Bitey bites it

[jimnyc]

My son just came in my room a short while ago and told me that one of his hamsters wasn't getting up, and apparently never will be. He cleaned the cage last night and gave them more food, the same stuff we've been using. He's had both of these guys for like over 2 years now, which is like record length for them. We put him in a box that checks come in, and then buried him under the tree out front where we buried another of his hamsters a few years back. Honestly, I don't even think he cares, probably bothered me more than him! LOL I liked this little guy even though he bit me about 300x.

The other hamster, Slappy, now has a mansion all to himself, which is 3 cages connected together for one big one.

RIP Bitey, you shall bite me no more!

[hjmick]

Hamsters: The Goldfish of Mammals.

[jimnyc]

Hamsters: The Goldfish of Mammals.

And that's just it, I figured the little buggers would be gone in a few months and that would be that. Not only do these 2 live for years, but somehow the majority of caring for them and cleaning, became mine. It's kinda hard not to like them when you look at them for awhile. I'm a sap, I get attached to fish too! LOL

[Abbey Marie]

Aww, poor Bitey. But he lived a long and apparently aggressive hamster life. ;)

We used to have dwarf hamsters, tiny little guys. When one got sick, we took him to a small animal vet, and $125 later, she didn't know what was wrong with him. I remember feeding him yogurt with an eye dropper. I def. felt ripped off that day!

[jimnyc]

Now I'm feeling bad for Slappy, as he seems to be looking around for his buddy. I wonder if he even knows?

[Voted4Reagan]

Bit you 300x?

WE NEED HAMSTER CONTROL!!! THOSE THINGS ARE DANGEROUS!!!

:laugh2::dance::laugh2:

[jimnyc]

They were more like love bites, or bites thinking maybe I was their food. Never broke the skin. Mostly when I would take out his dish and return it with food. Anytime you put your hand into the cage you were at risk of a little bite from this bastard. One time we had him out of his cage. I tried to pick him up and he bit me. In reaction, I jerked my hand away, he didn't let go quick enough and ended up halfway across the room! Another time was with my hand in the cage, and he bounced off the side of the cage from my reaction there. He never learned though. I knew he wasn't meaning me any harm. If I held out a piece of a treat or veggie, he would hang with me and be my friend. Or maybe he just had bad eyesight.

[Robert A Whit]

They were more like love bites, or bites thinking maybe I was their food. Never broke the skin. Mostly when I would take out his dish and return it with food. Anytime you put your hand into the cage you were at risk of a little bite from this bastard. One time we had him out of his cage. I tried to pick him up and he bit me. In reaction, I jerked my hand away, he didn't let go quick enough and ended up halfway across the room! Another time was with my hand in the cage, and he bounced off the side of the cage from my reaction there. He never learned though. I knew he wasn't meaning me any harm. If I held out a piece of a treat or veggie, he would hang with me and be my friend. Or maybe he just had bad eyesight.


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SMALL MAMMAL HEALTH SERIES (http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=43)
By Susan Brown, DVM





