Care of a pregnant hamster

Hamsters are among the children's favorite pets, but many adults also joined admirers of these lovely rodents.If you have chosen to adopt a couple of hamsters, your female may eventually become pregnant and it will be essential to offer her the optimal conditions for the development of her pregnancy and the growth of her young.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we tell you the main care of a pregnant hamster to help you maintain the good health of your pet during the entire period of pregnancy and lactation.some tips to ensure that the offspring are born and grow up in a safe environment where they can develop strong and healthy.

Symptoms of pregnancy in a hamster

The gestation period of a hamster will depend fundamentally on its breed, but it can also vary according to the organism of each female.Usually, they are very short pregnancies that can last between 15 and 25 days.

This means that, in order to provide adequate care for your hamster during pregnancy, the symptoms of pregnancy must be recognized early.The number of offspring For each pregnancy it will also depend on the type of hamster: while a Russian hamster usually gives birth to 4 to 8 offspring, a golden hamster can give birth to 20 offspring.

Do you wonder how to know if you Hamster is pregnant? Of course, you will not be able to orient yourself just by abdominal dilatation , since females only develop this sign in the last 5 days of gestation.However, you can be aware of the following symptoms listed below:

Increased appetite: you should be aware if your hamster begins to consume a lot of water or if his appetite increases suddenly.In addition to a possible symptom of pregnancy, appetite disturbances may indicate some common diseases in hamsters or reveal that your female feels anxious, nervous or that she is being exposed to elevated levels of stress.
Sudden weight gain: if your female consumes more food than Normally, it is logical that you gain weight quickly.In addition, the weight gain is part of a pregnancy, as the young grow rapidly inside the womb.
Puffy nipples : if by observing the abdomen of your hamster, you observe that your nipples are swollen or look outside , this is a symptom that your body is preparing for breastfeeding.
Specific behaviors: if your female is pregnant, she will start build a nest inside the cage and store food inside for the time of delivery.During the first days of pregnancy, females tend to be more aggressive , mainly in relationship to males.But when the time of delivery is approaching, his temper will be more serene and your hamster will need long hours of sleep next to his nest.

Care of a pregnant hamster: veterinary follow-up

If you suspect that your hamster is pregnant or observed any of the symptoms mentioned, we recommend you consult a specialized veterinarian.In the clinic, the professional can not only confirm the pregnancy, but also verify the Female's health status and guide you about her specific requirements during pregnancy and lactation.

You can also take the opportunity to clarify your doubts about how many babies your hamster can give birth and when you should return to make a general examination to the young.In addition, we must not forget that periodic visits to the specialized veterinarian are part of the essential care for your hamster .

Feeding a pregnant hamster

While hamsters should receive complete and balanced nutrition throughout their lives, pregnant females will need special attention for their feeding.During pregnancy, your hamster will require a diet with high Energetic contribution , to prepare your body for breastfeeding and allow the correct development of their offspring.

Ideally, increase your daily consumption of protein and fat good.To do this, in addition to your usual diet, we will try to add natural sources of these nutrients , such as boiled egg, lean cheese, boiled chicken or turkey, cooked ham cut into small pieces, cereals and nuts (nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, chestnuts and pipes).You can also offer mealworms or other small insects, which are marketed in some veterinarians and pet stores.

Fruits and vegetables recommended for hamsters will also help strengthen the immune system of the pregnant female, as they provide a large amount of vitamins, fibers and minerals.Remember to prefer food of organic origin (grown without agrotoxics) and remove the bones of the fruits before offering them to your rodent.And logically, we will always avoid the prohibited foods for hamsters..

During the emb scratch, we will apply the system "ad libitum" to feed the female.That is: we will leave food and fresh water at your disposal throughout the day.The females will look for food not only when they are hungry, but also to store food for the time of delivery.

Preparing the cage and the environment for your hamster and its young

As we mentioned, pregnant hamsters tend to become more aggressive because they feel vulnerable and defend their territory to ensure their offspring are born in a safe environment, so we must separate the pregnant female from the other hamsters , preparing a cage exclusively for her and her future babies.

In this cage, your hamster must find fresh water and food at his disposal, as well as materials to make his nest, such as straw, wood and twigs.During the entire pregnancy, it will be essential to keep your hamster's cage clean , daily removing the remains of food and feces.But if the female has already begun to build her nest, you must be careful not to undo it.

Gestation is a very delicate period for the female, who undergoes numerous physiological, hormonal and behavioral changes.Therefore, beyond preparing her cage, it will also be essential to provide a ambie Be calm and positive , where your hamster can live a safe and peaceful gestation.To avoid exposing her to high stress contexts, you should not touch her or approach the cage very often.It is important to transmit love and give dear to your pregnant hamster, you will also need to respect their territory.

