Archive for the ‘Hamsters’ Category

Hamsters require nutritious food just like all larger animals but most owners do not realize this due to the small size of hamsters. Since hamsters have small bodies and they fill up very fast it is very important for them to eat nutritious food at every meal so that they do not get any nutritional deficiencies. This article will elaborate on one kind of hamster food that is beneficial to hamsters and the reasons it should be included in your pets diet.

Pellets made for hamsters are the best hamster food since these pellets are made while keeping the nutritional requirements of hamsters in mind. There are various kinds of hamster pellets available on the market and while it is possible to get pellets for dwarf hamsters it is also possible to get pellets for larger species like Syrian hamsters. It is also possible to find special pellets for babies and older (senior) hamsters.

Pellets that are especially formulated for baby hamsters are created using a variety of vitamins and minerals that are needed for the growth of baby hamsters. Pellets created for older pets are made with ingredients that are easier to digest. While different companies use different ingredients to create hamster food, some of the common ingredients used to create pellets include corn, sunflower, wheat and Omega 3 fatty acids. Some pellets also are fortified with vitamins and minerals so that you do not need to use supplements along with pellets. Some manufacturers also use timothy hay as an ingredient in pellets since timothy hay is very good for hamsters.

Pellets are usually recommended for hamsters of all ages since these pellets not only help hamsters receive the proper nutrients but these pellets also prevent diarrhea. Green leafy vegetables and fruits often cause diarrhea or wet tail in pets when these food items are fed to hamsters to often. By including pellets in your pets diet you can prevent diarrhea but you should keep in mind that too many pellets can cause constipation. You should ideally feed your pet pellets three times a week, all he can eat in 10 minutes. You should also provide fresh clean water along with the pellets so that the hamster does not choke on the pellets.

While feeding your pet food like hamster pellets to your beloved pet you should keep in mind that the nutritional requirement for hamsters and ferrets is different so you should buy only feed pellets made especially for hamsters, the two types of pellets are not interchangeable like some people believe them to be. You should also not feed dog pellets or cat pellets to hamsters since these pellets contain ingredients that are not suitable for hamsters either. While buying pellets you should keep in mind that the selected brand should use high quality ingredients and the pellets should not contain a lot of corn since this can be harmful to your pet hamster.

Dawn Morris

For the most complete and up to date information on the care and raising of your pet dwarf hamsters. Go to: http://www.friendlydwarfhamster.com

New hamster owners or people who want to acquire hamsters often look for helpful info so that they can take care of their new pets better. Useful info is always welcome since this info can help you take care of your beloved pet better. The following paragraphs will provide information on various ways you can acquire your new pet and 3 types of hamsters that are worth buying.

Obtaining helpful info before your purchase your new hamster(s) will be a big help in the long run. There are many places you can acquire a cute cuddly hamster but the pet shop is usually preferred by many people. Many pet shops carry a variety of hamsters but the most common hamster sold in pet shops is the dwarf Russian. It is also possible to find Syrian, Chinese dwarf and winter whites in pet shops. While buying from pet shops it is important to determine the sex of the chosen hamster since small male hamsters look similar to female hamsters.

The second place you can pick up an adorable pet for your home is the animal shelter. Animal shelters often have adorable hamsters up for adoption that are already tamed. The benefit of picking up a hamster from an animal shelter is that you will be giving a home to a pet that requires love and care. Like all animals abandoned hamsters often feel sad and by giving them a home you can save a life. Another advantage of picking up a pet hamster from an animal shelter is that majority of the hamsters at these shelters are neutered so you will be saving money on this operation.

The Syrian golden hamster is the larger of hamsters. This species is also known as teddy bear hamsters due to their body structure. The Syrian hamster is available in many colors and golden is just one of the available colors. Syrians make great pets for children since they are easy to handle. Due to their large size children find it easy to pick up this type of hamster and play with them.

The Russian Campbell dwarf originates in China and Russia. The dwarf Russian hamster has a nervous disposition so it is always advised to teach your child the right way to handle this small sized hamster. This species makes a great pet when the owner learns how to handle and take care of the hamster.

