Difference between revisions of "Cure Your Not Moving Hamster"
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What should you do if your hamster is not moving? What might be the cause? Hamsters occasionally enter a form of hibernation, where their heart and breathing rate drops, and they are deeply asleep. It can be difficult to tell if they are in this state of hibernation or if they are dead. If your find your hamster in this state, here's what to do. | What should you do if your hamster is not moving? What might be the cause? Hamsters occasionally enter a form of hibernation, where their heart and breathing rate drops, and they are deeply asleep. It can be difficult to tell if they are in this state of hibernation or if they are dead. If your find your hamster in this state, here's what to do. | ||
| − | [[Category:Hamster Health]] | + | [[Category: Hamster Health]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Assessing Whether Your Hamster Could Be Hibernating=== | ===Assessing Whether Your Hamster Could Be Hibernating=== | ||
| − | #Ask yourself if the stillness is unexpected. Did your hamster seem ill recently? Clues to this might be that it stopped eating or lost its appetite, it was drinking more than usual and you were having to clean out wet bedding more frequently, it smelled bad, it had lost a lot of weight, or its habits had changed radically, for example it had stopped playing on its wheel. These are all indicators of ill health and could indicate your hamster has died.<ref>Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Publisher. Pergamon</ref> | + | #Ask yourself if the stillness is unexpected. Did your hamster seem ill recently? Clues to this might be that it stopped eating or lost its appetite, it was drinking more than usual and you were having to clean out wet bedding more frequently, it smelled bad, it had lost a lot of weight, or its habits had changed radically, for example it had stopped playing on its wheel. These are all indicators of ill health and could indicate your hamster has died.<ref name="rf1">Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Laber-Laird & Flecknell. Publisher. Pergamon</ref> |
#*On the other hand, if the hamster seemed perfectly healthy before hand and this stillness is unexpected, it doesn't rule out death but it makes hibernation more likely. | #*On the other hand, if the hamster seemed perfectly healthy before hand and this stillness is unexpected, it doesn't rule out death but it makes hibernation more likely. | ||
| − | #Consider how old your hamster is. How old is the hamster? An average lifespan is 18-24 months, with the odd hamster making it to 36 months. If your hamster is older than this, then it was very elderly, and the chances of it having passed away increase.<ref | + | #Consider how old your hamster is. How old is the hamster? An average lifespan is 18-24 months, with the odd hamster making it to 36 months. If your hamster is older than this, then it was very elderly, and the chances of it having passed away increase.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Consider the ambient temperature. Hibernation is temperature dependent. If the air temperature where the hamster was kept is above 20°C then hibernation is not very likely. On a hot day, consider if the hamster's cage is near an air conditioning unit. Air conditioners can kick out extremely cold air, which could cause your hamster to go into hibernation, so don't discount a low air temperature even in sweltering weather. | #Consider the ambient temperature. Hibernation is temperature dependent. If the air temperature where the hamster was kept is above 20°C then hibernation is not very likely. On a hot day, consider if the hamster's cage is near an air conditioning unit. Air conditioners can kick out extremely cold air, which could cause your hamster to go into hibernation, so don't discount a low air temperature even in sweltering weather. | ||
| − | #Assess your hamster's access to food and light. Hibernation tends to happen at times when it would be difficult for the hamster to find enough resources to survive. These tend to be associated with harsh winters, when there are low temperatures, short day lengths, and a lack of food.<ref>British Hamster Association. Hibernation in Syrian Hamsters.</ref> | + | #Assess your hamster's access to food and light. Hibernation tends to happen at times when it would be difficult for the hamster to find enough resources to survive. These tend to be associated with harsh winters, when there are low temperatures, short day lengths, and a lack of food.<ref name="rf2">British Hamster Association. Hibernation in Syrian Hamsters.</ref> |
| − | #*Ask yourself if the hamster has more than 8 - 12 hours of daylight a day and has plenty of food. Scarcity of food teamed with low temperature and short day length could trigger hibernation.<ref | + | #*Ask yourself if the hamster has more than 8 - 12 hours of daylight a day and has plenty of food. Scarcity of food teamed with low temperature and short day length could trigger hibernation.<ref name="rf2" /> |
===Determining Whether Your Hamster is Hibernating=== | ===Determining Whether Your Hamster is Hibernating=== | ||