Baby care

If you notice that your hamster has been a mother, you should give her privacy during breastfeeding and respect your adaptation time to her new reality, so you just have to approach the cage to replenish its water and food, temporarily suspending sanitation. You should not touch the mother or her offspring newborns under any circumstances.This can be interpreted as a sign of weakness and the hamster may eat to their young because they are considered fragile and unable to survive.

In addition, to prevent your hamster from eating its young, you can follow some preventive measures, such as providing a balanced diet of optimal quality, caring for your environment It gives you peace of mind and confidence, and keep them separate from other hamsters during pregnancy and lactation.

After 20 days of delivery, you can return to the cage normally and resume your daily cleaning .Both the ma Ma as their young will be prepared to play with you and receive all your affection.It will also be time to "introduce" the new members of the family to the other hamsters.In addition, it will be an excellent occasion to take the offspring to the veterinarian and control its growth, weight gain and health status.

It is also from this third week of life that baby hamsters are ready to be weaned, so you should be aware for the feeding and care of the offspring.In addition, as of their fifth week, small rodents tend to mature sexually.Therefore, you should seriously consider separating males and females to avoid fights and new unplanned litters.

Image: ultimatepethub.com

Attention to the reproductive control of your hamsters

When joining your hamsters again, you should keep in mind that these rodents reach their sexual maturity very quickly .Starting from their first or second month of life (depending on the breed of hamster), your new companions can already mate and generate new litters.In addition, the females can already get pregnant again about 24 hours after giving birth to their young.

Therefore, you should be aware of the Reproductive control of your hamsters and think very well before putting the males and females together in the same cage.As these rodents usually have many babies for each pregnancy, you can also consider finding responsible and caring people who want to adopt a hamster as a pet.

If you want to read more articles similar to Caring for a pregnant hamster , we recommend that you enter our Gestacion section.

Comments

How do horses sleep? - Find out!

Like most herbivorous mammals, horses are not characterized by spend long periods of time sleeping, but the base of the dream and its characteristics are the same as the rest.A good rest is essential for the proper development and maintenance of the body.A being deprived of the necessary hours of sick rest and, most likely, will die. In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will discover how horses sleep, if they stand on their feet or if the horses go to bed.Find out below! The physiology of sleep In the past, sleeping was considered a "state of consciousness", defined as a period of immobility in which individuals did not respond to stimuli, so it was not treated as a behavior, or part of the ethology of a species.We must not confuse rest with sleep, because an animal may be resting without being asleep. In the studies of sleep in horses the same methodology is used than with humans.Three parameters are measured, electroencephalogram to measure brain activi...

The paratrooper cat syndrome

We have always seen cats as great balancers, agile, fast and very clever, both We say that they have 7 lives, but the fact is that their strategies do not always work out well, they have calculation errors, impulses that are difficult to control, among other factors, and sometimes flight, persecution or play go wrong and end up in an accident.. Did you know that there is a feline syndrome known as the parachute cat syndrome? A priori it may sound funny to us, but it is a problem that should concern those who have a domestic cat in their lives, especially if they live in tall buildings, precisely because of these natural mistakes they can make. Read on This new article from Animals and Pets Online to discover what the parachute cat syndrome is about and how to act in case it occurs. What is the parachute cat syndrome This syndrome, also known under the name of the flying cat syndrome, deals with the domestic accident that cats most commonly suffer and that falls from great heig...

Why adopt a stray dog?

There are millions of abandoned dogs on the streets around the world, and decrease the The number seems to be very complicated, especially because of the easy reproduction of the canines and the irresponsibility of many people. In Animals and Pets Online we know that this is a serious problem that must be solved, so we want to contribute to create awareness about animal abandonment.If you've ever wondered why adopt a stray dog, here are 10 reasons to do it . 1.You learn responsibility Rescuing a stray dog or adopting it in a shelter is a decision that should not be taken lightly, and that commits you to the rest of the animal's life .that is why adoption will help you to be more responsible, by having another living being in your care that is completely up to you . 2.Save two lives Millions of dogs are slaughtered in shelters due to overpopulation, while those who remain on the streets lead a life of fear, hunger, cold and physical abuse.Look at them to see the sa...

Ovoviviparos animals - Examples and curiosities

It is estimated that there are around two million species of species in the world Animals .Some of us, like dogs or cats, can be seen almost daily in our cities and we know a lot of data about them, but there are less common animals that are full of curiosities. This is the case of ovoviviparos animals, which have a truly strange form of reproduction and many have curious and unusual characteristics. If you are interested in animals and want to discover some unusual data, here, in Animals and Pets Online, we give some examples of ovoviviparos animals and curiosities concerning them. What are ovoviviparos animals? Oviparous animals, such as birds and many reptiles, reproduce by eggs that the females deposit in the environment (in a process known as "laying"), and after a period of incubation, these eggs hatching out of them and starting a new life abroad. In viviparous animals, which are the majority of mammals, such as dogs or humans, embryos develop inside the mo...