Chinese hamster also known as Chinese dwarf hamster is a long tailed hamster. Due to its bare long tail many people think that this species is related to rats. Chinese hamsters have a peaceful and quite temperament. This species does well with children provided the child learns how to hold and handle the hamster with care.

The above paragraphs are just a taste of all the hamster info you could benefit from knowing about. Especially the paragraph on getting your hamster from an animal shelter many people does not even realize that shelters have hamsters. These hamsters much like the dogs and cats are in just as much of a need for a home as all the animals at the shelters. Please check with your local shelters before buying at a pet store. You could be saving a tiny critters life.

Dawn Morris
For the most complete and up to date information on the care and raising of your pet dwarf hamsters.
Go to: http://www.friendlydwarfhamster.com

Lots of people usually think that adopting a Dwarf Hamster for their children is better than having a dog or cat as a pet. They suppose that since Dwarf Hamsters are small and can be placed in a cage, in some way this means that they need less attention compared to the more usual pets people have.

If you also believe in this theory then you should not be considering adopting a Dwarf Hamster. The truth of the matter is, Dwarf Hamsters require the same amount of care as any cat or dog, and sometimes even more.

Because of their metabolism they need a lot of exercise while they are in their cage, a hamster can run up to five miles a night, remember they are nocturnal creatures, this is mimicking their behavior in the wild where they roam through the sand dunes looking for food all night. Aside from a lot of running on their wheel, they also require at least an hour everyday to roam around freely, and by this I mean in a secure area where they cannot escape or be attacked by a cat or any other pets that you may have. A hamster ball or your bathtub lined with towels and filled with lots of hamster toys is generally a good bet.

Dwarf Hamsters need to have their regular daily exercise and get out of their cage, otherwise your hamster's health is at risk and they can get stressed and even die. So please do not underestimate the importance of their daily exercise routine, they need it even if you do not feel like it yourself.

You should also take note that Dwarf Hamsters are not always easy to handle. Particular breeds like the Roborovski Dwarf Hamster are very small and can escape from your hands very quickly. You need to teach your children and family the proper and safe methods to hold a hamster, otherwise you may lose your pet in an instant.

You may also think that caring for a Dwarf Hamster is the same as caring for other kinds of hamsters. Again, you have got the wrong idea. Although they require the same amount of food and exercise, Dwarf Hamsters need special and unique care since they are much smaller than their other relatives.

Owning a Dwarf Hamster is a rewarding experience, one I highly recommend, but some thought and preparation has to go into it first. Finding the correct information and then doing things right from the start will make your families lives and the life of your new pet a lot more pleasant and far more rewarding!

Francis Harris is an author from Southern California who specializes in pet care books. Francis helps people make an informed decision before they buy their pet, and make sure they know how to look after it once they get it. Her 10-part e-course for anyone who wants to buy or learn about Dwarf Hamsters can be downloaded here: Head over to http://www.dwarfhamsterbook.com to get your FREE copy now!

There are also many other free resources for anyone who owns or wants to own a Dwarf Hamster, including videos, Podcasts and a blog which you can check out by going to http://www.dwarfhamsterbook.com/blog/.

Yours, Francis Harris!

Most parents naturally want to be able to give their children whatever they want. That's not always possible though, and not always a good idea, either. At the same time, you still want your kids to have a fulfilled childhood, and most children always end up wanting a pet at some point during their childhood.

So what should a parent do when the child starts asking for a pet? The child will probably ask for a puppy or a kitten, or a pony (yikes!). Obviously these pets take a lot of responsibility and require a lot of care and attention, and many times it is the parent who takes over these responsibilities because it seems overwhelming to the child at the time. Probably you will tell your child about how having a dog will require taking the dog on walks, cleaning up after the dog, feeding it, bathing it, and more. Of course your kid will most likely promise to do all of that stuff, but in most cases, kids slack off in taking proper care of pets and the parents are then stuck with the chores.

So what should you do? Do you refuse to let your child have a pet? I hope not because I think pets and animals are an essential part of life and learning about the world around you. I believe the best idea is to start your child off with a small pet like a hamster. Hamsters are cute, small and furry little creatures and they are very easy to take care of, yet still help to teach a child about responsibility. Hamsters don't have a very strong smell and are fairly clean animals, although they do require a little bit of care such as cleaning their cage every week, but that's about it. Of course they need to be given fresh food and water on a regular basis.

