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.

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