Beige Hamster

Hamster, its scientific name is South American chestnut squirrel, belongs to the order Rodentia, suborder Hystricomorpha, family Echimyidae. Because of its resemblance to the cartoon hamster in the movie TOTORO created by Hayao Miyazaki, it was later renamed "Beige Hamster" by Hong Kong people.

Hamster belongs to the suborder Hystricomorpha in the order Rodentia. The main difference between hamsters and mice is that hamsters are herbivorous while mice are omnivorous, and they have different digestive systems.

Chinese name: Beige Hamster

Suborder: Hystricomorpha

Family: South American chestnut squirrel

English name: Heterozygous Beige Chinchilla

The Beige Hamster belongs to the suborder Hystricomorpha of the order Rodentia. Its scientific name is South American chestnut squirrel and it belongs to the family Echimyidae. The main difference between the Beige Hamster and a mouse is that while mice are omnivorous, the Beige Hamster is herbivorous, and they have different digestive systems.

It is recommended to keep beige hamsters for pet enthusiasts. Beige hamsters have beige fur on their backs, white bellies, pink ears, and red (or burgundy) eyes. Occasionally, there are beige hamsters with black eyes, but they are rare. Older beige hamsters usually have brown-black spots on their ears.

1. Overgrown incisors - Like beavers, the incisors grow too long due to the lack of constant chewing on softwood blocks or pumice stones, which affects chewing and leads to loss of appetite, weakness, and even starvation. The overgrown portion should be promptly cut off with bone forceps or pruning shears, and the swollen lips should be wiped clean with an anti-inflammatory solution for three consecutive days.

2. Throat obstruction - When eating large pieces of feed or other foreign objects, the hamster may have difficulty swallowing, and it is difficult for them to spit out the food in their mouth, which can easily cause throat obstruction. When a small piece of food is obstructed, the hamster exhibits restlessness, makes swallowing movements, and is accompanied by coughing. The main symptoms are rapid or difficulty breathing, often leading to choking, bloodshot eyes, inability to stand on four limbs, and eventual death. Therefore, do not give hamsters hard or shell-bearing feeds such as pine nuts and large grain legumes. For mild obstructions, immediately feed plant oil to lubricate the esophagus, so that the food can be swallowed into the stomach. Severe obstructions often result in suffocation before measures can be taken.

3. Catarrhal gastritis - Inflammation of the gastric mucosa, mainly caused by a high proportion of grain feed, lack of coarse fiber in feed, sudden change in feed variety, overfeeding of delicious feed, or cantharidin-induced inflammation caused by abdominal distension. Eating sand and drinking unclean water or eating moldy and pesticide-contaminated feed can also cause gastric cantharidin. This disease often occurs suddenly, with sudden onset, depression, severe pain, loss of appetite or refusal to eat. Chronic symptoms include decreased appetite, moderate constipation, gradual emaciation, weight loss, drooling, moist lower lip and commissure of the mouth, and hair tangling. For acute gastric cantharidin, feeding should be stopped for 1 to 2 days, and pellet feed should be replaced with soft feed. Fresh tender green feed and grape fresh milk should be added to the diet, and 2-3 mL of aluminum hydroxide gel should be taken orally. For chronic cases, it is mainly to improve feeding management and medication, but the effect is not significant.

4. Constipation - Constipation is mainly caused by improper feed resulting in weakened gastrointestinal motility and malnutrition, and disturbed feeding environment causing neurological disturbances leading to abnormal gastrointestinal motility. When hamsters have constipation, mild cases have no obvious symptoms, only the shape of the feces is slightly smaller, without air holes, and the color is darker. In severe cases, defecation is significantly reduced or stopped, with very small, dry and hard feces. The affected hamster stops eating and drinking, squats in one place, becomes lethargic, and shows arching back and signs of pain, depression, and closed eyes. Prolonged constipation leads to gradual emaciation and significant weight loss. In the treatment, in addition to adjusting the ingredients, the following medications can be used: 2% liquid paraffin or soft soap water can be taken orally or rectally, 5-15 mL each time; a mixture of 10%-15% hot vegetable oil and water can be taken orally or by enema, 5-15 mL each time; rectal injection with glycerin can also promote defecation.

5. Intestinal obstruction - Aggravated constipation can cause intestinal obstruction. Some hamsters suffer from trichophagia, which causes hairballs to form in the digestive tract. In addition, a high content of coarse fiber in the food or the use of a large amount of antibiotics for treating diseases can cause a decrease in the ability of intestinal microorganisms to digest coarse fiber, leading to constipation and subsequent intestinal obstruction. Therefore, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be used as little as possible or avoided, and sulfonamide drugs should be used for inflammation treatment as they are relatively safe. The initial symptom of intestinal obstruction is constipation. Acute symptoms of intestinal obstruction rarely occur suddenly, so they present with all symptoms of constipation. Diseased hamsters quickly become dehydrated and their eyes sink. The abdomen is often slightly distended, and hard feces can often be felt in the abdomen. Diseased hamsters show abdominal pain, stretching their forelimbs forward and lying with their abdomen attached to the ground. Severe cases lie on their backs with their limbs curled up. Duodenal obstruction is the most obvious. Prevention and treatment measures: be highly vigilant when constipation occurs, do everything possible to eliminate constipation, and prevent secondary intestinal obstruction. When intestinal obstruction has already occurred, the treatment is mainly focused on relieving constipation. If oil-based laxatives are ineffective, 10%-20% sodium sulfate can be tried or deep rectal lavage with soft soap water can be carried out, combined with laxatives for mild cases of intestinal obstruction. For severe cases of intestinal obstruction, when the intestine is already inflamed or necrotic, laxatives are not only ineffective but also risky, and surgery may be necessary.

6. Intestinal torsion and intussusception - This disease occurs suddenly during the mating process when chasing or fighting, or during vigorous exercise. Once this disease occurs, it causes severe pain, tremors of the limbs and the whole body, inability to stand, and sometimes squealing, and can cause death. Upon autopsy, twisted or invaginated intestines, mucosal bleeding, and bleeding can be directly observed. Because this disease is sudden and fatal, measures are often not taken in time before the hamster dies. When rescuing, manually untwisting the intestines can be effective for some affected hamsters.

7. Vitamin deficiency - Various nutritional deficiencies are caused by defects in feed formulation and should be primarily prevented and treated as a supplement. Common vitamin deficiencies include vitamin A and thiamine deficiencies. When vitamin A is deficient, hamsters often suffer from keratinization dermatitis, respiratory tract infections, decreased reproductive performance, or infertility, obvious dry eye or night blindness. Diseased hamsters often have listless eyes, a hazy appearance, dull and non-elastic fur, and weight loss. The mating rate of males significantly decreases, sexual behavior disappears, females have extended or absent estrous periods, pregnant females experience interrupted pregnancies, and fetuses are either absorbed or miscarried. When vitamin A is deficient in pups, they become thin and weak and are difficult to survive or become blind. Supplement each diseased hamster with 100 international units of vitamin A per day, and provide proper supplementation through feed after one week. When thiamine is deficient, hamsters' movements become uncoordinated, they become nervous, easily excited, and the typical symptom is convulsions, with sudden spasms of the limbs and trunk. After a spasm occurs, they can continue to move normally, but if it continues to develop, it can cause death. During treatment, high doses of thiamine should be administered, 10 mg per hamster per day for 2-4 weeks.

8. Calcium-phosphorus imbalance - Lack of calcium and phosphorus in feed, improper calcium-phosphorus ratio, or lack of vitamin D in feed can all cause calcium-phosphorus metabolic disorders. Typical symptoms of this disease are sudden muscle cramps throughout the body, which are similar to the spasms caused by thiamine deficiency, but the spasms caused by this disease mostly occur before and after feeding, with an important difference that the spasms caused by this disease do not manifest as swaying. Diseased hamsters lie belly-down on the bottom of the cage, with stiff limbs and forelimbs extended forward and their head tilted back. Treatment measures: increase the content of calcium and phosphorus in the feed and adjust the calcium and phosphorus ratio and the content of vitamin D. Alternatively, inject glucose-calcium into the muscles, 1-1.5 mL per hamster per day, continuously for 3-5 days.

9. Hair loss - Hamster fur is precious, so hair loss is a big loss and is a common occurrence. The reasons for hair loss in hamsters are twofold: one is the lack of unsaturated fatty acids in the feed, and the other is nervous-induced hair loss. After hair loss, the skin loses its value for fur making. The symptoms often involve both factors, and nervous-induced hair loss is often the main factor. Whether the hamster is active in the cage or engaged in activities such as artificially feeding and watering, the affected hamster sheds hair intermittently or in clumps, and the cage is covered with scattered fur. In severe cases, the skin is exposed, exhibiting keratinization and crusting. Hamsters with this condition cannot contribute to breeding. Unsaturated fatty acids can be taken orally or added to the feed, and they should be fed as soon as they are prepared. Give 2 tablets of linoleic acid per day for 3-5 consecutive days to achieve certain effects.

1, The Beige Hamster has a gentle character and is timid. They enjoy living in groups and can get along well together. They prefer a dry and cool environment, with a suitable temperature range of 2 to 30 degrees Celsius. It is generally best to keep them in a place with less sunlight.

2, There are many varieties of Beige Hamsters, with the most common being gray. Other varieties, especially all white ones, are more expensive. Male and female Beige Hamsters are equally docile, so gender selection is not important.

3, Beige Hamsters enjoy eating fresh and juicy plants, vegetables, and fruits. So the food prepared for them must be fresh. Because of this, the cost of raising a Beige Hamster is relatively high.

4, The cage for a Beige Hamster must be specially designed, with suitable height and width. And a climbing board must be installed in the cage, as they have strong jumping ability and need regular exercise.

5, The nutrition of a Beige Hamster should not be excessive, and a heavier body is not better. The ideal weight for an adult Beige Hamster should be between 500 and 700 grams. It's also recommended to choose cost-effective main feed for them, not too expensive or too cheap.

6, Beige Hamsters can take baths, but not too often to avoid getting sick.

7, Beige Hamsters need to go to the pet hospital for physical examinations, vaccinations, deworming, etc.

Usually, the hamster changes its fur every few months. The old fur is shed starting from the neck until the tail. This cycle is not regulated by seasons and depends on the growth of the fur. It usually takes about three months for the hamster to change its fur, so it is irregular throughout the year. Generally, the shed fur falls on the bottom of the cage, some may stick to the wire mesh. During the hamster's shedding period, it is recommended to comb off the shed fur. This not only makes them look more energetic, but also prevents the fur from flying around.

The correct way to comb a hamster's fur:

Hamsters as pets do not require grooming like cats and dogs. Regular combing can be done at home. The method of combing a hamster's fur is very simple. First, cover a old towel on your lap, hold the hamster's tail, and then use a round-toothed and sparse comb to gently comb the shed fur from the back to the head, and then comb both sides. The white fur from the neck to the belly does not need to be combed.