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

I blow in the heart of the dogs

The breath in the heart of dogs ago reference to a turbulence that occurs in the circulation of blood when it passes through this organ.There is no talk of a blow in the figurative sense since, truly, with a phonendoscope, it is usually possible to hear a breath , more or less strong, between the beating of the heart. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk in detail about this health problem.We will explain what causes can cause a murmur, what are its symptoms and, of course, which treatment will be the most appropriate, always prescribed by a veterinarian. Causes of murmur in dogs' hearts We can find different types of heart murmur in dogs depending on their severity.The most serious are caused by a disease or heart failure in dogs, such as a chronic valvular disease , congenital heart disease or bacterial endocarditis.A anemia could also cause a murmur.There are other mild murmurs, which are called " innocent ", which do not imply the e...

My ferret doesn't want to eat I think

When we talk about pets we always link this concept to dogs and cats, which we consider our Animal friends par excellence, however, the panorama of company animals has changed enormously today, so much so that the ferret has ceased to be a hunting mammal to become an endearing pet. Obviously its organism, its behavior and its needs are very different from those of a dog or a cat, so it requires specific care and when it comes to veterinary controls it is also important to go to a specialized exotic clinic. The feeding of this animal intervenes directly in its state of health and well-being, so in this article we show you the solutions and recommendations to be used when a ferret does not want to eat feed , in order to avoid any complications cion. Ferret Feeding This animal has specific nutritional requirements, therefore, let's see first how the ferret should be fed : It must contain more animal protein than vegetable, constituting between 30 and 38% of its food The ...

Gray parrot or red-tailed yaco: characteristics

Origin of the yaco parrot The gray parrot is found naturally in almost all of Africa, being able to spot specimens in different countries, such as Kenya or Nigeria, but not all gray parrots are the same, because depending on the region it will be more frequent to see one or the other of the three subspecies of gray parrot that exist: the nominal one, which is the most frequent at the same time as the most appreciated as a company animal, that of vinegar tail and that of the islands of S.Tome and Principe. The habitat of the yaco is made up of mangroves to lush equatorial forests, including also areas adjacent to the courses of the rivers and cenagas.Currently, due to the destruction of many of these habitats, the red-tailed yaco parrot is within the threatened species list . There are no documents that date the existence of the red-tailed yaco parrot from a concrete moment in history, although it is estimated that already existed more than 4000 years ago ong>, being a kin...

Environmental enrichment for cats - Everything you need to know

You've probably heard the term environmental enrichment on occasion, but not be absolutely clear what it means or how it can benefit your cat .Although many cats have an incredible luck to be accommodated in a comfortable house, the innate curiosity of felines can lead to boredom and alterations of the character with the passage of time. In Animals and Pets Online, we suggest you read this article so that you understand what is environmental enrichment for cats and everything you need to know , as well as discover how to carry it out in your home in a simple and cheap way, reducing stress in your life. Definition of environmental enrichment We could say that environmental enrichment for cats, are all the factors that provide a better quality of life to our cat. Here there are too many things included (its interaction with people, with other animals to favor the game, quality food, etc.), but in this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will focus on two specific type...

BIRDS THAT DO NOT FLY - Features and 10 examples

Are there birds that don't fly? The truth is that yes.Different adaptive reasons have caused certain species to have evolved, leaving behind their ability to fly.We speak of very different birds from each other, of different sizes and origins, who only have in common the fact of not flying. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you a list with the names of 10 birds that do not fly, but also, we will talk about the most notable characteristics of each of the examples.Do not miss this article, Read on to find out everything about the birds that can't fly ! Why are there non-flying birds? It is necessary to clarify that all the species of non-flying birds that exist today descend from ancient birds that did have the ability to move through the air.In spite of this, some causes, especially those that are related to survival , stimulated the adaptation of these species until they developed the characteristics they currently show. One of the reasons tha...

Paloma Torcaz: characteristics

The wood pigeon ( Columba palumbus ) is the largest of the pigeons and usually inhabits forested areas.Unlike the domestic pigeon, which can have a great variety of shades in its feathers, the coloring pattern of the wood pigeon is always the same, and the white spots on the neck are never missing. It is increasingly common to see this species of the order of the columbiforms in our cities, that is why in this Animals and Pets Online file we want to talk about this beautiful ave.Discover below everything you need about the wood pigeon : origin, habitat, characteristics, food and reproduction. Origin of the wood pigeon The wood pigeon is native to Europe and Western Asia.They are year-round residents in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Morocco and other countries in the Mediterranean basin.They have a large breeding area in northern Europe, but in winter they migrate to warmer areas of the south. Several subspecies are known, one of them extinct: Columba...

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 ...

Company Animal Names

Names for male and female doberman dogs The Doberman Pinscher is a dog of large size, stylized, elegant, muscular and proportionate.It stands out for its peaceful and friendly character, despite what many people may think due to the unfair fame that this canine breed has acquired throughout Unfortunately, many are the... Names for male white dogs and females Have you ever thought about adopting a white dog? Surely it is! However, you should keep in mind that owning one of these dogs requires a lot of attention to keep the fur clean, although we must say that it will be worth it when you admire the elegant white mantle. If you're thinking... Names for cats in English and their meaning-Males and females Searching for names for cats is a very fun experience and that generates great expectations among all the members of the family unit.If you are also at this time, you are likely to look for names for cats in English and their meaning, a language every time more globalized In this...

Normal glucose levels in dogs

Normal glucose values in dogs Glucose is a sugar present in the blood.Normal blood glucose levels in dogs range between 88 and 120 mg/dl .A values above or below These figures are associated with different pathologies, as we will see in the following sections.When our dog shows symptoms of disease, it is very common for the veterinarian to draw blood for an analysis, in the same way as in human medicine.The sample is usually taken from the front legs although, on some occasions, blood can be drawn from the hind legs or jugular (in the neck).In a basic examination we will distinguish two large sections, which are the following: Hemogram : This section measures parameters such as hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets or leukocytes.This will give us information about the presence or absence of anemia and, if there is, what type is (regenerative or non-regenerative) or if our dog suffers an infection, basically. Biochemistry : this is where the glucose measurement and other para...

How to know the age of a turtle?

The turtle is perhaps one of the oldest reptiles of the world .It is characterized by its slow movements and its huge shell, which serves to protect the internal organs.Initially, the turtles were terrestrial animals, but with the evolution they managed to adapt to the seabed to be aquatic. The age of the turtles has always generated polemic, since they are very long-lived, which complicates the task of knowing the age of each specimen.That is why from Animals and Pets Online we have prepared this article, in which you We will teach how to know the age of a turtle . Characteristics of land turtles The tortoise is one of the quieter and quieter animals that you can have as a pet.They are characterized by a long and wide neck that can stretch and contract very easily and agility.Thanks to this and the shell, they are able to hide when they feel threatened.Also, land turtles can regulate their body temperature depending on the outside environment.In this sense, when cold temper...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog