hedgehogs, and bats are small mammals that hibernate. Many insects, amphibians, and reptiles are also present. Only one bird has been identified as a bonafide hibernator: the common poorwill of North America.
This brilliantly disguised nocturnal bird is a cousin of the British nightjar and hibernates among rocks throughout the winter. It can reduce its oxygen consumption by 90% while its body temperature drops to 5°C, scarcely registering signs of life.
Preventing Hibernation
Because cold is the most common cause of hibernation, there are several easy steps you may take to avoid it.
Moving the cage to draft-free locations, adding extra bedding, and making sure your hamster is well fed with fatty meals are all fool-proof strategies to keep your hamster warm while it’s chilly outdoors.
Because hamsters might suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, it’s important to make sure they get sufficient sunlight to avoid sadness or anxiety, which can lead to prolonged hibernation.
Take care of the following to prevent your hamster from hybernating –
Make sure your hamster has enough food and water at all times.
In order to preserve energy, hibernation is sometimes caused by a shortage of food or water. To prevent your furry little cavie friend from going into hibernation, make sure it has plenty of food and water.
Make sure there’s enough heated bedding.
Your hamster’s cage bedding will help insulate and protect it from the cold. To avoid hibernation, make sure your hamster has enough bedding.
If your hamster begins to hibernate, consider increasing the amount of bedding in the cage to prevent this from happening again.
Increase the fat content of your hamster’s food
Your hamster will not go into hibernation mode if they have greater body fat—feed fattening foods such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, or avocado to your hamster. However, with little hamsters, a little goes a long way when it comes to fatty meals.
During the winter, be proactive.
During the frigid winter months, pay closer attention to your hamster’s behavior and whether or not it appears to be warm enough.
During the winter, add some extra bedding to your hamster’s cage and feed more fatty meals than usual. During the winter season, keep a watch on your pet to ensure that it is safe and alert.
Hypothermia
When a hamster’s body temperature dips to dangerously low levels, it is called hypothermia. This commonly happens when hamsters have been exposed to cold for an extended length of time (over twenty-four hours).
Hypothermic shock is particularly deadly for hamsters since they have no resources in their body to survive. As a result, hypothermic hamsters often do not survive very long.
When temperatures dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, hamsters can get hypothermic (4 degrees Celsius).
Escaping from his cage and becoming lost outside (or inside a very cold room!) are two reasons your hamster might fall into hypothermic shock. Another reason is being exposed to a draught, such as an open window, for an extended period of time.
Hypothermia Prevention
Hypothermia is a dangerous condition. Therefore you should constantly take precautions to keep your hamster from succumbing to it.
If you suspect that your hamster’s hibernation was induced by exposure to cold weather, make sure he has plenty of bedding and that the space he resides in is warm enough.
If you suspect that your hamster’s hibernation was induced by exposure to cold weather, make sure he has plenty of bedding and that the space he resides in is warm enough.
This may include turning on the central heating or utilizing a portable heater in your hamster’s room, or moving him to a more generous space.
Never, ever, ever put your hamster or hamster’s cage close to a radiator or heater! Your hamster needs warmth, but you do not want him to become overheated, as this can be harmful.
Providing enough bedding for your hamster, especially if the weather turns cold, can ensure he doesn’t get too cold.
If you think a shortage of food or water caused your hamster’s hibernation, make sure he has plenty to eat and drink when he wakes up. To give your hamster some additional energy, try giving him some goodies that include healthy fats.
Sunflower seeds and peanuts are good fatty snacks. If you don’t want your hamster to get overweight, don’t overfeed him with fatty foods.
To keep your hamster from becoming too chilly, make sure his home isn’t near any draughts or vents, especially when it’s cold outdoors. Draughts can enter via an open window in extremely cold weather, so keep them closed.
Use Temperature Monitor
You might use a temperature monitor to keep track of the temperature in the room where your hamster stays.
Using a temperature monitor will help you to immediately determine if your hamster is being exposed to low (or high) temperatures, allowing you to take action to prevent your hamster from hibernating or suffering hypothermia.
Thermometers are affordable and might be useful for ensuring that your hamster’s room is within its ideal temperature range. Simply hang one on the wall or near your hamster’s enclosure.
Because most hamsters come from arid areas, they are unable to withstand extremely low temperatures. Maintain a 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit temperature for your hamster (or 18 to 24 degrees Celsius).
Your hamster will be considerably happier and more comfortable if the temperature is in this range. Because your hamster is susceptible to a variety of ailments when upset, you must avoid stressing him out as much as possible.
A healthy hamster is one who is happy!
Safe heating Devices
You may use a heating device like a heating pad or a heat mat to keep your hamster’s cage warm during cold weather. The same heating pads that are used for reptiles are safe for hamsters. You should be able to get them in the reptile area of your local pet store or online.
Heat mats for reptiles are safe and trustworthy since they are meant to be used on animal cages and tanks. They’re a fantastic item to buy (and not too costly! ), especially if you reside in a location where extreme cold is a regular occurrence.
Warmth may be provided by placing these heat mats beneath your hamster’s cage. Make sure there’s a part of the bottom of your hamster’s cage that isn’t touching the heat pad.
This is so that if your hamster gets too hot or needs to cool off, they have a place to relax in their cage. If your hamster is hibernating or in torpor, you can use heat mats to warm him up immediately.
Just make sure there’s a piece of cloth between your hamster and the mat. Make sure your mat’s heat setting isn’t set too high. Low or medium heat should be enough for your hamster.
Reptile heat mats provide slow and mild heat, so they’re unlikely to burn the bottom of your hamster’s cage. However, always keep an eye on the heat mat to ensure it doesn’t get too hot.