Tricks to prevent a cat from entering your garden

If your neighbor's cat has a habit of using your garden for different purposes, it will be very difficult to throw it out in a friendly way.The cat considers that your bed is a comfortable area where you can do your needs or leave a dead bird as a gift. If you are fed up, the best option would be to try to use natural repellents easy to apply and harmless to prevent the cat from entering the garden : Water : Cats are not exactly friends with water.Installing sprinklers or watering your garden will usually cause displeasure.In the market you can even find electronic devices with motion sensors that throw jets of water. Citricos : Citrus odors such as lemon or orange are especially uncomfortable for cats.Avoid entering your garden by filling in a spray can with the juice of these fruits, you can also leave the husks in the areas that usually use changing every 2 or 3 days. Caution with food : If you suspect that you go to your home in search of food, seal the bags of t...

Characteristics of black cats

While black cats have been victims of a bad reputation for centuries , nowadays almost no one has them stigmatized and today they enjoy a good reputation in many homes because they are mininos with a mysterious character and a very special personality . The characteristics of black cats are not few and in this article of ExpertAnimal you will be able to discover them, but not before having a little more information about the widespread belief that black cats are associated with bad luck.So widespread is this legend that these felines are the least in demand when adopting a cat for no reason. Whether you already have a black cat or are interested in adopting one, don't be superstitious and encourage you to read all the good virtues and characteristics of black cats .If you will realize how special they are and how they love to receive love and love, like all living things. Black cats throughout history The belief that black cats bring bad luck is the result of a bad and l...

15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples

What is pollination? Reproduction of most plant species occurs sexually, that is, it requires the union of female and male cells for fertilization .Cells are found in pollen (male), so it needs to be transferred to the flower pistil (female), where fertilization occurs and, after this process, the flower becomes a fruit with seeds. So, when we talk about the reproduction of plants, the intervention of a third party is often required, which is known as " pollinator " to do it possible. These pollinating agents can be insects, other animals and even natural elements such as water and wind.In the case of animal species, they have found a balance with the flora and evolved together, so that plants have been able to produce flowers of different aromas, shapes and colors in order to attract pollinating agents to feed on the nectar. When animals feed on the nectar, transport pollen involuntarily on their legs, wings or another part of the body.When covered with polle...

Native animals of Chile - Discover the 10 most representative!

Chile is a country of America of the South with varied ecosystems: the Pacific Ocean coast, the rugged and snow-capped mountain range of the Andes, the Atacama desert, the ice of the Antarctic region are some of them.With such different geographical accidents, it is not uncommon for the fauna and flora are also diverse. If you are interested in knowing which species are hidden in these lands, then you cannot miss this article of Animals and Pets Online on native animals of Chile .Keep reading! Animals of the southern zone of Chile: monkey The Dromiciops gliroides , also called mountain monkey or colocolo is a marsupial that inhabits the coastal areas of the Maule region, has a brown coat Of course, bulging eyes and long ears and teeth.It feeds mainly on fruits, seeds and insects.It is a very clever animal with its legs , which allows it to obtain food in an easier way and tree climbing to escape predators.The mountain monkey lives alone, meets in flocks of a maximum of th...

Gingivitis in cats

The cat is one of the domestic mammals with fewer teeth: it is 30, and like other mammals lose their deciduous teeth between 4 and 6 months.The health of the cat's mouth is paramount since it uses its mouth to hunt, do its cleaning and the most vital: feed. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums and is a common problem in cats, but if not treated properly it can get worse.Gingivitis can affect cats of all ages but occurs more frequently in young or young adults. This article of Animals and Pets Online we will tell you how to recognize gingivitis in cats and how to act against feline gingivitis. Recognize a gingivitis: symptoms of gingivitis in the cat The first thing to help a cat with gingivitis is to identify the problem: a gingivitis usually starts with a thin red line along the gums and they look swollen and red gums.A cat with gingivitis You will suffer pain and you can eat less especially refuse to eat dry feed because this type of feed is hard and causes more ...

How to teach my dog to run with me

Why get fit with your dog? Currently, due to lack of time, overwork or other excuses that are usually valid, we don't have enough time to exercise all days.If this happens with us, what do you think happens with your dog? The same or worse, since sometimes they depend on us to go out to exercise.It may also happen that food is not the most suitable, then we dangerously approach obesity .We should avoid a sedentary lifestyle In our dog, it is essential for your health. If your dog seems to have gained weight, ask yourself...Does he exercise? How many times does he go out every day? What does he eat? We must answer all these questions and begin to rethink how we care for our dogs and what we do to improve their quality of life . The age of the dog, a very important factor Assessing the age of a dog when it comes to exercise is essential.It is recommended to wait from 9 to 12 months to start running with it.Until now, we can buy what is necessary and to teach him signs ab...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog