do not require a creating trails they can follow. lot of different types of foods. A mixture of brushed, as they groom themselves. However, if you have a Long Haired Syrian hamster, also high-quality hamster food, grains and fresh Tamed hamsters don’t mind being handled if fruits and vegetables will meet your pet’s nu- you pick them up around their middle with one known as the Teddy Bear Hamster, your pet could use a weekly brushing to help remove tritional needs. Do not make a dramatic hand, and place them in the palm of your other change to your hamster’s diet, which could hand. You should form a little cave with your wood shavings, food and dirt from her coat. You can do this using a special small animal stress your pet and cause it to develop wet hands when handling your hamster. This can tail. prevent not-so-tame hamsters from running comb, or even a soft, fine toothbrush. away. More ... Hamsters don’t usually require having their Habitat claws trimmed. However, if your pet scratches itself while self-grooming or its nails are This information is designed as a basic guide. There are several books and online resources available Hamsters are solitary foraging animals by na- starting to curl beneath its feet, you may need ture, and need a spacious cage to move around which provide in-depth information on hamsters to see a veterinarian. and their care.

as well as places to hide, particularly if www.PIJAC.org

Your hamster will not overeat, so be Provide your pet with clean, fresh, filtered, chlo- It’s not a bad idea to arrange a visit to the vet sure to keep its food bowl filled at all rine-free water, changed daily. on your way home from picking up your new times with a well-balanced hamster diet Reward your hamster with its favorite hamster hamster. The vet will check and make sure your that is specially formulated to provide treats, just keep them in moderation. pet is healthy and can answer any other ques- balanced nutrition with the ideal daily tions you might have. dosage of vitamins and minerals, plus all Do not feed your hamster chocolate, caffeine or the other essential nutrients. alcohol, as these can cause serious medical con- Avoiding Human Illness ditions. Avoid sugar and treats with a high fat You can supplement its diet with a lim- content. ited (no more than 10% of her total daily Hamsters may carry diseases that can be trans- mitted to humans, including lymphocytic chori- food intake) amount of: Keeping Your Hamster omeningitis (LCM). The simple precautions be- Grains are the primary food for ham- Healthy low can help prevent the risk of infection. sters providing protein and carbo- hydrates. You should provide ap-  Clean habitat and the proper diet will go along Closely supervise children and make sure proximately a tablespoonful daily. way toward keeping your pet healthy. A healthy they wash their hands with soap and water from a prepared hamster mixture. hamster should have: after handling small animals, their habitats or Fatty nuts (peanuts and sunflower anything in their habitats. seeds) promote obesity and should  A smooth, shiny coat.   be only a small part of the mixture.  No hair loss.  As cute and cuddly as they are, do not kiss Fresh, organically grown greens (such  A symmetrical body with no lumps.  small animals. Illnesses are sometimes spread as Romaine lettuce, dandelion this way.  A clean anus.  greens, carrot tops, broccoli   Clear eyes without any discharge.   spears, spinach, artichokes and any Never use food-preparation areas to clean other dark green veggies) are great  A dry nose.  small animal habitats or anything in their habi- choices. Avoid iceberg lettuce and  A steady gate.  tats. If you clean the habitat in the bathroom, other veggies or fruits (like water-  Teeth that are not overgrown.  disinfect the area completely afterwards. melon) high in water content as  A lively disposition.   they can cause diarrhea. Remem- Clean the habitat,  food and water bowls in a well-ventilated area. ber to wash the vegetables thor- An unhealthy hamster will display: oughly to remove traces of  Rumpled or dull fur.  Children under 5, pregnant women, senior citi- harmful pesticides.  Caved-in sides.  zens, and people with weakened immune sys- Hamsters love fruits including apples,  An anus smeared with feces.  tems run a greater risk of infection; contact pears, strawberries and bananas.  Red eyes.  your health care provider for more infor- Fruits should be provided in mod-   A runny nose.  mation. eration as a supplement to the reg- ular diet. Remove any vegetables  Shaky legs.   Trembling.  or fruits not eaten within 24 hours.   Timothy hay is a great gnawing food  Sneezing and/or breathing with a rattle. that can help keep your hamster’s  Diarrhea (a clear signal of a contagious viral teeth in good condition. or bacterial disease).  www.PIJAC.org