The heat mat emits heat gradually, so your hamster is not exposed to high temperatures all at once, which might shock him. Instead, it is gentle and gradual to provide extra comfort and warmth to your hamster throughout the winter months!
How to Care for a hibernating hamster?
Your hibernating hamster’s amount of care will be determined by a variety of circumstances. The most crucial question, though, is how long your pet has been in torpor. Rewarming them may be enough to resuscitate your pet if the time has been reasonably brief (less than a day).
Remember that your hamster’s most likely reason was being too chilly. If he has hypothermia rather than torpor, it can be fatal very quickly. Thus prompt attention and care are required! For at least 12 hours, rewarm the cage and keep it properly illuminated.
Make sure there’s enough food and water. The hamster’s cage can be relocated to a warmer location. You may also cover him with a warm towel or gently stroke his back while holding him against your body.
A gentle massage to both their torso and extremities can aid in the re-establishment of blood circulation. A massage will also help in your hamster’s thorough warm-up. Bringing your hamster out of torpor might take up to three hours.
Veterinarians do not recommend using artificial heating components on or around your hamster to boost their temperature fast and aggressively pull them out of hypothermia/hibernation.
This can be harmful and even dangerous, and it can lead to other health problems that will require treatment.
Rather, gradually boost the temperature in and around the habitat, or just use your own body heat to progressively elevate your hamster’s body temperature.
If you’re concerned about anything about your hamster’s behavior once he’s completely awake, you should take him to the doctor for a thorough examination.
What should you do, though, if your hamster has been hibernating for more than a few hours?
Preparation for a long period of hibernation
If your hamster has been in a state of torpor or hibernation for more than 24 hours, just warming up the region and massaging it won’t be enough to keep him healthy. Prolonged hibernation can lead to a number of serious health problems.
Because hamsters don’t drink anything when hibernating, dehydration is prevalent. Malnutrition is another typical problem since hamsters lose weight before hibernation rather than storing fat stores to keep them going during the hibernation period.
After a time of hibernation, both water and nutrients must be given with considerable caution and moderation. Both will be too much for your hamster to handle in huge doses. Water, in particular, should be provided using an eyedropper one or two drops at a time.
Taking your hamster to the doctor for a comprehensive exam is the safest and best course of action. They can provide fluids and nutrition if necessary and check for and treat any significant health issues.
They’ll also offer you tips on how to care for your hamster once you’re both back at home. The ideal thing for your pet is to avoid hibernating in the first place.
Keeping hamsters from hibernating
You’ve probably figured out that hibernation is entirely dependent on the surroundings you offer for your hamster. The most crucial measure is to keep your child’s environment at a constant temperature.
Make sure the temperature stays between 65°F (18.3°C) and 75°F (23.9°C), which is the optimal range. Changes in temperature (either up or down) induced by direct sunshine or closeness to air vents or open windows are one thing to keep an eye on.
In addition, hamsters should be exposed to strong light for at least 12 hours every day. Also, make sure they have adequate food, drink, and bedding at all times.
You can also follow these actions if you’ve been paying attention and believe your hamster is preparing for hibernation. Handling and playing with your pet regularly might also assist your pet in avoiding hibernation.
The simplest and safest strategy is to do everything you can to keep your hamster from having to hibernate. This list of ideas might assist you in getting started.
Warmth & Burrowing Hamster Bedding
The first step is to give lots of bedding material for your hamster to burrow in. A hamster in the wild would dig a tunnel protected with dirt, wood, and even rock. You must provide your hamster with the means to construct something similar in captivity.
Temperature Monitoring for Hamsters
The temperature within and surrounding your hamster’s environment may be monitored using a number of instruments. The majority are affordable and easily accessible over the internet.
Location of Hamster Habitat
Another obvious strategy to prevent your hamster from ever succumbing to hypothermia or hibernating in captivity is to select the habitat site carefully. Some places or rooms in most homes nowadays simply appear to stay a little warmer than the others.
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms are all wonderful examples. You should also carefully consider where the hamster habitat will be placed in the chosen room to minimize draughts or direct sunlight beams.
How long do pet hamsters live?
A hamster’s lifetime is far shorter than that of most other common household creatures.
Any of the five species of domesticated hamster will survive for two to three years, any hamster above the age of a year and a half is considered elderly, and how much your hamster reveals their age depends on a variety of factors, including their personality and activity level.
How long do dwarf hamsters live?
A dwarf hamster’s lifetime ranges from one to two years. Each species and individual hamster, on the other hand, is distinct.
Dwarf hamsters appear in three different species: Russian, Chinese, and Roborovski. They grow to be 2 to 3 inches long and weigh up to 2 ounces.
Conclusion
If you’re still not sure if your hamster is hibernating or has died after reading all of this, visit your local physician for an expert assessment. Medical equipment will rapidly validate all of your suspicions and assist you in determining the best course of action!
FAQs
How do I get my hamster out of hibernation?
For 30-60 minutes, place your hamster on a warm heating pad set to around 90°F (32°C). This will assist your pet in swiftly warming up and emerging from its hibernating condition. If you don’t have a heating pad, place your hamster on top of a radiator with a towel.
How to know if your hamster is in hibernation?
Your hamster’s physique will seem dead during hibernation, remaining fully limp even when you handle him. If the hamster had died and rigor Mortis had set in, his body would be utterly rigid, particularly his limbs.
Can a hibernating hamster be awakened?
A hibernating hamster may be readily awoken by increasing the temperature. Allow your pet to wake up naturally rather than forcing it.
Do hamsters hibernate and look dead?
If it becomes too chilly, pet hamsters can go into hibernation mode. This might last anywhere from a few days to a week. Please don’t think your hamster is no longer alive. The hamster may at first glance seem dead.
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