One of the great things about hamsters is that they don't cost very much to care for, especially compared to other pets like dogs and cats. They are fun to handle, the child can take the hamster out and play with it gently and then put it back in the cage when they're done. Hamsters don't shed like cats and some dogs, and they are quiet, except for the hamsters exercise wheel which might make a little bit of noise when the hamster is on it at night. So overall, I think when your child approaches you wanting a pet, I think you should suggest a hamster to start with and if the child shows it can be responsible for a hamster, maybe later they can have a dog as a pet!

For more Hamster Care information, visit www.hamster-care.com.

Please note that the author is not a veterinarian. Please consult your vet for any medical advice about your pet.

Growing up, a sense of wonder at nature and a love for animals was instilled in us. A normal weekend was spent at Elachee Nature Center in Oakwood, GA learning about the climate that controlled Georgia's agriculture and natural resources. This normally went into detail about animals as well as the plants that naturally supported such wildlife. This inbred fascination with nature was also reflected in our home. My brother, sister, and I all had numerous books on wild animals and we loved to watch The Discovery Channel. My mom brought it on herself that we tended to bring home and love animals. By the time I had moved out, my family had two birds, two turtles, numerous white mice and hamsters, and one very rowdy little dog. After I moved out, I collected a couple of cats and a couple of very rowdy large dogs.

The most recent addition to the family is Hannah, the dwarf hamster. My brother, Bob, brought her home in late 2003 and my mom quickly became enamored with her. Mom has been known to get Hannah out of her cage in the middle of the night to play and feed her almonds in the kitchen while she gets ready for work.

Early in 2005, Hannah began to develop bald spots under her chin and across her body. My mom would often talk about how it worried her during our weekly conversations, but I hadn't realized how far spread it was until I woke Hannah up one Sunday afternoon. She climbed up against the walls of her plexiglass hamster-haven and I realized that she had lost most of the hair on her stomach in a patch that stretched from her right arm to her right leg. Her little pink skin showed through clear as day, and I got her out for a closer look. She didn't exhibit any bumps or discomfort as I probed her, although she was a little irritated that I was bringing her out without the offer of a tasty treat. I gave her a hamster treat and set her back down in her little home.

Then, I decided it was time for an internet search. Little Hannah needed some help, and I didn't want to pay a vet to tell me she was just getting old. I researched 'hamster hair loss' and found that it is a fairly common problem, especially in older hamsters. The search told me that the most common reasons were age, protein deficiency, vitamin deficiency, hair getting caught in the hamster-wheel, mites, and allergic reactions to the bedding. It also let me know how to check her for mites. Mites cause a red or black pattern of bumps on the skin and they normally nest in the hamster's hair and bedding. I checked her and realized that her skin was clear, smooth, and free from little insects.

I knew Hannah was aging and getting to where this was a natural instance for her species; however, I couldn't just tell my mom to prepare for a little hamster funeral. I focused on the deficiencies and found that most pet stores sell a water-soluble vitamin supplement for hamsters. You simply dissolve a pill in the hamster's water supply, and the hamster ingests it without even knowing.

I called my mom and let her know what my research had concluded and she said that she had found basically the same thing in her own search. She said she was going to get a supplement and see how Hannah responded.

After a couple of weeks, Mom reported that Hannah had regained a new love for life and was even making her wheel "go squeaky, squeaky in the middle of the night." She mentioned that the hair had not started to grow back but had stopped falling out. She also noted that Hannah seemed to really like her new supplemented water and she had to refill her little dispenser more often.

Before, whenever I had browsed the pet store the animal multivitamins struck me as silliness for profit: a plan to play off our love for our pets to line the company's pockets. Now that I have seen it in action, I realize how close we are to our little animal neighbors in how our bodies need the substance of healthiness. In animals and in humans, our food comes pre-processed and our exercise is limited by our lifestyle. As people, our doctors, magazines, TV programs on healthy living and even our mothers tell us to take our daily multivitamin to keep us young, fit, and healthy because our food simply does not satisfy the nutritional needs of our bodies. As hamsters, they only have the attention of their owners to see to it that they get what their little bodies need to survive - and there aren't any TV commercials on the benefits of hamster vitamins. Now the victim of a successful experiment, it seems that Hannah now has a greater appreciation for her nutritional supplement as well.

