"Aww, mommy, they're so cute! Can I have one?" Hamsters may be small and cute. But they require more responsibility than one may think at first glance. Parents will need to help initially and possibly throughout the life of a pet to ensure proper care. My kids are experts at caring for hamsters and rescue those in need whenever we have room. But it took guidance from me to get them there.
Pets are not toys. This is the number one thing kids need to know when adopting a hamster. Because hamsters are so small, it is easy for kids to forget they are living things. Don't take the joy out of watching the hamster play. But be sure your child realizes this aspect before ever being allowed to hold the hamster. Someone told me a horror story about rolling a hamster in the ball too hard when they were a child. It didn't turn out well for the poor little guy. Only the hamster should be spinning the ball or wheel. Can kids handle full care for a hamster? Even the most responsible kids should be taught how to properly care for a hamster. It is safest for your child and the pet if you assist. Depending on the age and responsibility of your child, more responsibilities can be given as your child shows signs of proper hamster care. My tween and teen have proven capable of taking full responsibility for the hamsters after practice and teamwork with me. At first, they were allowed to feed the hamster, as well as clean the cage and place new bedding. Next came the ability to hold the hamster with supervision. When they mastered holding, they were allowed to also place the hamster in his ball and watch him run around the room, as well as do other tasks. What should adults do to help? Hamsters need lots of attention and love. But they like to run, so it is important adults show kids know how to hold them properly. They can easily escape, which is not good for their health and well-being. My tween and teen can hold all of the hamsters, except one who is an escape artist. Thus far, I am the only one who can hold Butterscotch. The younger kids are only allowed to hold our female hamster, Kiki, and must have supervision from me. Besides escaping, another problem is biting or the kids holding hamsters the wrong way. Hamsters sleep a great deal during the day and be most active at night. Parents need to remind the kids of this and not allow them to wake the animals when they need to rest. What if my child isn't caring for the hamster properly? If your child is not caring for the hamster properly, you will need to take over. While it is important to teach kids about responsible pet care, you cannot let the hamster suffer. Our first hamster came to us with a sad story. The kids were not caring for him properly. The parents did not step up to help and ended up surrendering him back over to the pet store. The best way to teach kids about being responsible for the care of a pet is by doing it, not by abandoning that responsibility. Extra handy hints on hamster care for kids - Check with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to see if any hamsters are in need there. This helps an animal in need and helps control pet overpopulation. - Always have the kids wear gloves when handling their hamster. Hamsters may bite, which can cause the kids to jump and possibly injure the hamster. - Never put hamsters of different litters and breeds together. They may fight. Some breeds cannot be housed together at all, even from the same litter. All of our hamsters have their own cages and the kids know to keep them separate. - Never put males and females together unless you are a professional breeder. While baby hammies may be cute, it is not wise to breed hamsters unless you know what you are doing. Also, so many pets die every day because of overpopulation. Teach your kids about proper procedures concerning hamster breeding. - Major pet supply retailers often hold classes kids can take to learn about the care of their pets. This is a good idea before ever adopting a pet. It is also a good idea if your kids are not taking responsibility. Note that the author is not a licensed animal specialist, but a long-time animal nurturer. This article is based on her personal experiences and should not take the place of your veterinarian's advice. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Can Hamsters Hiss?You just brought home your baby hamster and you want to take him out to play, but a strange noise emits from him. Maybe you have had your hamster a while and brought him a new friend he's reacting strangely to. Is your hamster hissing? My kids own two hamsters, one from a rescue situation. It is definitely possible for a hamster to hiss. So what does it mean?
