Category: Hamsters

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Can Hamsters Throw Up? Vet-Approved Facts & Explanation

Throwing up is not a pleasant experience for anyone, particularly because the sign indicates that something is wrong. If you’re a dog or cat owner, it can be especially scary when your pet vomits. But if you’re a hamster owner, you might have never seen your pet throw up and are wondering if they even can.

Hamsters are physically incapable of throwing up, so if it looks like your hammy is vomiting, they are likely just emptying their cheek pouches.

If you would like to learn more about why hamsters don’t vomit and how you can tell when they’re sick, read on!

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What Prevents Hamsters From Throwing Up?

It’s not only hamsters that can’t vomit—it’s the case for nearly all rodents. A 2013 study1 examined three species from the three major groups of mammals in the Rodentia family:

  • Mouse related: Rats, mice, voles, and beavers

  • Squirrel related: Mountain beavers

  • Ctenohystrica: Guinea pigs and nutria

The researchers used chemicals that could cause vomiting, but the rodents in the study did not gag or vomit. The reasons for this inability to throw up are physical and neurological.

It was discovered that rodents have fewer muscles in the diaphragm which sits underneath the lungs. Additionally, the stomach is not designed to move contents upward effectively. The researchers also found less nerve, shoulder, mouth, and throat activity, which are all normally linked with throwing up.

This all means that both the bodies and brains of rodents make it physically impossible for them to vomit.

little dwarf hamster on womans hands
Image Credit: Hintau Aliaksei, Shutterstock

Why Can’t Rodents Vomit?

No one knows exactly why rodents are designed not to vomit, but it’s believed that the ability to vomit was replaced with different defense mechanisms.

For example, many rodents eat clay when sick. A 2009 study showed that sick rats that ate clay actually had a better recovery as they ate more and lost less weight.

Why Does Your Hamster Sometimes Look Like They Are Vomiting?

If you’re new to hamster ownership, it might be a little disconcerting to see what looks like piles of vomit come out of their mouths.

But this is just your hammy pushing stored food out of their cheek pouches. The name “hamster” comes from the German word, “hamstern,” which translates to “hoard,” and this is exactly what hamsters do.

Their elastic cheek pouches stretch to store large amounts of food. So, hamsters stuff them full of food to be transported to their abode where they can eat their food in safety.

Domestic hamsters haven’t lost this instinct even though it isn’t technically necessary. You’ll notice your hamster stuffing their cheeks full of the food that you’ve provided, only to carry it around for a bit and then push it all out in a different location in their habitat.

It does look like they are throwing up sometimes, but it’s perfectly natural behavior.

Hamster
Image Credit: dep377, Pixabay

What Should You Not Feed Your Hamster?

While hamsters are typically good at figuring out what they should and shouldn’t eat, you should still know what you shouldn’t feed your pet. Since they can’t throw something up that might make them unwell, you must ensure they don’t have access to anything harmful.

The following are harmful foods that you shouldn’t feed your hamster:

  • Garlic

  • Onions

  • Raw kidney beans

  • Apple seeds, cores and skin

  • Citrus fruits

  • Non-food plants

  • Tomato leaves or unripe tomatoes

  • Candy or anything sugary

  • Chocolate

  • Human snacks, such as pretzels and chips

Beyond these, there are a few foods that are fine for hamsters in small amounts occasionally, but must prepared in a specific way:

  • Celery in small chunks is fine, but remove any strings that can cause choking.

  • Fruits and vegetables must be washed.

  • All foods must be plain—nothing with seasonings or spices.

  • Don’t add fats or oils to any foods offered.

  • One unsalted peanut a week is okay.

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What Can Make Hamsters Choke?

Keep your hamster safe by moving potential choking hazards out of reach. For example, certain types of bedding can cause choking. Cotton is one of the worst culprits because it can get stuck in their teeth, is difficult to chew and swallow, and is known to be deadly for hamsters. Avoid bedding floss or anything else made with cotton. Electrical cords are double the danger—there’s the risk of electrocution and the possibility of choking.

Before you let your hamster out to explore, you’ll need to hamster-proof the area. Move all cords out of your hamster’s reach, as well as anything small, such as pellets, toys, marbles, or whatever else they could potentially swallow.

Close-up of a small hamster lying on sand in a cage
Image Credit: KulthiwatS, Shutterstock

How Can You Tell If Your Hamster Is Sick?

Your hamster will display several signs when they have ingested something that they shouldn’t have.

These can include:

  • Diarrhea: Normally Hamster poop is solid so if it looks sloppy or watery your hamster has diarrhea.

  • Loss of appetite: Hamsters have a good appetite, so if you observe your hamster not eating as much as usual, it might be a sign that they aren’t feeling good.

  • Lethargy:When not sleeping, hamsters are busy little pets, so if you notice that your hammy sleeping more than usual, hiding, and generally not being alert, something might be wrong.

  • Dull coat:Hamsters are fastidious groomers, and if you notice that your hamster’s coat is looking dull and not that clean, this can indicate that they are sick.

  • Excessive thirst:Toxic material in the system can affect the liver and kidneys, so this can lead to a very thirsty hamster.

  • Rapid breathing:If your hamster is breathing faster than usual or panting, they might be experiencing heart or respiratory issues.

If your hamster exhibits any of these signs, you must bring them to your veterinarian or closest emergency animal hospital. Once a hamster shows signs of distress, they can quickly deteriorate.

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Conclusion

Since hamsters are incapable of throwing up, you’ll need to keep anything that they can choke on or that is toxic for them out of reach. You might also be interested to know that hamsters (and all rodents) cannot burp, but they do fart!

You should always pay attention to your hamster and their behavior, particularly if they aren’t acting like their usual selves. Knowing that they can’t vomit makes feeding them the right food even more important, so you can ensure to keep your hammy healthy and safe.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Victor FlowerFly, Shutterstock

The post Can Hamsters Throw Up? Vet-Approved Facts & Explanation appeared first on Pet Keen.

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Can Hamsters See in the Dark? Anatomy Facts (Vet Answer)

Anyone that has owned a hamster has likely observed them emerging at night. When it gets dark, the hamster wheel starts spinning. You can hear your hamster chewing and rustling and having a grand old time. This has raised an obvious question. Can hamsters see in the dark? Hamsters seem to get a lot done after the sun goes down as they are naturally nocturnal, so it is a fair question. Hamsters do have some adaptations to help them see in the dark, but not as many as other species. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how animals have evolved to see in the dark and see how hamsters measure up.

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The Retina

The retina is the layer of cells at the back of the eye which detects light and sends signals to the brain; in other words the retina is responsible for seeing. The retina has a few different cell types but the two types of cells that detect light are called “rods” and “cones”. Rods are good at picking up low levels of light and function best in darkness. They don’t however provide color or detailed vision which is the role of the cones. The hamster’s retina is made up of 97% rods and 3% cones suggesting most of their vision is of low detail but adapted for darker environments.

close up white dwarf hamster with red eyes eating in a bowl
Image Credit: SIMON SHIM, Shutterstock

Eye and Pupil Size

You may have noticed animals that are nocturnal such as owls, tarsiers, some lemurs and galagos with very large eyes. These big eyes and wide pupils do more than make them look super cute. They actually allow more light to reach the retina so they can possibly see more in the dark than we can. So, while hamsters do not have extremely large eyes like tarsiers, they are also not the smallest eyes relative to their size in the animal kingdom and they do have a large pupil.

Tapetum Lucidum

The tapetum lucidum is a reflective layer at the back of the eye; it reflects light coming into the eye. You may have noticed in dogs, cats, horses and cows, their eyes seem to shine in the dark. This is because of the reflection of light from the tapetum lucidum. Animals with this feature can see better in low light as their retina has two chances to detect light- once on the way in and once on the way out. Hammys, though, do not possess this reflective layer.

domestic cat with glowing eyes at night
Image Credit: anto anto, Shutterstock

Is It Okay to Leave Your Hamsters in the Dark?

Yes. Hamsters can be left in the dark. You don’t have to worry about your hamsters feeling lonely or bored when it gets dark. Hamsters are creatures that are quite adapted to the dark for a number of reasons, so there is no reason to worry about your hamsters when the sun goes down.

Do Hamsters Like the Dark?

Hamsters are nocturnal, which means that they are most active during the night hours. That means that hamsters prefer to eat, dig, and roam around at night in the dark. Hamsters are adapted to this lifestyle.

The other thing that makes hamsters preferential to the dark is the fact that their burrows are often shrouded in complete darkness. Hamsters dig burrows, tunnels, and holes in the ground where they go to sleep, eat, and have babies away from hungry predators. Hamsters are used to living in the dark because there is very little light in their underground tunnels. All of these means that hamsters are used to the darkness.

hamster in a cage
Image Credit: Zdeněk Chalupský, Pixabay

Why Are Hamsters Nocturnal If They Can’t See Well in the Dark?

One reason Hamsters are thought to be nocturnal is because it protects them from predators. Many animals hunt during the daylight or during the evening hours. Hamsters try to stay underground, hidden until the sun sets completely. Some animals, like owls, have adapted to hunting during the night hours so they can prey on rodents like hamsters that come out at night.