For more advice from real professionals, the following websites helped me in my search for the cure:

http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/hamsters.htm

http://www.petinfo4u.com/advanced_small_animals.htm

http://www.britishhamsterassociation.org.uk/get_article.php?fname=journal/dermatitis.htm

Cynthia Dollins works in corporate America and is well known within her company for her training manuals and easy to understand instructions. She also has a love for animals that is often shown through her writing and an odd family that inspires much humor. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

Hamsters are gorgeous creatures, and make fantastic pets. However, when buying a hamster, it's important to purchase from a place that will have treated the hamsters well, and which also takes care to ensure its hamsters are healthy, happy, and used to having human contact.

These are the best 3 places to buy a hamster, to ensure a long, happy life together:

1. Hamsters Breeders

The best place to buy a hamster is from a specialist breeder. Usually, breeders will also be hamster owners themselves, and as such they will know how to look after a hamster to ensure it is healthy and well cared for. Breeders are also well-versed in how best to raise a baby hamster, and so they tend to produce robust animals with a good temperament.

Many breeders will keep one or two animals from the litter, to take them to hamsters shows, or to keep as their own pets. This is an excellent sign, as it means that they will have done everything they can to produce a strong litter.

2. Rescue Homes

Rescue homes specialise in taking in abandoned or surplus animals, and helping to find them a new home. We often hear about this in relation to larger animals such as cats and dogs, but these homes also take in smaller animals, such as guinea pigs, mice, and hamsters.

Rescue homes will assess the health of their hamsters before attempting to re-home them, so you can be fairly confident that your animal will be healthy. The downside is that these centres also sometimes require you to fill out several forms, or even undergo and interview. However, this is nothing to be worried about - it's simply to ensure that the animal will be going to a loving home.

3. Pet Shops

Finally, many pet shops sell hamsters. This is a bit more hit and miss, since many of their animals will have come from farms designed specifically to breed pets for selling. This means that they are not always looked after as well as if they came from a specialist breeder. This usually means that information about their breed and background is a little harder to obtain, and the animals may not always have a good temperament.

However, pet shops still have to abide by strict animal welfare rules, so their pets should be very healthy, and you are unlikely to have any problems with them.

As you can see, buying a hamster can be a complicated affair, but by following the above advice you are giving yourself the best chance of finding a healthy, happy animal, which will give you a lot of pleasure and affection.

Paul has owned many hamsters over the years, and has gained a lot of knowledge about them, which he loves to write about in order to help others. He also runs a website full on information about buying a large hamster cage, including how a space hamster cage can fuel your youngsters' imaginations.

Hamsters are solitary animals, meaning they should live by themselves in their own little home, but you should try to give your hamster the biggest cage you can afford and have room for in your own house. Usually, a proper sized hamster cage is at least one square foot in size, but like I said, if you can get a bigger one your hamster will really love you for it! You should only keep one hamster per cage, otherwise the hamsters may fight and seriously hurt each other, except for dwarf hamsters who tend to be more sociable, but it is still a good idea to only keep one per cage.

In the wild, hamsters like to run several miles each night, so you should make sure to include a hamster exercise wheel because it will provide hours of fun for your hamster, and it will also keep your hamster fit and in shape. I think the wire wheels are unsafe for hamsters, because the hamsters leg can get caught in the wire while the wheel is turning, causing a broken leg. You will need to provide fresh wood shavings in the bottom of the hamster cage for bedding. A pet hamster will love you even more if you provide some fun toys to play with. Hamsters are notorious escape artists, so you need to make sure whichever hamster cage you decide to buy is secure. Hamsters like to dig tunnels and can maneuver through small spaces to escape.