Look at your hamster's body language. When your hamster makes the hissing sound, what else is he doing? A hamster who hisses may be posed in a different stance than usual. He may also be baring his teeth, growling, raising up his paws, or making other unusual sounds. Paying attention to your hamster's reactions can help you prevent the hissing in the future. Usually a hissing hamster is feeling scared, nervous, or threatened. Consider the situation. If you just brought your hamster home, she needs some time to get used to her home and then to you. What is going on at the moments when your hamster hisses? If you are trying to interact with her, give her some time. Is there another hamster or animal nearby? You should not have other animals near your hamster. Some hamsters can safely live together if introduced a a young age, but many prefer solitude. They can be extremely territorial. While we have two hamsters, they have separate cages. The cages are side by side, so they can watch each other. Some hamsters like this type of setup, but prefer their own cage. Does my hamster hate me? Not necessarily. It can take time for a hamster to get used to its owner. This may take days or even a couple months. Your hamster hissing directly at you is not something you want. But if you treat him right, given time, he will no longer do this. Unless you are abusing your hamster, the hissing is more a sign of nervousness and feeling threatened than it is of hate. Just give your fur baby time to get used to you and most likely the hissing will begin to fade. Is the housing situation safe and comfortable? Perhaps your hamster is not hissing at you, but at something she is uncomfortable with. Remember that just like human babies, your hamster cannot talk to you to indicate an issue. All she can do is squeak or hiss to express her thoughts. Is there anything in the cage your hamster does not like? Is she being bothered by a person or another animal? Have you housed your hamster with one or more from another breed or family? Unless hamsters are born in the same litter or introduced at a very young age, they do not usually get along well. Especially do not mix different hamster breeds in the same hamster cage. They are almost guaranteed to fight, which can include hissing but will likely be even more violent. How can I stop my hamster from hissing? When you bring your hamster home, allow a couple days for your furry friend to get used to his new habitat before handling him. After he has a normal routine with eating, drinking, and nesting, you can then begin to interact more with him. Talk to him softly through the cage at various intervals throughout the day, including when you feed him, change the cage, and more. He may hiss during this time period, especially if you move too quickly. First try petting him while he is distracted by eating. Do this slowly and with a gloved hand. Eventually, you will also be able to pick him up. Always do this with a gloved hand until you are sure the hamster will not bite you. While hamster bites do not hurt much, they can cause you to jump or jerk your hand, which may hurt or scare your hamster. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Is your hamster extra special? Of course! Do you want to show your hamster some extra love by providing treats? Which should you use? Store bought or homemade? Depending on the type of treat, we like to give our hamsters mainly homemade treats. But there are a few store bought treats we prefer as well. So, which ones are best for your hamster? Vanity treats may contain little nutrition. Just like store-bought treats for humans can be bad, the same can be true with hamster treats. Those colorful small animal treats packaged to mock assorted human treats could be very bad for your little critter. Remember that the more colorful the treat, the more dyes were likely used to create it. Also consider the texture. Is the substance natural? Sure these treats may smell and look good. But are they really the best choice for your hamster? Watch the ingredients. The only ingredients that should be in your hamster's treats are those that come from nature. There is no reason to give hamsters chemical or sugar-induced treats. Not all hamsters have the same dietary needs. Ask your vet for a list of foods that are appropriate for your hamster. Read the labels of store-bought treats. Also watch what you put into homemade treats. Any treat containing anything other than what's on that list should be avoided. Fruity treats may sound good, but could be bad. Especially avoid sugar, even in some fruits, if you have dwarf hamsters. Fruit should be limited to an occasional treat in many hamsters. But dwarf hamsters are most susceptible to diabetes. There are only certain fruits that dwarf hamsters should have access to and those should only be given on a limited basis. Many store-bought hamster treats contain fruit ingredients that could be dangerous to your pet. Can my hamster have hay? Timothy and alfalfa are common hays given as treats to small animals. Should hamsters have hay? Yes. Hay is safe for most hamsters. Though again, you should consult with your hamster's vet for proper nutrition geared toward that animal. Each animal has its own needs. Obviously in this instance, store-bought hay as a treat makes more sense than growing and drying it yourself. Small animals do not consume enough for harvesting your own to make sense. Stick to natural-looking treats. One rule of thumb that we always follow with both homemade and store-bought treats is sticking to authentic snacks. If we go store-bought, our hamsters will get things like natural trail mix formulated for hamster diets, dried vegetables, and other things that are not altered. Store-bought does not necessarily mean a treat is bad. But when you are not hand-picking each ingredient yourself, you just need to be more cautious for the health and safety of your pet. *Information herein is based on the author's personal experiences as a hamster owner and is not meant to replace the advice of a professional. Always consult an appropriately-licensed animal care specialist for the health of your animals. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
