Four Common Care Mistakes That May Sabotage Your Hamster's Health Blog They're tiny, furry, and incredibly cute. But even though they live in cages, hamsters are harder to care for than you might imagine. Certain care mistakes often land hamsters in the vet's office -- or even worse -- in the grave. To ensure your furry companion lives as long and healthy a life as possible, avoid these common care mistakes. Using cedar shavings. Some owners prefer them because their fresh scent covers up urine odors. However, cedar shavings contain oils that can irritate your hamster's eyes and mouth. This may make it hard for your pet to breathe or swallow. Pine shavings are a better choice but are still irritating to some hamsters. Your best bet, if you can find them, are aspen shavings, which do not release any potentially irritating oils. Manufactured hamster bedding, which is often made from cotton or paper, is also a safe choice. Keeping your hamster in a drafty room. Hamsters don't deal with the cold particularly well. If you keep them in a drafty room, they'll have trouble staying warm, and this will impair their immune system, making them more prone to respiratory illnesses. They may also lose weight because they're forced to expend a lot of energy shivering. Make sure your hamster's cage is in a warm, non-drafty spot, and turn the heat on in your home if the temperature dips below 65. In the summer, avoid putting your hamster directly in front of an AC vent. Feeding too many fresh fruits and veggies. Giving your hamster a little piece of carrot or a single leaf of lettuce every now and then is good for him. But a whole baby carrot or a pile of lettuce is way too much! Hamsters are tiny creatures, and they tend to overindulge when you give them too many tempting treats at once. This can lead to diarrhea and other digestive issues. A single ring of carrot, one leaf of lettuce, or a marble-sized piece of apple is enough for a day. Make sure you're feeding them a good quality hamster pellet as the staple of their diet. Using a leaky water bottle. Water bottles are a convenient way to provide your hamster with water. The problem is that many of them leak. If there's more than a few teaspoons of water disappearing from your bottle in a day, the hamster is not drinking it; it's instead leaking into the cage, where it can get your little guy wet and chilled. Replace the bottle, and keep an eye on the new one for leaks. Talk with a vet like Robert Irelan DVM if you have questions about your hamster's health. Share 28 February 2017 About Me My sweet, shy mother-in-law absolutely adores her dogs and cats. She takes excellent care of them. Whenever one of her beloved cats or dogs shows symptoms of pain, she immediately takes him or her to a nearby veterinarian. Has your pet experienced difficulties walking lately? Because difficulty walking is a symptom of arthritic joints, consider scheduling an appointment with a veterinarian in your area sooner rather than later. An experienced veterinarian can recommend prescription medicines for your pet’s arthritic joints. On this blog, I hope you will discover how veterinarians can help pets recover from the painful symptoms of arthritis. Archive 2015 2016 2017 Tags Latest Posts Piggyback Pests: The Two Unwanted Invaders Fleas Can Bring With Them 28 February 2017 Four Common Care Mistakes That May Sabotage Your Hamster's Health 28 February 2017 Caring For Your Canine Friend After Surgery? 4 Steps To Take When Caring For Sutures 24 February 2017 Bring Home The Right Puppy 24 February 2017 5 Benefits Of Neutering Your Dog 23 February 2017 ©2018 | Help for Painful Joints