I think the best hamster cages are the ones with a hard plastic base and wire body, with a hard plastic top. These cages sometimes come with various accessories to make your hamsters life more entertaining, such as various tunnels and lookout towers. Some people prefer to let their pet hamsters live in aquariums, which is also a fine home for a hamster as long as you make sure the aquarium has a lot of air circulation and that it does not get too hot or humid for the hamster. Never keep a hamster in a cardboard or wooden box unattended, because they can simply chew their way out. Of course, you always want to make sure your hamster is kept safely away from other pets that can harm the hamster like cats and dogs. Keep this information about hamster cages in mind, and always keep learning more about your pets and continue to have fun with them.

P. Anderson is an animal lover and pet care enthusiast. For more valuable information about hamster cages and hamster care in general, visit http://www.hamster-care.com

Thinking of getting a pet for your little ones? How about a hamster? They're cute, inexpensive, easy to care for, and a great first pet that will teach your child how to be more responsible. Here are some things I learned during my experience as a hamster owner. I hope they aid you in your pet-purchasing decision.

- Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, so expect minimal activity during the day and a fair amount of noisemaking from the hamster cage after hours. Place the cage in a warm, draft-free, secluded spot in the house, where potential activity won't cause a disturbance in the night. Be sure that the lid or door of the cage is securely latched tight, as hamsters are fond of making the occasional midnight escape. As a little girl I awakened many a morning to find my hamster missing, having jimmied the lock on his cage somehow. On several occasions I found him vacationing in a mouse hole behind our kitchen stove and had to coax him out with his water bottle (I'm not kidding about this). It always amazed me that he never injured himself on these wild adventures.

- Unlike guinea pigs, hamsters are solitary dwellers. Doubling or tripling up is definitely not a good idea, as hamster roommates will fight and may seriously injure each other. Your hamster will be quite content to live his adult life in his 'single room apartment.' Be sure to provide him with a sturdy cage of either the plastic and metal store-bought variety, or a roomy fish tank with a secure top. Hamster housing essentials: a water bottle that doesn't leak, dry cedar or pine bedding to line the bottom of the cage, an exercise wheel, and a steady supply of hamster food, all of which you can purchase at the pet store. You may also want to buy him a salt lick and a little box of hamster treats.

- Once your hamster settles into his new home, the first thing he'll do is build himself a cozy nest. Hamsters are quite funny with their housekeeping ways. You can watch yours fill up his cheek pouches with cedar bedding until he looks just like a blowfish; it's really quite amusing to see. Then he'll run to the corner of the cage and unload the contents of his cheeks. He'll do this over and over until he has a nice, big hill of bedding, and then he'll tuck himself right into the middle and drift off to sleep. He'll likely not want to be disturbed until the sun goes down, upon which you'll see him venture out of his nest, have a nibble of his food and then maybe go for a spin on his hamster wheel. Your hamster will even establish a specific spot in the cage that he uses for a bathroom!

- Wet tail is a common hamster ailment that can easily be cured with medicine that you can purchase at the pet store. If your hamster has wet tail, you'll notice his stools will be watery and he may also have a bit of a runny nose, too. Wet tail is the hamster version of a cold and should be treated promptly, as hamsters are not hearty creatures. To keep your hamster healthy and well, make sure his cage is kept in a warm, draft-free area in the house. Hamsters originate from a warm climate and therefore should not be exposed to a chill.

- Your hamster cage should be thoroughly cleaned out at least once a week. It's best to tackle this task outside or near a slop sink in a basement or garage, as it does get messy. Empty all the bedding into the garbage, wipe down any remaining soiled parts, and then use hot, soapy water to wash out the cage. Do not clean your hamster cage with bleach, as a residue can remain that will harm your hamster if he ingests it.

- If you've taken your hamster out for a little fun, never leave him unattended on a tabletop or high counter, even for a second. Hamsters do not have depth perception and will no doubt make a sudden dash for the edge of the table. You wouldn't want your hamster to break his leg, would you? On the other hand, he will enjoy a safe romp in his enclosed hamster ball. You can buy one at any pet store.

If you or your children aren't ready for the committment that having a dog brings, try a hamster on for size. Unlike a fish, you can give your hamster a kiss. Unlike a dog or cat, you don't need to feed him every single day or take your hamster outside. He will pretty much enjoy living a quiet hamster life in his hamster house. Sounds like the ideal pet to me!

