Hamsters are among children's favorite pets, but many adults have also joined in admiring these charming rodents. If you have chosen to adopt a pair of hamsters, eventually your female may become pregnant and it will be essential to offer her the optimal conditionsfor the development of her pregnancy and the growth of the her offspring
In this article on our site, we tell you the main care for a pregnant hamster to help you keep your pet in good he alth throughout the period of pregnancy and lactation. We also give you some tips to ensure that the babies are born and raised in a safe environment where they can develop strong and he althy.
Symptoms of pregnancy in a hamster
The gestation period of a hamster will depend mainly on its breed, but it can also vary depending on the body of each female. These are usually very brief pregnancies that can last between 15 and 25 days.
This means that, in order to provide proper care for your hamster during its gestation, it will be necessary to recognize early the pregnancy symptoms The number of offspring per pregnancy 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.
Wondering how to tell if your hamster is pregnant? Of course, you won't be able to orient yourself just by the abdominal dilation, since females only develop this sign in the last 5 days of pregnancy. However, you can be on the lookout for the following symptoms listed below:
- Increased appetite: You should be aware if your hamster starts to consume a lot of water or if his appetite suddenly increases. In addition to a possible symptom of pregnancy, changes in appetite can indicate some common diseases in hamsters or reveal that your female is feeling anxious, nervous or that she is being exposed to high levels of stress
- Sudden weight gain: If your female consumes more food than usual, it is logical that she gains weight quickly. In addition, the weight gain is part of a pregnancy, since the offspring grow rapidly inside the mother's womb.
- Swollen Nipples: if when you look at your hamster's abdomen, you notice that his nipples are swollen or look out, this is a sign that your body is preparing for breastfeeding.
- Specific behaviors: If your female is pregnant, she will build a nestinside the cage and to store food inside for the time of delivery. During the first days of pregnancy, females tend to be more aggressive , mainly in relation to males. But when the moment of giving birth approaches, her temperament will be more serene and your hamster will need long hours of sleep next to her nest.
Care for a pregnant hamster: veterinary monitoring
If you suspect that your hamster is pregnant or if you observe any of the aforementioned symptoms, we recommend that you consult a specialized veterinarian. At the clinic, the professional will not only be able to confirm the pregnancy, but also verify the he alth status of the femaleand guide you on her specific requirements during pregnancy and lactation.
You can also take the opportunity to clarify your doubts about how many babies your hamster will be able to give birth to and when you should return to do a general examination of the babies. In addition, we must not forget that regular visits to the specialized veterinarian are part of the essential care for your hamster
Feeding a pregnant hamster
Although hamsters should receive complete and balanced nutrition throughout their lives, pregnant females will need special attention to their feeding. During pregnancy, your hamster will require a diet with high energy intake, to prepare its body for lactation and allow the correct development of its offspring.
Ideally, you should increase your daily intake of protein andgood fats. To do this, in addition to your usual diet, we will try to add natural sources of these nutrients, such as boiled eggs, lean cheese, boiled chicken or turkey, cooked ham cut into small pieces, cereals and dried fruits (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, chestnuts and sunflower seeds).). You can also offer mealworms or other small insects, which are sold at some veterinarians and pet stores.
The 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, fiber and minerals. Remember to prefer foods of organic origin (grown without pesticides) and remove the stones from the fruits before offering them to your rodent. And logically, we will always avoid prohibited foods for hamsters.
During pregnancy, we will apply the system " ad libitum " to feed the female. That is to say: we will leave food and fresh water at her disposal throughout the day. Females will forage not only when they are hungry, but also to store food for the time of birth.
Preparing the cage and environment for your hamster and her babies
As we have mentioned, pregnant hamsters tend to become more aggressive because they feel vulnerable and will defend their territory to ensure that their young are born in a safe environment. Therefore, 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 should find fresh water and food at her disposal, as well as materials to make her nest, such as straw, wood and twigs. Throughout the pregnancy, it will be essential to keep your hamster's cage clean, removing food scraps and droppings daily. But if the female has already started building 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 calm and positive environment, where your hamster can experience a safe and peaceful gestation. To avoid exposing it to contexts of high stress, you should not touch it or go near the cage very often. While it is important to convey love and affection to your pregnant hamster, you will also need to respect her territory.
Baby Care
If you see that your hamster has become a mother, you must Give him privacy during breastfeedingand respect your time to adapt to the new reality of she. Therefore, you should only go to the cage to replenish its water and food, temporarily suspending sanitation. You must not touch the mother or hernewborns under any circumstances. This can be interpreted as a sign of weakness and the hamster may eat its young, considering them fragile and unable to survive.
In addition, to prevent your hamster from eating its young, you can follow some preventive measures, such as providing it with a balanced diet of optimal quality, taking care so that its environment transmits tranquility and confidence, and keeping them separated from other hamsters during gestation and lactation.
20 days after giving birth, you can go back to the cage normally and resume its daily cleaning Both the mother and her pups They will be ready 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 opportunity to take the pups to the vet and check their growth, weight gain and he alth status.
It is also from this third week of life that baby hamsters are ready to be weaned, so you should be attentive to feeding and caring for the young. In addition, from their fifth week, small rodents usually mature sexually. Therefore, you should seriously consider separating males and females to avoid fights and new unplanned litters.
Attention to the reproductive control of your hamsters
When bringing your hamsters back together, you must bear in mind that these rodents reach sexual maturity very quickly From their first or second month of life (depending on the breed of the hamster), your new companions will be able to mate and generate new litters. In addition, females will be able to 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 carefully before putting males and females together in the same cage. Since these rodents often have many babies per gestation, you might also consider finding caring, responsible people who want to adopt a pet hamster.
