While hamsters can scratch themselves harmlessly as part of their daily grooming routine, when this behavior is repeated with high frequency or intensity, it is important to pay attention to the behavior. A hamster that scratches a lot may have some disease or allergy that causes itching and skin irritation In addition, by scratching intensely, the rodent can cause injuries to its own skin and thus favor the development of various i secondary infections
If you have observed abnormal scratching behavior in your rodent and want to know why your hamster scratches a lot, in this article from On our site we will detail the main causes of this behavior and how to prevent it to prevent our pet from injuring himself by scratching too intensely.
My hamster scratches a lot, is this normal?
It is important to note that scratching is not always caused by a pathology, for this reason, below we show you the most common causes that explain why your hamster scratches a lot:
Hygiene
Hamsters are very clean animals that can spend several hours a day grooming themselves. When they are not feeding or playing, you will most likely see them carefully preening. In this personal hygiene routine, these rodents often scratch themselves gently and use their small paws to clean every part of their body. This is harmless behavior that makes up their grooming habits.
Parasites and diseases
However, if your hamster scratches a lot and insistently, you should be very careful. This unusual behavior may indicate that your pet is feeling intense itching and is trying to alleviate the discomfort caused by scratching very intensely. This itching can be a symptom of some common hamster illnesses and allergies mainly caused by fungi and mitesIn general, these conditions are more common in rodents with a weakened immune system.
Also, hamsters that share their home with dogs, cats, birds, or other pets, may more easily come into contact with ectoparasites, such as fleas, ticks and mites. To prevent this from happening, it is crucial to carry out regular deworming of our pets and adopt sustainable and effective hygiene habits in our home.
How to know if a hamster is sick? If you have noticed that your hamster has dandruff, scratches a lot and hair losesor that doesn't eat, you probably have some kind of pathology. But how do you know if a hamster has mites or any other disease? Ideally, go to a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals, who will carry out the relevant tests to determine the cause of excessive scratching and prescribe a treatment. Avoid using tricks or home remedies, you could make the condition even worse.
Stress
On the other hand, the habit of scratching very intensely can also appear as a symptom of stress or boredom in hamsters. If your pet does not have an enriched environment that allows him to exercise his body and entertain his mind, it is very likely that he will become bored or permanently nervous or anxious. Then, you will be able to find an escape valve to spend your energy and thus lower your anxiety levels. As a result, you may show changes in your behavior and incorporate new habits into your routine.
It may happen that, in addition to observing excessive scratching, you also wonder why your hamster bites the cage, then you are probably facing a picture of high stress and anxiety. If you do nothing about it, it can happen that the scratching becomes a stereotype, that is, a compulsive behavior caused by high and unsustainable stress levels for the organism of the animal.
How to prevent my hamster from scratching a lot?
As we mentioned, hamsters can scratch themselves harmlessly during their daily grooming. In these cases, we do not need to intervene or inhibit the behavior of our pet, as it is a totally normal habit, which is part of its grooming routine. However, it is important to take some preventive measures to avoid that our hamster ends up hurting himself by scratching very intensely and that his he alth is affected by any negative condition:
It is essential to offer your rodent a complete and balanced nutrition that allows it to maintain a he althy metabolism and strengthen its immune system. With this, we can prevent numerous diseases and enjoy a happy, strong and he althy pet. On our site, we explain everything you need to know about feeding and caring for hamsters.
It will also be crucial to enrich your hamster's environment to prevent inappropriate behavior and stress symptoms. Although the traditional wheel can help him exercise, the ideal is to offer other toys and accessories to arouse your hamster's curiosity and stimulate his cognitive capacity. In addition, there are many cages specially designed to be an "amusement park" for these small rodents. And remember to set aside some time to play with your hamster and show him all your affection. Ideally, they should be able to socialize with you and come out of their cage for at least 30-60 minutes a day.
On the other hand, it is also essential to maintain optimal hygiene not only of your hamster's cage, but also of the whole house. Remember to prefer pet friedly products, made especially for homes with animals, since traditional cleaning items contain irritating and corrosive substances that can cause allergies and irritate the mucous membranes of your pets. You can bet on enzymatic products In addition, it is important that the environment is ventilated daily and has good lighting, since ectoparasites tend to settle and proliferate more easily in dark places and humid, with poor hygiene.
In addition, if you have other animals in your home, it is essential to respect their vaccination certificate, deworm them regularly, and visit the vet every 6 months. In this way, you can prevent your hamster from coming into contact with any endo or ectoparasite, and also offer a better quality of life to all your pets.