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How can you make your little hamster as happy and healthy as possible?

The first and possibly best way of improving your hamster's quality of life is to give them a nice big cage. If you think about it, your hamster is spending all day inside their cage and the more room they have to run around the happier they will be. Of course you need to make sure that the cage is kept nice and clean with a fresh supply of food and water.

Larger cages also give more opportunity to introduce more toys for your pet hamster to play with and this is the second of our tips for a happy hamster. Add both shop bought toys (such as wooden toys to chew and interact with) and toys you make yourself. Toilet rolls, paper towel tubes and the long cardboard tubes from wrapping paper all make great toys for a dwarf hamster to explore and chew. Do make sure that anything you give your hamster is non toxic and do not give them toys made out of soft plastic as they will chew it and it can do damage to their intestines.

Of course you will want to give your hamster the opportunity to run about outside of his cage always under close supervision and with doors and windows closed. A safe way of giving them this extra exercise is a hamster ball. The hamster ball is much like a fully enclosed hamster wheel made of clear plastic that you can pop your hamster into and then let him roll around and explore the world outside his cage, without the danger of his getting lost or hurt. Because a hamster can get up a reasonable speed in a hamster ball you should not let them play at the top of stairs, or in a room with cats or dogs. An alternative to the hamster wheel is a hamster car, which is a small plastic car, with a big hamster ball in the middle. As your hamster runs, so the car moves forwards.

The final tip for a happy hamster is to play with them! Hamsters love human interaction as they are very sociable pets. A good time to play with your hamster is early evening, when they are just waking up (as they are nocturnal animals your hamster will be asleep during our day time and awake during our nights).

Remember, a good hamster cage is a great start to helping your hamster become a happy pet. Have you considered one of the unusual designs available, or a pink hamster cage?

Simon Murray is a pet lover and writer and likes helping other hammy owners care for their pets.

To make having a pet hamster more exciting, you may want to train her to do some tricks. Just like dogs, cats, birds, and other animals, hamsters can also be taught to do certain things. Training your hamster is easy if you have patience.

Patience is very important because for you to be able to train your hamster, she needs to be very comfortable with you first. If you just brought your hamster home from the pet store, you'll need to let her get accustomed to her new surroundings first.

On the first day, upon arriving from the store, place her in the cage and leave her alone. Just go near the cage when you're going to feed her and try to maintain some distance.

On the second day, you can go near the cage once in a while but don't feed your hamster with your hand yet, use a tool to put her food in the cage. The following day, feed your pet with your hand but maintain some distance away from the food to allow her to get used to your presence.

Each day, gradually move a little closer until your hamster starts to trust that she can take food from your hand without harm. Once you have tamed her, you may then handle your hamster.

Training your hamster is best while she is still young because at this age, they tend to adapt more quickly. Ages four to seven weeks is a good age to start taming your hamster.

Also, give your hamster a name and while you are taming her, use her name when you speak to her. This helps your hamster understand that you're talking to her.

Once you've begun training your hamster, prepare treats that you can reward your pet with when she has done, or attempted to do, what you ask of her. The treat doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something that she likes, such as a sunflower seed.

For example, if you want to teach your hamster how to stand on her hind legs, hold the treat above her head and let her reach for it. Show her that you appreciate what she did by giving her the treat. Do this repeatedly until she understands that when you place your hand above her head, she needs to stand.

Teach your pet to do one trick at a time but don't overwhelm her. After she has mastered the first one, then you can move on to the next.

You can train your hamster to do tricks such as shaking hands, jumping and potty training. The last one can be sometimes be challenging but it's definitely possible.

As mentioned earlier, patience is the key. Your pet just needs a bit of time to get used to things, so help her along by having her do the trick until she becomes familiar with it.

You are now ready for training your hamster. With just a few treats, an hour or so a day and a lot of patience, you'll soon have a wonder pet that will do what you ask of her.

Emily Brock is a hamster lover. For more great tips and advice on training your hamster visit http://HamsterLifeAnswers.com/