Sick hamster? Signs to watch, and why wet tail is an emergency
Hamsters are small and hide illness well, and they're awake mostly at night, so problems are easy to miss. A quick daily check helps you catch them early. One sign, wet tail, is an emergency and needs a vet within 24 hours.
MomoChecks on Dango every evening
DangoNot himself today
Signs your hamster may be sick
Not eating
Food untouched, or losing weight.
Wet bottom
Wet, dirty fur at the tail, or diarrhoea.
Hunched, tired
Sits puffed up, moves less than usual.
Scratching, bald spots
Hair loss or chunks of fur missing.
- Teeth trouble: drooling, pawing at the mouth, dropping food.
- Lumps or bumps on the body, especially in older hamsters.
- Breathing fast or hard, a swollen belly, or bleeding: go to a vet right away.
Wet tail: don't wait
Wet tail is a serious diarrhoea, mostly in young hamsters 3 to 10 weeks old. It dries them out fast, and without quick treatment a hamster can die.
It's often set off by stress: a new home, a long trip, a dirty cage, or a sudden change of food.
- See a vet within 24 hours. Look for a vet that treats small or exotic pets. Bring a fresh poop sample and tell them what your hamster eats.
- Keep it calm. Quiet room, little handling, not too hot.
- Keep it clean. Change the dirty bedding and wash your hands after touching your hamster.
- Separate it from any other hamster.
- Message us so we know, especially if your hamster came from our shop recently.
We don't sell medicine for hamsters. Treatment must come from a vet, so please don't wait for it to pass.
How to keep your hamster healthy
About 10 g of mix a day. Change food slowly, never all at once. See What can hamsters eat?
Spot clean daily, new bedding weekly. See Why does my hamster cage smell?
Heat is dangerous for hamsters. See Hamsters in hot weather.
Let a new hamster settle for 3 days before handling. See Hamster biting and taming.
Check on me every evening when I wake up. Did I eat? Am I running? Is my bottom dry? That's all it takes.
Questions customers ask us
My hamster is cold and stiff. Is it sick or hibernating?
A very cold room can make a hamster go stiff and still. Warm the room slowly and see Hamsters in hot weather for the cold-aircon section. If it doesn't wake up, see a vet.
Can I give my hamster human medicine?
No. Human medicine can be dangerous for small pets. Only give what a vet prescribes.
My new hamster is sleeping a lot. Is that normal?
Yes. Hamsters sleep most of the day and wake up in the evening. Watch for the signs above at night.
Should I bring home two hamsters to keep each other company?
Syrians always live alone. Dwarf hamsters also do best alone, because pairs often fight. If you add a new hamster to your home, keep it in its own cage first. Vets suggest keeping new hamsters apart for about 30 days.
The cartoons show our characters Momo and Dango. Health information is from published hamster care guides and our shop experience. This guide doesn't replace a visit to a vet.