WE CARE about you and your new pet. Please read these suggestions for the care of your new hamster carefully. If you would like to learn more about your hamster, talk to your pet retailer who may be able to suggest a recent book or other publication on hamsters. Veterinarians can provide up-to-date health information. Web sites on hamsters are also available through many on- line services and may provide a useful format for information exchange.

THE NEW HAMSTER
Golden (short-haired) and Teddy Bear (long-haired) hamster breeds originate in Syria, while Dwarf (small sized) hamsters are a separate species and come from China and Siberia. The name Hamster comes from the German word hamstern which means hoarder. Hamsters love to pack food treasures into their enormous cheek pouches, then carefully hide them in special caches! In the wild, this allowed them to forage far away from their permanent home of tunnels and nests, bringing large amounts of food back to store in special chambers.

When you bring your new hamster home, he or she will be a little nervous. It takes time to get to know your new hamster. Give him or her a few days to settle down and get to know their new cage and environment. Handle your hamster at least once a day, after carefully waking him or her up. If you wait until the late afternoon or evening, you will often find your hamster exploring their new cage and they can usually be easily convinced to come and meet you. Hamsters are crepuscular in the wild, that is, active at dawn and dusk. However they have no objection to daytime activities as long as they are not continually disturbed.

To wake a sleeping hamster, carefully take the cage top or wire portion off the plastic bottom and set aside. Gently cup TWO HANDS under the sleeping hamster and allow it to slowly awaken. Make sure that the handling is done in an escape proof area, away from any inquisitive pets that may frighten the new hamster. Hamsters are fragile and must not be squeezed or grabbed. They will often jump, simply because they cannot see how far above the ground they are, so be prepared. Don’t leave your new friend alone on a table or other raised surface - he may just walk right over the edge! Check your hamster carefully before returning it to the cage. Check that the cage is clean and securely fastened before leaving. Hamsters are well known as little escape artists, so don't take any chances on the security of the cage.

Remember that it is best to purchase just one hamster per cage. In the wild, hamsters live a solitary life and are very territorial. Even a male and female will not get along well for long. Do you have a male or a female? Older, mature males will have a large swelling at the base of the tail that the females lack. Both males and females make very good pets. Some owners inadvertently purchase a young female which is already pregnant. The pregnancy period is only 16 or 17 days! Should you suddenly discover a mass of wriggling pink youngsters in the nest, immediately prevent anyone from disturbing the hamster over the next few days and offer additional food as quietly as possible. Abandoned young can not normally be hand raised.

YOUR CAGE AND EQUIPMENT
Place shavings in your new cage to provide a clean and absorbent bedding surface. Although white cedar shavings have been included in most starter kits, many hamster owners also like alternate beddings such as pine shavings, dried corn cobs, shredded aspen or recycled newspaper pellets. Hagen manufactures many bedding types for hamsters. However, all bedding types must be changed regularly to be effective. Parents should directly supervise this chore, as most young children are unable to remember hamster cleaning duties on a long term basis. Hamsters are so clean and odour free it is tempting to leave the cage alone for long periods of time. This is not recommended as harmful bacteria and ammonia fumes may accumulate. Most hamster beddings should be changed (at least) once weekly, and the plastic cage bottom should be cleaned and rinsed at the same time.

Your cage top should fit securely inside the raised areas on the inside of the plastic cage bottom. Water bottles and tubes need to be securely attached and checked. Air may occasionally become trapped inside the tube and the animal will have difficulty in obtaining a drink. Change and check the water bottle every day. Keep the water container well away from feeding sites and the nest area.

Nesting material such as raw, natural cotton fibers (Hagen Hamster Fluff), or shredded tissue and paper products are often enjoyed by hamsters. Hagen timothy hay is also popular with hamsters for constructing a nest. If you would like to provide a special nest box for your hamster, a good initial choice would be one with a removable roof. In an enclosed nest, you may find it difficult to waken and remove your hamster.

Hamsters love to exercise on a wheel or in an exercise ball. Some hamsters will run several kilometres each evening on their wheel! Owners are sure to enjoy Hagen's extra quiet exercise wheels. Hamsters with very long hair should have an occasional trim, as the center of the wheel may trap or tangle the hair. Some hamsters are less nimble than others and may do better on one of the many alternate styles of wheel (Hagen makes a wide variety of wheels and hamster exercise equipment). Other hamsters may enjoy exercise outside of the cage, either in an exercise sphere (Hagen Globetrotter or Exersphere) or simply at large. All exercise outside of the cage should be closely supervised. A small room with no obstacles or dangers is best.

Check your cage frequently for signs of wear or chewing. Check latches periodically for signs of loosening. Younger family members should be reminded to doublecheck the door closure each time the hamster is handled or fed. Place the cage in a location that will allow the owner to easily see the hamster and care for it. A bottom shelf is usually not as desirable as the top of a low table or dresser. Hamsters prefer regular room temperatures. Very cool locations may produce lethargy. High heat and humidity is also very harmful to a hamster. Locations close to a sunny window may become too hot.


FEEDING YOUR HAMSTER
Hamsters love seed mixes such as those that have been included with Hagen starter kits. Only Hagen uses a special process to put extra vitamins right inside special seed kernels, not just in added pellets. Since some hamsters seem to eat sunflower seeds to the exclusion of many of the healthier parts of their diet, it is always a good idea to encourage intake of higher protein or higher calcium snacks. Tiny chunks of cheese, broccoli, parsley, carrot, peas, whole wheat bread or cereal, as well as very small pieces of apple or orange are often welcomed. Changes in the diet should always be introduced slowly. Remove uneaten fresh food items at the end of each day. Clean and change the contents of the seed or regular food dish daily, even if the food does not look soiled. For this reason, only a small amount of regular food need be offered.

Another modern diet strategy is to use one of the new complete block diets and add seed and fresh foods to the diet as treat items. Living World E"X"Trusion food eliminates fussy diet habits (such as eating only sunflower seeds) and provides extra vitamin and mineral nutrition with every bite. Try it! Hagen also makes many unusual hamster treats, including those which provide dehydrated fruits and vegetables.

Like all rodents, hamsters have continuously growing incisor teeth. Wooden chewing objects are highly recommended, but make sure a non-toxic type is provided. Hagen makes wooden toys for chewing, as well as calcium blocks to gnaw on; both will help keep the teeth in good shape. Special alfalfa blocks are hard enough to provide tooth wear, and they provide both calcium and vitamins. Ask your pet retailer about Hagen alfalfa squares. Salt lickstones are also recommended to promote water drinking and prevent kidney problems.

KEEPING YOUR HAMSTER HEALTHY
Always watch the new hamster carefully for signs of illness. As with any young animal, the new hamster is more prone to illness and infectious disease. The most common and serious illness that hamsters acquire is known as wet tail . Typical signs of this illness are lethargy (difficult to wake up), loss of appetite, and diarrhea or wetness around the tail. Turn the hamster over gently every day for the first three or four weeks and check it carefully. If this illness is detected and treated immediately, most hamsters will survive. Call your pet retailer and veterinarian should you suspect a problem. First aid measures consist of keeping the hamster extra warm, handfeeding it electrolyte replacement fluids with a dropper or syringe (ask your pharmacist to recommend a brand; also use in water bottle), and kaolin/pectate products such as Hagen Diarrhea Aid. Keep the hamster clean and encourage fluid intake until it can be seen by a veterinarian. Although this disease is not normally considered transmissible to man, it is always a good idea to wash your hands after handling any sick pet.

Protect your hamster from hazards such as dogs and cats. Many hamsters are injured when owners accidentally drop their pet. Escape is another problem for hamsters as they will have difficulty finding enough food and water. Prevention is the best solution!

Louise Bauck BSc, DVM, MVSc.