Posts Tagged ‘Dwarf Hamster Exercise’

In order to stay healthy, hamsters must have a daily exercise routine, just like we human beings. Health related conditions like diabetes, heart failure and obesity can be prevented through regular exercise for your hamster.

All hamsters are generally nocturnal, which means that they sleep during daytime and stay awake at night, and so they also do their physical activities at night. Dwarf Hamsters are crepuscular pets and their activities generally occur very early in the morning and evening. When they are in the wild, during the daylight hours they burrow underground to protect themselves from predators, but they usually take intervals of sleep and rest during the day, so you may see them roaming around occasionally then also.

There are several options to help your hamster obtain enough exercise.

The most common exercise gadget for a hamster is a hamster wheel. This gadget enables hamsters to run freely inside their cage. You can visit a local pet supply store and choose from a wide variety of wheels from plastic to metal, from standing wheels to attachable ones. To find the right hamster wheel you can always ask a salesperson at the pet store or get yourself a good hamster guide. Be aware that a Dwarf Hamster will run up to 5 miles a night, so be careful where you put the cage, and how noisy the wheel is, it will keep you awake if you do not take care.

Another exercise accessory that you can give to your pet is an exercise ball that has been created specifically for hamsters. They let your hamster roam around your house safely and are commonly made from transparent plastic with lots of air holes for ventilation purposes. However, you should watch out for your hamster when it roams around your house in an exercise ball, you can unintentionally step on it or even kick it and cause the hamster stress or injury. Never let your hamster play near stairs, if the ball rolls down them it may well kill your pet.

If you let your hamster roam around your room freely, he may possibly chew some parts of your carpet or swallow paint, wood or other dangerous items if you do not keep a constant eye on him. Always remember that letting a hamster play near your food counters or preparation areas is not healthy, so it is recommended that you find them their own special area, or use something like the bath lined with towels.

By playing with your hamster for at least an hour every day, you should easily fulfill their exercise needs. Take note of the active period when your pet plays on his own, and then play with him during the same time every day. When your hamster is asleep, never wake him up just to play, hamsters are bad-tempered when you wake them up and they will not want to play, so leave your pet alone if he is asleep, even if your friends want to see and play with him.

When you play with your pet, you can let it learn to crawl over your hands and other parts of your body as long as you are lying or sitting down, in this way accidents can be avoided. If you let your hamster crawl on you when you are standing up, it might fall and get hurt. Children can also play with your hamster as long as they are under the supervision of an adult, you should always keep in mind that Dwarf Hamsters are especially fast and can easily escape.

Lots of people usually think that adopting a Dwarf Hamster for their children is better than having a dog or cat as a pet. They suppose that since Dwarf Hamsters are small and can be placed in a cage, in some way this means that they need less attention compared to the more usual pets people have.

If you also believe in this theory then you should not be considering adopting a Dwarf Hamster. The truth of the matter is, Dwarf Hamsters require the same amount of care as any cat or dog, and sometimes even more.

Because of their metabolism they need a lot of exercise while they are in their cage, a hamster can run up to five miles a night, remember they are nocturnal creatures, this is mimicking their behavior in the wild where they roam through the sand dunes looking for food all night. Aside from a lot of running on their wheel, they also require at least an hour everyday to roam around freely, and by this I mean in a secure area where they cannot escape or be attacked by a cat or any other pets that you may have. A hamster ball or your bathtub lined with towels and filled with lots of hamster toys is generally a good bet.

Dwarf Hamsters need to have their regular daily exercise and get out of their cage, otherwise your hamster’s health is at risk and they can get stressed and even die. So please do not underestimate the importance of their daily exercise routine, they need it even if you do not feel like it yourself.

You should also take note that Dwarf Hamsters are not always easy to handle. Particular breeds like the Roborovski Dwarf Hamster are very small and can escape from your hands very quickly. You need to teach your children and family the proper and safe methods to hold a hamster, otherwise you may lose your pet in an instant.

You may also think that caring for a Dwarf Hamster is the same as caring for other kinds of hamsters. Again, you have got the wrong idea. Although they require the same amount of food and exercise, Dwarf Hamsters need special and unique care since they are much smaller than their other relatives.

Owning a Dwarf Hamster is a rewarding experience, one I highly recommend, but some thought and preparation has to go into it first. Finding the correct information and then doing things right from the start will make your families lives and the life of your new pet a lot more pleasant and far more rewarding!

Many hamster owners are unaware that their pets can acquire human diseases too. Dwarf Hamsters can sneeze and they also have hiccups or a runny nose. If you are not able to provide the basic needs of your Dwarf Hamster such as a healthy environment and sufficient food and water supply, they will rapidly turn into unhealthy and unhappy buddies.

Here is the list of illnesses that your Dwarf Hamster may have as well as the ways to thwart them.

1. Cancer – Just like us, Dwarf Hamsters can also get cancer. This disease is normally triggered by living in a stressful environment. To avoid cancer, build a stress-free environment for your pet.

2. Diabetes – All hamsters can inherit diabetes from their parents. They usually develop it from eating too many sweets. To keep your pet free from diabetes, neutralize its sugar or fruit intake. Be sure to incorporate a high enough proportion of vegetables into your Dwarf Hamster’s daily diet.

3. Stress – Although stress is not an illness, it can be classified as the major causative factor of ailments in human beings and animals. To reduce stress for your Dwarf Hamster, avoid loud noises and never put its cage close to your television, stereo or your dog’s cage. Allow your tiny friend to sleep during the daytime, and always remember to clean your baby’s cage at least once a week. These things will help extend your hamster’s life span.

4. Abscesses – Normally, a Dwarf Hamster suffers from abscesses if it is bitten or scratched by another Dwarf Hamster. Once you notice a lump or wound caused by bites and scratches, consult your veterinarian. Vets will check your pet and if they have infections he will prescribe antibiotics. Another reason that an abscess may appear is when your Dwarf Hamster has swallowed part of their cage because of their need to constantly chew to stop their teeth getting too long, so make sure you give them plenty of chew toys.

5. Colds – Dwarf Hamsters can catch colds from their owners. If you have a cold, prevent yourself from playing with your pet. See to it that its cage is placed in a warm area of the house where it can never get wet. You will know if your hamster is suffering from a cold because it will have a runny nose and will sneeze from time to time. When your hamster has a cold, visit your vet if it does not clear up after a few days.

6. Torpodity – When hamsters are not able to exercise on a regular basis, they will have a medical condition known as torpodity. Hamsters tend to put on weight when they are short on physical activity. They also become very aggressive, they like to run up to 5 miles a night so you need to put a wheel in their cage to prevent this ailment.

7. Allergic Reaction – To prevent allergic reactions, never use wood shavings containing cedar or pine, both have harmful oils that can cause allergic reactions in Dwarf Hamsters. There are also foods like corn and maize that should not be fed to your Dwarf Hamster because they can also initiate sneezing, skin irritations, runny eyes, loss of fur, or other respiratory problems.

The illnesses mentioned above can be prevented if you give your Dwarf Hamster appropriate diet, sufficient amount of exercise and a stress-free living environment. They can live longer and healthier if you take care of them just like your own babies. Before you pick them up, always be sure to wash your hands first to prevent them catching something from you.