{"id":4204,"date":"2014-10-01T01:40:50","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T01:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=4204"},"modified":"2021-11-07T09:31:33","modified_gmt":"2021-11-07T15:31:33","slug":"basic-information-for-hamsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-for-hamsters\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Hamster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hamster<\/h1>\n

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Natural history<\/h2>\n

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\nHamsters are short, stocky rodents with an abundance of loose skin. Today’s pet or laboratory hamster, known as the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus<\/i>), was bred from a small group of hamsters removed from a burrow near Syria in 1930 as well as 11 more collected in 1971 and three in 1978.
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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Mammalia<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Rodentia<\/em><\/p>\n

Suborder<\/strong>: Myomorpha<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Cricetidae<\/em>-gerbils, lemmings, muskrats, New World rats and mice, voles<\/p>\n

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Breeds<\/h2>\n

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\nThe Syrian hamster is also known as the Golden hamster because the colony were reddish-gold, however many varieties exist today. Dwarf hamsters may also be seen in practice.<\/p>\n

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Diet<\/h2>\n

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\nHamsters can do very well on a commercial rodent chow (24% protein) supplemented with vegetables and a small amount of fruit. Hamsters fed seed-based diets are very sensitive to vitamin E deficiency.
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Housing<\/h2>\n

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\nHamsters are nocturnal. As desert animals, the Syrian hamster instinctively burrows and hoards food. Adult Syrian and Chinese hamsters are fiercely territorial and should be housed singly. Winter white Russian and Russian Campbell hamsters are social, however it is still ill advised to introduce new individuals to a group.<\/p>\n

Hamsters can enter torpor if temperatures fall below 41\u00b0F (5\u00b0C), particularly when exposed to short days.
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Normal physiologic values<\/h2>\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Temperature<\/td>\n97-102.3\u00b0F<\/td>\n36.1-38.9\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pulse<\/td>\n250-500 bpm<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Respiration<\/td>\n34-114 bpm<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Body weight<\/td>\nAdult male<\/td>\n85-110g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdult female<\/td>\n95-130 g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean life span<\/td>\n2-3y<\/td>\nMaximum 4y<\/td>\n18-36 months<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sexual maturity<\/td>\n6-8 weeks<\/td>\n6 wks (F) 8 wks (M)<\/td>\nFor optimal breeding, males should be 10-12 weeks old and females 8-10 weeks.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gestation<\/td>\n15-18 days<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Birth weight<\/td>\n2-3 g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Litter size<\/td>\n4 to 12<\/td>\nMaximum 17<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weaning age<\/td>\n3-4 weeks<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental temperature:<\/td>\n68-75\u00b0F<\/td>\n20-24\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental humidity:<\/td>\n40-60%<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Water Intake:<\/td>\n9-12 ml\/day<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Russian hamsters live 1.5-2 years.<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Anatomy \/ physiology<\/h2>\n

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Derm:<\/td>\nSebaceous flank glands are present in both genders, but are better developed with darker pigmentation in males.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gastrointestinal:<\/td>\n\n
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  1. Incisors become yellow with age due to iron pigments.<\/li>\n
  2. Distensible cheek pouches extend back to the shoulders<\/li>\n
  3. Non-glandular forestomach and a glandular stomach<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Renal:<\/td>\nSyrian hamster urine is normally creamy and turbid.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reproductive:<\/td>\nFemales pass a thick, creamy white post-ovulatory discharge.
\nEach uterine horn opens into a separate cervix.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Physiology:<\/td>\nSyrian hamsters will hibernate if kept in a cool area with limited food.Syrian hamsters possess renal and respiratory water conservation mechanisms,
\nhowever unlike some desert rodents they cannot survive on metabolic water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Restraint<\/h2>\n

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\nSyrian hamsters tend to bite, especially when awakened from a deep sleep or put through excessive or prolonged restraint.
\nTo pick up, cup hamsters in both hands. To restrain<\/a>, grasp the loose skin over the thorax.
\nRoborovskii hamsters are gentle and docile, but very fast.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>Venipuncture<\/a><\/h2>\n

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Venipuncture is challenging in the hamster. The jugular and saphenous veins may be tried. The Syrian hamster has a rapid coagulation time so it may help to heparinize needles.
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Important medical conditions<\/h2>\n

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