#Watch your hamster to see if it's breathing. If hibernation is a possibility, watch your hamster very closely for several minutes. Look for signs of breathing. Be aware that the whole of the hamster's body systems slow down, so the breathing rate can become as slow as one breath every two minutes. | #Watch your hamster to see if it's breathing. If hibernation is a possibility, watch your hamster very closely for several minutes. Look for signs of breathing. Be aware that the whole of the hamster's body systems slow down, so the breathing rate can become as slow as one breath every two minutes. | ||
#*Watch the hamster for more than two minutes because it's possible to blink and miss that one breath. If you watch for just two minutes, and you could wrongly assume the hamster is dead. | #*Watch the hamster for more than two minutes because it's possible to blink and miss that one breath. If you watch for just two minutes, and you could wrongly assume the hamster is dead. | ||
| − | #Try to detect a heartbeat. If you don't see the hamster breathing then feel for a heartbeat. The heart rate of a hamster can slow down significantly. It can be just four beats a minute, or one beat every 15 seconds.<ref | + | #Try to detect a heartbeat. If you don't see the hamster breathing then feel for a heartbeat. The heart rate of a hamster can slow down significantly. It can be just four beats a minute, or one beat every 15 seconds.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*It can be difficult to find a hamster's heart beat because they are so tiny. To do this use your forefinger and thumb of one hand and place them on either side of the hamster chest just behind its elbows. Apply gentle pressure, sufficient that you could hold the hamster this way to stop it running away but without hurting it. Wait patiently and feel for a heartbeat against your finger tips. | #*It can be difficult to find a hamster's heart beat because they are so tiny. To do this use your forefinger and thumb of one hand and place them on either side of the hamster chest just behind its elbows. Apply gentle pressure, sufficient that you could hold the hamster this way to stop it running away but without hurting it. Wait patiently and feel for a heartbeat against your finger tips. | ||
#Ignore body heat as an indicator between hibernation and death. Don't worry it the hamster feels cold. This doesn't automatically mean it's dead. The hibernation process is triggered by chilling and its body temperature will drop to match the environment. | #Ignore body heat as an indicator between hibernation and death. Don't worry it the hamster feels cold. This doesn't automatically mean it's dead. The hibernation process is triggered by chilling and its body temperature will drop to match the environment. | ||
#Check the hamster's body for stiffness. One difference that indicates death is rigor mortis. If the hamster feels stiff and hard like board, then he may have rigor mortis, which is a sign of death. | #Check the hamster's body for stiffness. One difference that indicates death is rigor mortis. If the hamster feels stiff and hard like board, then he may have rigor mortis, which is a sign of death. | ||
===Waking a Hamster Up From Hibernation=== | ===Waking a Hamster Up From Hibernation=== | ||
| − | #Put a hamster that you suspect is hibernating in a warm room. The room temperature should be around 20°C. Wait for 2 - 3 days. If the hamster is merely hibernating it should wake within that period. <ref | + | #Put a hamster that you suspect is hibernating in a warm room. The room temperature should be around 20°C. Wait for 2 - 3 days. If the hamster is merely hibernating it should wake within that period. <ref name="rf1" /> |
#*If it doesn't wake up, then more obvious signs of death should occur such as an unpleasant odor and rigor mortis. A hibernating hamster should not smell unpleasant. | #*If it doesn't wake up, then more obvious signs of death should occur such as an unpleasant odor and rigor mortis. A hibernating hamster should not smell unpleasant. | ||
#*Experts advocate this as the preferred option of waking a hamster because it closer simulates the natural waking process and places less strain on the body's blood glucose reserves than a "rapid reboot." | #*Experts advocate this as the preferred option of waking a hamster because it closer simulates the natural waking process and places less strain on the body's blood glucose reserves than a "rapid reboot." | ||
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==Tips== | ==Tips== | ||
| − | *Hamster breeders have a vested interest in not allowing their breeding stock to fall asleep. Their recommendations to prevent hibernation are to keep the room temperature above 20 - 21 C all year round, provide 12 - 14 hours of lighting (artificial lighting is fine) and provide plenty of food. Under these circumstances the hamster feels no need to hibernate and is unlikely to do so.<ref | + | *Hamster breeders have a vested interest in not allowing their breeding stock to fall asleep. Their recommendations to prevent hibernation are to keep the room temperature above 20 - 21 C all year round, provide 12 - 14 hours of lighting (artificial lighting is fine) and provide plenty of food. Under these circumstances the hamster feels no need to hibernate and is unlikely to do so.<ref name="rf1" /> |
== Related Articles == | == Related Articles == | ||