Also, many hamster species are found in the desert, and at night the temperatures are much lower than they are during the day so hamsters may benefit from the cooler temperatures at night

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Conclusion

Hamsters do not see well in the dark but do have some adaptations to help them out. Their vision does not have high acuity like ours due to the lack of “cone” cells in the eye but their “rods” will help them see in low light. We can’t know exactly what a Hamster sees in the dark and all in all there are other species with much better adaptations for night vision, but your pet hamster will get by just fine.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Dawid Sliwka, Shutterstock

The post Can Hamsters See in the Dark? Anatomy Facts (Vet Answer) appeared first on Pet Keen.

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Can Hamsters Eat Pasta? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

Offering your hamster a piece of pasta can be a great treat because most hamsters adore the taste, and it won’t harm their health. Simply put, hamsters can eat pasta occastionally. Read more about this topic in the article below and stay safe by offering pasta to your hamster only in moderation.

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What is Pasta Made from?

Pasta is one food that we can say is universally adored across the world. It comes in many shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. While some people might enjoy making homemade pasta, the most common source is store-bought, commercially manufactured pasta. It is made from milled wheat, eggs, and water. Once the ingredients are mixed and cut into desired shapes, they are left to dry out, so the water content evaporates, making pasta easy to package with a long shelf life.

While most people might believe that pasta is only a filler food that makes us gain weight and has no real benefits, some properties make it relatively beneficial. Regular dried pasta, made from refined flour—semolina—has higher protein levels than other types of pasta. This type of pasta is digested slower than other refined carbohydrates, gradually releasing blood sugar into your body. Also, pasta is a somewhat decent source of protein, supplying 6 to 7 grams per cooked cup.

Nutritional Value of Pasta per 100 g

Energy: 168 kcal / 701 kJ
Water: 87.8 g
Protein: 6.59 g
Total Fat: 1.34 g
Carbohydrates: 31.9 g
Calcium: 7.68 g
Iron: 1.46 g
Magnesium: 23 mg
Phosporus: 80.6 mg
Potassium: 30.7 mg
Sodium: 7.68 mg
pasta made from scratch
Image Credit: Oldmermaid, Pixabay

Can Hamsters Eat Pasta?

The excellent news for hamster owners is that pasta is an entirely safe snack to offer them. Pasta has no real benefits on hamsters’ health, but it isn’t harmful or toxic. However, it should be cooked prior to offering. Hamsters need more protein, with fewer carbohydrates, and pasta has plenty of carbs, so it should only be offered in moderation and not as a regular part of their diet. Pasta also contains gluten, which might cause gastrointestinal upset for your hamster, but as long as you stay moderate and don’t offer too much, it should be fine.

How to Feed Pasta to Your Hamster

When feeding pasta to your hamster for the first time, it is crucial to prepare it properly. This includes offering pasta without adding oils or salts. Make sure the past you have is free of any additives. Offer a small piece of pasta to your hamster first to see if they like it. If they eat a piece of pasta, monitor their behavior and health for 24 hours. You can continue feeding your hamster pasta safely occasionally if there are no side effects. However, if your hamster suddenly gets diarrhea, loses appetite, or starts vomiting, stop feeding them pasta as they might be allergic or sensitive to some ingredients.

Ideal Hamster Diet

If you are a confused hamster parent often wondering what the ideal nutrition for your pet is, you are not the only one. There are many sources of information concerning the perfect hamster diet; however, it is relatively simple. A hamster’s diet should be as similar as possible to their natural diets in the wild, and so are best based around hamster pellets and fresh vegetables. Feeding your hamster pellets is best because all the necessary nutrients are mixed into one form, not letting your hamster be a picky eater.

Every pellet-based hamster diet needs to have:

  • 15% to 25% protein

  • 4% to 5% fat

  • 5% fiber

  • 35% and 40% carbohydrates

It is best to work closely with your veterinarian to create a personalized plan tailored to your hamster; however, you can expect their diets to be based around pallets, fruits, vegetables, and occasional snacks in the form of insects like mealworms. There are certain human foods that hamsters can eat safely:

freshly made pasta
Image Credit: Didier, Pixabay

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Final Thoughts

Being a diligent and devoted hamster parent includes reading all about the safety of particular food for them. When it comes to pasta, fortunately, it is entirely safe for hamsters to consume, as long as done only on occasion and in small amounts. While pasta doesn’t carry any significant health benefits, nutrients, or vitamins, it can be a potential source of protein.

However, it is essential to note that pasta can only be offered as an occasional snack to your hamsters and should never replace their regular meals.

Sources

 

Featured Image Credit: Bella RaKo, Pixabay

The post Can Hamsters Eat Pasta? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.