Kitties and Puppies and Turtles, OH MY!

Guys I did the cutest thing! I made a saddle for my turtle and now Sasha can ride on his back! It's super cute, but super dangerous so I didn't really do it....

Many hamster parents or potential hamster parents have other pets as well, and while you can happily co-exist with many adorable animals, the adorable animals can not always co-exist with each other. Keep in mind that hamsters are tiny creatures and because of this they are prey to many animals.

Larger animals such as cats and dogs may attack or eat hamsters. They may also just try to play with them, but do to the immense size difference the hamster is likely to be terrified and get hurt or killed. Also the noises that cats and dogs make can be loud and unnerving to hamsters.

Small animals such as rats, guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas, and birds should also never be playmates with hamsters. Though it is highly unlikely to see a hamster on these little guy's dinner plates, there are still other complications that can arise from contact. These animals are classifies as "small animals" but they are sill larger than hamsters and can harm them quite easily. These animals may become aggressive towards each other over territory, mates, toys, wheels, food, or even you!

Smaller animals such as gerbils and mice should never be allowed to share a cage or be playmates with hamsters. They may be around the same sizes, but they can still be dangerous to each other. These animals may become aggressive towards each other over territory, mates, toys, wheels, food, or even you! And while a hamster's diet and needs may be similar to a gerbil's or mouse's they are still very different.

While I'm sure this goes without saying, hamsters should also be kept away from fish, turtles, frogs, snakes, lizards, spiders, scorpions and any other pets of this nature.

While it would be cute to let your hamsters and other pets play together, it's not the best idea. Animals can even smell other animals on your hands so wash them in between care and handling of different animals. Also, keep hamster cages on a high shelf or table, well out of the cat or dog's reach.

I know you often hear stories of cats and mice getting along or a dog nursing orphan lion cubs but while these amazing animals were able to pass their differences, not all can. It it better not to chance it and keep your pets separated for their and your own safety.

My cat Berlioz inspecting my hamster Sasha.
(Sasha is in her food dish on the top floor to the right)

Personally, at the moment, I have dogs, cats, a turtle, and my hamster Sasha. My dogs completely ignore her presence, but my cat took interest in her right away. She was in her cage digging in bedding and my cat Berlioz heard her. He sat on the end of my bed watching her for a few minutes and then went back to sleep. I supervised the two of them the whole time and made sure my cat stayed a reasonable distance from Sasha's cage. He never paid any attention to her after that, but I still never left him alone in my room with her. (Of course now she's with me at my boyfriend's place where he has a dog who completely ignores her too.)

I wish everyone the best, rather they have no pets or many!

-Tracy

Sick Day....Or Week....

Hello everybody! I'm sorry I kind of dropped of the face of the earth for awhile, but I got a very bad cold, and then I had a lot of college work to catch up on once I got better and then with it being September there were Birthdays galore and I was designated cake-maker for half of them. So I've been extremely busy and haven't been posting to Hamster Talk! Well with the exceptions to my Twitter and Pinterest if you follow me on those, but there more personal than directed at Hamster Talk!

So anyways, since I was sick I decided I would do a post on how to care for a hamster if your sick, and how to care for one if it's sick.

Caring for your hamster when your sick:
Everyone get's sick now and then, but you still have to care for your hamster! But how do you do that? Can your hamster catch your cold or virus?

There is a lot of debate about hamsters contracting human illnesses, but the bottom line is if your sick you should treat your hamster as you would another human being. I don't mean to ask your hammie to play video games with you and nom on some ice cream sandwiches....Though that would be cool! Just use caution when your around them! If your going to come in contact with your ham ham, make sure to wash your hands first, just as you would with another human. If you can, try to avoid contact with them. You don't have to quarantine them, but maybe ask a parent, sibling of close friend to feed them and change their water for you. At least until your feeling better.

Since I was sick with a cold I had my boyfriend feed her most days.

Caring for your hamster when it's sick:
Caring for a sick hamster can be tricky. Since animals can not talk then can not tell us when they are feeling sick, and we might not notice it until it's too late. And when we do notice that they are not quite themselves, they can't exactly tell us what's wrong. Knowing what warning signs show us our furry friends are sick can help us get our hammies back up and on their little feet in no time!

Healthy Hamsters:
-Are alert and active (Remember hamsters are most active in the mornings and evenings)
-Have clean fur free of debris and droppings
-Have a clear nose, mouth and eyes that are free of mucus
-Are slightly plump in weight and eat well
-Groom themselves regularly
Signs your hamster may be sick:
-He or she is lazy and disinterested
-He or she has a messy coat, or is not regularly bathing itself

-He or she is loosing fur

-He or she has mucus coming from it's nose, mouth, and/or eyes
-He or she is loosing weight and/or not eating
-He or she has a strange lump or swelling on it's body
-He or she is sneezing and/or wheezing and/or has labored breathing
-He or she cannot move or cries when it moves
-He or she is shaking or shivering
-He or she has diarrhea
-He or she is bleeding
-He or she is scratching excessively
-He or she eats or drinks an excessive amount

If your hamster has any of the above listed warning signs he or she is probably sick or wounded. If any of these symptoms continue for more than a day you should take your hammie to a vet that sees hamsters. (This can be a challenge as many vet offices do not accept hamster patients due to their small size. Make your you have a vet lined up for your ham ham even before it get's sick.) The vet will tell you what to do from there. They may prescribe medicine, direct a change in diet or bedding materials, or in some rare cases call for surgery. Whatever the vet tells you, try your best to follow his or her orders and hopefully your ham ham will be back on his or her feet and running in it's wheel in no time!


I hope this helps everyone, and I hope any sick ham fans or hamsters get better soon! <3 Until next time!

-Tracy