Hamster cages should be cleaned out completely every week to 2-3 weeks, depending on your hamster and needs. They should also be "spot cleaned," by removing fresh foods and cleaning toilet areas, each day, depending on the size and type of cage. To clean the cage, take the top off and empty all the dirty bedding and wood shavings and old food into a dustbin. Scrape out all the other remains. Go over the cage with a pet-made disinfectant, then dry it with tissues or kitchen roll, if preferred. Wash out bowls and water bottle (or bowl) at the same time as cleaning the cage. Dust and rinse all items of the cage. Dry everything and fill the cage with fresh wood shavings, bedding, food, and water. Put all the items back in the cage and clip the top back on. A clean cage makes your Syrian hamster happy and healthy. Try giving your hamster a "hamster toilet," which is a plastic litter pan with a hood that fits snugly into the corner of the cage. Use the special hamster litter which you can purchase from pet stores, and clean the toilet every other day. Hamsters generally catch on quickly as to what the hamster toilet area is for, since instinct tells them to use one corner for toileting, and the confines of the toilet help them to feel secure. Disinfect the cage properly and change the bedding before putting your hamster back in. While you clean the cage, you can put your pet in a play pen have someone supervise it. Hamster balls are terrible for hamsters. While some might look like they are enjoying it, they are probably stressed and trying to find a way to get out of it by running around. If a hamster gets thirsty or hungry it would also not be able to tell you, which could be very bad for your small pet. Put the hamster in a pen, supervised, so it cannot escape. Cleaning the cage too often can cause stress; this does not mean do not clean your cage, rather, just clean it every other week and remember spot cleaning is your best friend. Syrian hamsters are the most friendly and sociable of the hamster family. They should receive attention everyday, but excessive handling can actually cause stress in Syrian hamsters, which can result in bad health. Handle your hamster for 10 minutes at a time, a couple times a day, and then spend time tidying up its cage, watching it run, dig, and burrow. Be aware your hamster will be sleepy during the day, and most likely to be active at night. So, the best time to socialize is in the evening. Keep your hamster happy with toys. You can buy toys at the pet store or make homemade ones. Never give rubber or non-digestible toys that the hamster could chew small pieces off and swallow. These are likely to cause a bowel obstruction. Most hamsters are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. If necessary, wake up your hamster slowly to prevent scaring your little friend. Some hamsters can nip if they are woken up roughly. Allow your hamster at least 30 minutes to wake up, let it get something to eat and drink and go potty before taking it out of its cage. (Only do this if it is important, otherwise, never wake up a hamster to play or for any unnecessary reason. Imagine being waked up in the middle of the night to be held.) Rush your hamster to the veterinarian clinic if the fur under its tail is always wet, if it shows signs of a cold, if it has lumps or bumps on its body, or it has gone off its food, water and playing times completely. In addition, you should take your hamster to the vet if it has watery eyes, has runny droppings (diarrhea), its teeth have broken, or if its claws need clipping. Vets have got special clippers for hamster claws and know exactly how to do it. It is safer and better to leave this to the experts rather than trying it by yourself at home. Hamsters can't run on their wheels very well if they have long claws, since that hurts for them!

Summary: Keep your hamster's cage clean. Relocate the hamster while you clean its cage. Give your hamster lots of love. Take care when waking your hamster. Visit the vet when needed.

Place raw carrot or potato into the pot to cook with the curry sauce. Simmer the vegetables in the sauce for approximately 15 minutes, or until they are tender. The vegetables that you use don't have to be those that you originally used in the dish. The meat that is simmered with the curry will already be helping to take some of the edge off the spice. Use an extra quarter of the amount of meat, and cook it until it is lightly browned and tender, before adding it to the curry. Adding extra meat works in a similar way to adding extra vegetables, as this will help to diffuse the flavors over a larger amount of ingredients. If you have already used lemon or lime juice, vinegar, tomatoes, or pineapple in the curry, then you can simply add more to help neutralize the dish. Add the juice of half a lemon or a lime, 12 tablespoons (1530mL) of vinegar or tomato sauce, or cup (50 g) of fresh tomatoes or pineapple to the curry, and see if the spiciness is reduced. Taste the curry after each addition to check how spicy it is before adding more ingredients. Mix the extra ingredients in thoroughly to when you add them to help them properly combine. If you have extra ingredients available and don't mind making more food, follow your original recipe and omit the ingredient that is making it too spicy. Combine the 2 curries at the end. This will help to diffuse the heat through the end result dish, which means that the curry will be only half as spicy as it was originally.

Summary: Add a handful of grated carrot or diced potatoes to absorb some spice. Use extra meat to reduce the spiciness if you want to bulk up the curry. Add more acidic ingredients if they are already part of the dish. Make a double batch without doubling the spice to help diffuse the heat.

Weighted vests are a great way to add resistance to your push up and build your muscles further. Strap the weighted vest on as tight as you can while still remaining comfortable. This way, you can prevent the vest from sagging and hindering your movements. Then do your normal push ups. You can purchase weighted vests from your local sporting goods store. This is a great way to add resistance that's an alternative to wearing a weighted vest. Fill a backpack with books, bags of rice, or other heavy objects until the weight of the backpack is equal to or less than 20% of your body weight. Then do your normal push ups. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, then your backpack should weigh a maximum of 24 pounds. It's important to keep the weight within 20% of your body weight in order to prevent overloading your spine, shoulders, and elbows. While you are doing your normal push up, ask a friend to place their hand on your upper back. Tell them to apply pressure on your back as you raise yourself up from the push up. Make sure your friend applies consistent pressure for each push up.
Summary: Wear a weighted vest. Use a weighted backpack. Have a friend apply pressure onto your back.