If your family is like ours, the hamsters may be close by no matter what you are doing. This could lead you to wondering if the hamsters can share a snack or a meal with you. Can hamsters eat people food? If so, what kind, how much, and how often can they do this? Is it safe for your hamster to eat people food? Yes and no. There are only certain kinds of people food they can eat and some are even poisonous. What is a proper diet for my hamster? Hamsters need to eat a diet that consists mainly of dry rodent pellets. These are generally found anywhere pet foods are sold. In addition, a healthy dose of various seeds and grains is recommended. Seeds should not be the only diet and should be limited as compared to the pellets. This is because many nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, are high in fat and can be detrimental to your hamster in unhealthy doses. Hamsters can also be given diced apples, carrots, dark greenery, and other vegetables as an occasional supplement. Hamsters also need to have fresh supply of water at all times. Can I feed my hamster some of my table scraps? Most of the time, the answer to this will be no. Hamsters certainly cannot eat your spaghetti (even though the cheese topping may smell good). Althoughthey can eat whole grain wheat pasta by itself. They also cannot consume many items from your fruit plate. Many dwarf hamsters are susceptible to diabetes. Therefore, most fruits cannot be given to them. Those they can eat, like apples, must be given only in moderation. Never give hamsters grapesor citrus fruits. If your dinner roll is made from fresh whole grains, your hamster can have a nibble or two. Which people foods are appropriate for hamsters? The only people foods hamsters should be eating include apples, nuts, seeds, grains, fresh dark greens,fresh bell peppers, fresh green beans, fresh carrots, and a few other vegetables. Keep in mind though, that this should not be their only diet. As was mentioned above, hamsters should diet mainly on rodent pellets, which have the proper balance of high protein that meets their needs. Some cheeses are fine now and then in moderation and in small amounts. A hamster will certainly take the people food at any time. But that doesn't mean they need it. Talk to your veterinarian for the exact diet that is appropriate for your hamster. Each hamster will be different, based on breed and individual nutritional needs. Can I make homemade treats for my hamster? Of course. But take care in the ingredients used and how often you are feeding the treats to the hamster. Treats should be just that. A hamster who eats more treats than food can quickly develop malnutrition. If you have a food dehydrator, hamsters can enjoy dried fruits and vegetables in moderation. You can also make them ahomemade vegetable pretzel treat that my kids and I invented for our hamsters. It's actually so tasty, you may want to eat some too! *Always contact a licensed veterinarian for the health of your animals. The information above is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified professional and is derived solely from the author's own personal experiences. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Looking for the perfect gift for a hamster lover in your life? There are plenty of gifts out there for cat and dog owners. But there doesn't seem to be much creativity in the way of gifts for hamster owners. Because the kids and I spoil our hamsters, I am often thinking of new things they will enjoy. Perhaps my creativity will help you give a special gift to your favorite hamster owner. These homemade hamster treats in pouches will be adorable to the pet owner. What's inside will please the hamster. Preparation - Before assembling the gift, you will need to gather materials and ingredients. You will need a small drawstring pouch bag and ingredients to prepare homemade hamster treats. You will also need a small piece of cardstock to print (or write) the recipe onto. That way, the hamster's owner can prepare the treats again if the hamster enjoys them. Ingredients needed for homemade hamster treats - Get all the ingredients for your favorite homemade bread recipe. This will generally be flour, yeast, and water. Make sure you have enough to prepare half the normal recipe for making a loaf of bread. You will also need ¼ cup pureed carrots and ¼ cup pureed green beans. You can also add crushed sesame seeds or sunflower kernels. Making homemade hamster treats - Prepare the bread dough as normal. Remember to cut the recipe in half. Now take half of that dough and knead in the pureed carrots. Add extra flour as needed to keep proper consistency. Set that to the side. Knead the pureed green beans into the other half. Again, add flour as needed. Now take a rolling pin and flatten the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Take a knife and cut thin strips. Then, cut those into sections until you end up with many thin strips that are about ¼ inch wide and a few inches long. Bake these pieces in the oven on 350F until lightly crisp. Let them cool. Packaging the homemade hamster treats as a gift - Once the hamsters treats have cooled, put a blend of both the orange-colored (carrot) and green colored (green bean) treats inside the drawstring pouch bag. Punch a hole in the corner of the cardstock recipe card. Pull one of the drawstring cords through that hole to attach the card to the bag. Tie the drawstring around the bag once you tighten it. *IMPORTANT: While many hamsters can safely eat breads and vegetables, not all of them will be tolerant of every bread or vegetable. Be sure you know the hamster's dietary needs before feeding. The author is not a veterinarian. Seek approval from the hamster's vet before trying any unfamiliar foods. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network |
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