Do hamsters need to be washed?
Djungarian hamsters are clean and tidy animals. Mother Nature herself instilled in them a love of cleanliness. Every day, cute creatures clean their fur with their paws. Therefore, it is not recommended to wash hamsters frequently, due to the following unpleasant consequences:
- severe stress. A small defenseless pet experiences extreme excitement when it comes into contact with water. The nervous system is overloaded, and the animal’s heart stops;
- hypothermia. Incorrect water temperature and wet wool can cause colds and pneumonia ;
- skin disease. Dermatitis, scratching and purulent wounds appear after using shampoo. The detergent disrupts the acid-base balance of the skin and the protective fat layer. An undried fur coat is a good environment for the development of lichen;
- getting injured. Often a person drops a pet when it is bitten or scratched. Washing under running water allows the rodent to slip out of your hands. He hits himself, gets scared and runs away.
The reason for bathing a dwarf must be serious. For example, a pet is sick and cannot clean its fur on its own.
Important! It is not recommended to follow your own desires and beliefs. It is strictly forbidden to wash your hamster without good reason.
Bath water is very dangerous for hamsters
Is it possible to bathe a hamster in water?
A bath of water is a dangerous object for an animal, where it can get stressed and have various complications. But the following situations justify the owners’ intentions regarding the speedy cleansing of the jungarik:
- wool is contaminated with hazardous food products. For example, the hamster got dirty with jam, butter, mayonnaise or other fatty, sticky food. While cleaning its fur, the pet gorge itself on forbidden food . You should immediately wash the animal to prevent poisoning or indigestion;
- household chemicals got on the fur. Acetone, shampoo, floor or dishwashing detergents are more dangerous substances for a tiny organism;
- parasites appeared. Lice, ticks, lice eaters are unpleasant creatures that destroy the life of an animal. For destruction, use medicated shampoo.
Attention! At the first sign of parasites, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Self-medication is excluded. Only a specialist will conduct a thorough examination and prescribe the optimal treatment.
Sometimes it's worth taking your hamster to the doctor
How often are hamsters washed?
Your pet needs a bath with warm water once a month to get rid of unpleasant odors. The owner should still remember to regularly change the bedding and clean the cage. This way the animal will always be clean, healthy, and affectionate.
Advice! If a person carefully monitors the condition of the hamster’s home, and the unpleasant odor does not disappear, then it is important to show the pet to a veterinarian. Perhaps the animal is sick.
If the animal is sick, the owner must take into account the recommendations of a specialist. Strictly follow the regime and frequency of bathing.
It is necessary to observe the temperature regime when washing a hamster
Hygiene procedures
Both Djungarian and Syrian hamsters are bathed only when absolutely necessary. For example, you can wash hamsters if the animal’s fur is very dirty or if parasites have appeared. The rodent is able to cope with any other problems on its own; these animals are quite clean. Even if their house is a mess and not entirely clean, they always wash themselves, as nature intended. If the hamster is already old or sick, then he may not be able to cope with hygiene procedures on his own.
When wondering about bathing your hamster, consider the breed of your pet. Syrian hamsters bathe very carefully and on rare occasions. This breed in its natural environment lives in desert areas, they are very thermophilic, even small contact with water can easily catch a cold.
It is easier to bathe Djungarian hamsters in water; this type of rodent is somewhat more responsive to this procedure, but, as already mentioned, you should wash your hamster only when there is really a need for it!
Please note that the unpleasant odor from the animal is not a reason to bathe it. A healthy animal, whose cage is regularly cleaned, will not smell unpleasant, and can easily handle minor stains on its fur on its own.
Bathing a Djungarian hamster in water
What you need for swimming
Experienced breeders recommend providing permanent accessories for the dwarf and storing them in a clean place. Here is a list of required components:
- a shallow bowl or other stable container;
- a cloth, cotton pads, a soft brush for cleaning wool. You can use a toothbrush with very soft hairs;
- special shampoo or soap for rodents;
- 2 towels;
- A hamster's favorite treat to reduce stress.
Advice! It is better to prepare your supplies in advance so that you are not distracted during the bathing process. It is convenient to wash the little animal with four hands: one person holds the furry, and the second does all the work.
How to bathe properly
Bathing a tiny friend is simple, but it will require maximum patience, attentiveness and caution. Here is a step-by-step algorithm:
- Fill a bowl with water at a temperature of at least +22 °C. The depth of the liquid should be 2 cm. If you need to use shampoo or soap, prepare rinsing water at the same temperature in advance;
- Lightly wet the hamster. It is better to place it in a bowl and carefully pour liquid from a glass;
- mix a drop of shampoo with some water and soap the animal. If soap is used, then first lather your hands and gently stroke and massage your pet. The brush will help clean the fur;
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry.
Important! To prevent the hamster from breaking out, scratching or biting, you should hold it firmly in an upright position. Avoid getting water into your ears and eyes.
Drying after swimming
After water procedures, dry the hamster with a cloth or soft towel. Then wrap it in a dry towel and hold it in your hands until it dries completely.
Advice! His favorite treat will help calm him down. It’s funny to watch how the little muzzle, barely visible from the towel, hurriedly gobbles up the goodies.