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Hamsters

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Hamsters are peculiar little rodents with large cheek pouches and short stubby tails. They have gained popularity as pets and research animals since the 1930s. The Syrian hamster's (golden hamster) wild habitat extends through the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. In 1930, a litter of eight baby hamsters was taken to Palestine and raised as research animals. Virtually all domesticated hamsters sold in the pet trade and research are descendants of three of the survivors of this litter. Hamsters were introduced first into the United States in 1938.Since their domestication, several color and hair coat varieties of the Syrian hamster have arisen through selective breeding. The three basic groups which now exist include the common 'golden' hamster, colored short-haired 'fancy' hamster, and long-haired 'teddy bear' hamster. All three varieties are popular as pets, while the research community generally employs the basic golden hamster.
On occasion, one may encounter other species of hamsters, but these are much less common than the Syrian hamster. The smaller, dark brown Chinese hamster (dwarf hamster) is often used in biomedical research, and they are sometimes acquired as pets. These hamsters are recognized for their small size, dark brown color and black stripe down the back. The Armenian (grey) hamster and European hamster are two other species occasionally used in research, but seldom kept as pets. The information on the Susan Brown pages pertain particularly to Syrian or golden hamsters because they are by far the most popular.
Diet
As with any pet, good quality food and clean, fresh water must be provided at all times. The precise nutritional requirements of hamsters have not been fully determined. In the wild, these animals feed on plants, seeds, fruit and insects. Current recommendations for feeding in captivity are pelleted rodent ration containing 15% - 20% protein. These rations are typically processed as dry blocks or pellets designed for rodents. Seed diets are also 'formulated' and sold for hamsters, but these diets should only supplement the basic rodent pellet. Seed diets contain high levels of fat which can easily become rancid if improperly stored. In addition, when fed alone, these diets often lead to obesity and potential nutritional deficiencies, especially calcium. Other supplements to the diet may include sugarless breakfast cereals, whole wheat breads, pasta, cheese, cooked lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables; all fed in moderation. Hamsters eat approximately 12 grams of food daily, and usually consume the majority of this at night. Hamsters are like little pack rats that often hoard their food in a corner of their cage, making it seem as though they eat a lot more than they really do.
Water is easily provided in water bottles equipped with sipper tubes. This method also helps keep the water free from contamination. Always make sure that the tubes are positioned low enough to allow the pet easy access. Juvenile hamsters need special consideration to make sure they are strong enough to use the sipper tube as well as reach it. The average hamster drinks approximately 10 ml of water per 100 grams body weight (average adult size). Although this amount is only a fraction of the total bottle volume, fresh water should be provided daily, not only when the bottle empties.
Diseases
Proliferative Ileitis ( Wet Tail )
The most commonly encountered bacterial infection recognized in hamsters is 'wet tail'. The precise cause of the disease is not fully understood, but underlying infections with the bacteria Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni have been reported. Similar Campylobacter sp. are responsible for serious intestinal diseases in other animal species, such as swine, dogs, ferrets, primates and even humans. Although this agent is suspected to be an underlying cause of this syndrome, pure cultures of the bacteria cannot reproduce the disease, suggesting other predisposing factors or agents. Such contributory factors include improper diet, sudden dietary changes, overcrowding and other stresses.
This disease most often affects weanling hamsters between the ages of 3 to 6 weeks, but hamsters of all ages are susceptible. Since this is the age at which most hamsters are sold, this is a common disease encountered in recently acquired pets. The long haired 'teddy bear' hamster seems to be more vulnerable than the other varieties.
Death may result within 1 to 7 days after the onset of watery diarrhea. Other signs include matting of the fur around the tail, unkept hair coat, hunched stance, loss of appetite, dehydration, emaciation and irritability. Blood from the rectum and rectal prolapse may be noted in some serious cases. This is a very serious disease, with death being the most likely outcome. Due to the severity, any hamster exhibiting these signs must be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Antibiotics, fluid therapy and anti-diarrheal medications will be administered to the patient. Supportive care will also be instituted. Despite all the best efforts, treatment is often unrewarding with death occurring within a couple days in many cases.
Hair Loss ( Alopecia )
Hair loss can occur for a number of reasons in hamsters. This loss of hair can be due to both disease and nondisease conditions. Continual rubbing on feeders or sides of the cage as well as protein deficiency and barbering (hair chewing by cage mates), are examples of nondisease causes of alopecia. Infestation with demodectic mites is one of the most common infectious causes of patchy alopecia and scaling in hamsters. Other conditions that lead to hair loss include adrenal tumors, thyroid deficiency, and chronic renal disease. Some of these conditions may be correctable, while others are not.
Demodex mites are the most common external parasite causing problems in hamsters. The mite lives within the hair follicles and certain skin glands of their host. The presence of these mites result in dry, scaly skin and subsequent hair loss, especially over the back and rump. This disease is rarely a problem by itself. Demodectic mange in hamsters is often associated with chronic, debilitating diseases or other underlying problems. For this reason, a thorough examination must be performed on any hamster presented with mites. To confirm the presence of mites, the veterinarian may perform a skin scraping for microscopic observation. Treatment for the mites is often possible, but remember that there may be another problem, often more severe, underlying this one which must also be addressed.
Old Age Diseases ( Geriatric Conditions )
Hamsters tend to have relatively short life spans when compared with other species. The average life expectancy of a hamster is between 2 and 3 years of age. For this reason, spontaneous aging diseases are not uncommon in these animals, typically after the age of one year. Two of the most common geriatric diseases of hamsters are amyloidosis (protein deposition in various organs) and cardiac thrombosis (blood clots in the heart). Treatment of these conditions involves managing clinical signs because a cure is not possible. A diagnosis of virtually any geriatric disease carries a poor prognosis.
Amyloidosis is a condition whereby proteins produced by the body are deposited in various organs, primarily the liver and kidneys. Kidney and liver failure often occurs as a result of this protein deposition. Many other organs are also affected, and the changes are irreversible. Signs of this condition include swollen abdomen, urinary problems, dehydration, poor appetite and rough hair coat. Supportive care is the only treatment since this condition is eventually terminal.
Blood clots within the heart occur at a relatively high frequency in older hamsters. This condition is known as cardiac thrombosis, and typically occurs in the left side of the heart. Many factors are involved in the formation of these clots including clotting disorders, heart failure, circulating bacterial infection and amyloidosis. Many other old age diseases occur in hamsters over the age of one year. Liver and kidney disease is not uncommon in middle age to old hamsters. Other conditions commonly encountered are gastric ulcers, tumors, and dental diseases.
Facts

