Getting stressed is not only experienced by humans, but some animals experience stress too. One example is a fish. You can see reasons why your fish get stressed and how to overcome it. Another small animal, namely hamster, can also experience stress.
It might look cute for you, but you never know what your hamster feels inside. Once you see that your hamster is very active and looks fine, then you might think it is fine, too. However, it might not be! If this is your first time keeping a hamster as a vet, you can learn how to take care of hamster at home for beginners.
Hyperactive is one of the symptoms of a stressed hamster. How can a small animal like hamster that plays all day long feel stressed? There are several reasons your hamster feels stressed.
Though it depends on your hamster’s personality, but the surrounding environment might also affect how your hamster feels. Sudden movements, strange stimulus and loud noises can make your hamster frightened and as a result it can get stressed. Poor cage hygiene and poor quality diet also stimulate stress for your hamster.
What are the Symptoms of a Stressed Hamster?
As an owner, you need to be aware of these following symptoms of a stressed hamster as it will be better for you to have early detection of diseases or other conditions of your hamster. Here are the symptoms of a stressed hamster:
- Unusual Habits
An enriched environment is needed for every hamster so that it can exercise its cognitive, physical, social and emotional abilities. If a hamster is exposed to an environment that is not stimulating its abilities, then it can give out its energy and relieve stress in another way. The ways it shows might present them through unusual behavior or habits. One of the examples of unusual behaviors is biting its cage.
- Hyperactivity
Being active helps you to release your energy and stress, so does for your hamster. Once your hamster is hyperactive, it will constantly moves, runs on their wheels quickly, climbs its cage and seems more nervous than usual. These ways are done by your hamster as ways to release stress.
- Hair Loss
Similar to human who loses hair while getting stressed, a hamster also experiences hair loss when it is stressed. A stressed hamster is likely to have oilier hair. Your hamster might pluck its own hair by constant scratching and as a result it leaves bald spots on its body.
- Producing Noises
We all know that hamsters are commonly quiet and really silent. Yet, if they start to make noise, then it is a sign of them getting stressed. Your hamster might emit some noises, such as snorts while it is in fear, or grunts when it feels threatened. Moreover, when it really feels extremely nervous or stressed, it will start making shrieking or squealing sounds.
- Being Aggressive
Stress stimulates aggressiveness in hamsters. Being reactive commonly happens to hamster which experiences stress. If your hamster seems to show its teeth and move its ears backward or even make grunts then it is ready to attack you.
When this situation happens, do not ever take your hamster or get closer to it. Let it calm down for a while to feel safe. However, if the condition is getting worse, such as your hamster keeps trying to bite you and showing its teeth most of the time, then it is time to consult with your vet.
Other symptoms of a stressed hamster:
- Excessive production of saliva.
- Attempting to escape insistently.
- Tremors due to tense muscles during stress
- Compulsive behavior, such as scratching, cleaning its own body, or turning several time on its axis.
Treatment of Stressed Hamster
As an owner, you need to always get ready with the essential care and preventive medicine for your stressed hamster. One of the keys of getting your hamster free of stress is by maintaining a good environment for it. Here are some of the ways of treating or calming a stressed hamster:
- Get Them Socialized
Hamsters need care and attention from their companions. By getting those items, they can be happy, active and healthy. Getting socialized with other animals in the environment will also help reduce the stress for your hamster. If you want to get socialized with your hamster, look at the ways on how to invite hamsters to play.
- Enrich the Environment
Enriching the environment is the key of preparing your hamster’s cage. Let your hamster exercise in its cage and entertain itself while you are absent. Besides, it will also keep your hamster fit. You can provide a traditional wheel for your hamster and other toys or accessories for your hamster’s cognitive skills. Get to know more about the importance of toys for hamster and best toys for hamsters to play in cage.
- Prevention is the Best
Diseases can stimulate stress for your hamster. So, it is a must to get prepared of the preventive medicine to ensure that your hamster’s immune system is maintained.
Don’t forget to have a visit every 6 months to your vet to get your hamster checked. If you find your hamster is sick, you should try these simple home remedies to treat a sick hamster.