A hamster may catch a cold
Washing a rodent using cosmetic pads and wet wipes
In addition to classic bathing and sand, you can wash your pet using cotton pads and wet wipes. The disc is very simple to use: moisten it in water and rub it over the contaminated area with light stroking movements.
You need to use napkins the same way. But there is one important point here: they should not contain alcohol or any kind of chemical elements that can ruin the hamster’s fur and damage the skin. The ideal option is to wash with baby wipes.
As with bathing, after wiping with napkins or discs, the coat should be thoroughly dried with a towel. If this is not done, the pet may get sick.
Why is washing in water dangerous?
Incorrect, frequent bathing of hamsters results in serious consequences. The main disease of the rodent is hypothermia. The reasons lie in human carelessness and inattention. For example, the hamster got water in its ears or nose, or it was not dried well.
If the animal sneezes often, rubs its nose with its paws, mucous discharge protrudes from the nasal cavity, and the fur around the eyes is wet, then the hamster has a cold. Hypothermia is accompanied by pneumonia. Failure to contact a veterinarian in a timely manner will result in death for the pet, and in regret and bitterness for the person.
Does your hamster have a cold?
What veterinarians say about bathing hamsters
Doctors do not support the owners' desire to regularly wash jungarians. Water for a hamster means stress, the risk of developing dangerous diseases, and getting injured.
But there are such fluffy fidgets who are in no hurry to get out of the warm pool. Here the person is required to be extremely attentive. If a rodent is left alone with household chemicals and cosmetics, then its curiosity will prevail and it will definitely try everything.
Sand baths have many benefits
Summary
So, is it possible to wash hamsters with water? The answer is yes, but quickly, very carefully and only in extreme cases. In general, bathing procedures should be avoided, since neither the Dzungarians nor the Syrians are adapted to them (the latter in particular). To wash your hamster, use special sand from a pet store - this will almost always be enough.
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Is it possible to wash a hamster in sand?
Wild Djungarian hamsters clean their coats by wallowing in the sand. Therefore, veterinarians recommend performing such procedures on pets, but not more than 2 times a week.
A sand bath has many advantages that are incomparable to water procedures:
- the dzhungarik is not stressed, but enjoys frolicking and bathing in the sand;
- the occurrence of colds and pneumonia is excluded;
- there is no need to dry your pet after the pool;
- sand is a great sporting activity for a tiny fluffy.
Special containers from the pet store will help organize the bathing process. You can use a food container, a deep bowl, a rodent carrier, and so on.
Attention! It is not recommended to overuse sand baths, much less leave the bathing suit in a cage with a dwarf. The animal's skin will dry out and lose its protective properties. An additional unpleasant result will be the constant need for this container. The hamster will do his business and roll around in the soiled mixture.
The sand must be sterile.
Watching an animal bathe in the sand will give the owner a lot of positive emotions. For a hamster, sand procedures are an exciting game where he flounders, digs, and has fun . It is important to remove the remaining sand particles from the animal’s fur after an exciting game. This can be done with a regular toothbrush.
Properly selected sand is a safe bathing environment for your hamster. Bulk material must be:
- sterile. Avoid using river and street sand. The mixtures contain dirt and dangerous microorganisms that cause various diseases. It is better to buy a special sand at a pet store;
- with suitable particle sizes. It is important to choose the “golden mean” here. Material that is too small will get into the hamster’s eyes, ears and respiratory tract, and large material will damage the skin;
- homogeneous. A mixture with sand grains of the same size is an excellent option for bathing;
- clean. The sand is changed before each use, or sifted and calcined in a frying pan.
Advice! There is no sand specifically for Djungarian hamsters in pet stores. Veterinarians recommend purchasing special bulk materials for chinchillas.
But here, during the selection, care and caution are also required. According to reviews from owners and professional breeders, the best sands for swimming are:
- “Vaka” is a budget product from Russia - high-quality and inexpensive sand;
- “Vitakraft chinchilla sandy” - cleanses your pet’s coat well and makes it shiny and healthy;
- “Padovan bathing send” - does not contain fine dust and other foreign impurities.
High-quality sand for bathing will allow the dwarf to be clean, healthy, beautiful and happy. But do not forget about the negative impact of excessive sand procedures.
Preparation for water procedures
In order to properly prepare for bathing your hamster, you need to purchase a small container for water procedures . Some owners limit themselves to the sink, but this option is more suitable for experienced hamster owners.
This is interesting! A small rodent can drown in a sink, so it is better to use a special container, it will be safer and calmer. You also need to purchase shampoo for cats or rabbits; it is quite suitable if you were unable to buy a special detergent for hamsters.
However, for Syrian hamsters it is still better to use a special shampoo for rodents. They have more sensitive skin than Djungarians. Hamsters should only be washed with your hands or a very soft sponge. The skin of these animals is very delicate and can be easily damaged if you use a regular washcloth. And this can lead to extremely negative consequences: skin diseases = dermatitis and allergies.
You also need to purchase a small ladle to make it convenient to water your pet. You should also make sure that there are no drafts in the room while bathing the hamster. Streams of cold air will be destructive for a wet hamster.
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