Average Life Span: 2 - 3 years
Adult Body Weight: 100 - 150 grams
Environmental Temperature Range: 65 - 80°F
Relative Humidity Range: 40 - 70%
Age at First Breeding: male : 10-14 weeks, female: 6-10 weeks
Gestation Period: 15.5 - 16 days
Litter Size: 5 - 10 (average)
Weaning Age: 21 - 25 days

[Syrenn]

:(

im sorry you lost a pet.

[Robert A Whit]

:(

im sorry you lost a pet.

Unless the pet got abused by biting Jim, seems it lived a full life.

[Syrenn]

Unless the pet got abused by biting Jim, seems it lived a full life.

ture... but it sounds as if he liked the little nipper.

[jimnyc]

ture... but it sounds as if he liked the little nipper.

Normally I don't allow biters into my heart, but I did know he really didn't mean it. But I've had a pet rat who I loved, and hamsters growing up, I should have known better. I would open the cage in my sons room and they would be climbing the side of the cage, upside down at times, just weird little buggers. The other slaps you with both front paws at the same time, but also harmless.

Other than the crickets I raised for lizard food, it's hard to have any kind of animal in your home for a long time and not develop a soft spot for them!

[Robert A Whit]

Normally I don't allow biters into my heart, but I did know he really didn't mean it. But I've had a pet rat who I loved, and hamsters growing up, I should have known better. I would open the cage in my sons room and they would be climbing the side of the cage, upside down at times, just weird little buggers. The other slaps you with both front paws at the same time, but also harmless.

Other than the crickets I raised for lizard food, it's hard to have any kind of animal in your home for a long time and not develop a soft spot for them!

Jim, ignoring dogs and cats, and sticking to white rats vs Hamsters .... which to you think makes the best pet?

[jimnyc]

Jim, ignoring dogs and cats, and sticking to white rats vs Hamsters .... which to you think makes the best pet?

White rats like to be handled better than hamsters, believe it or not.

[jimnyc]

Btw, Guinea Pigs are awesome too! My niece had 2, down to one... They are squeakoholics though! They're not normally biters, but if you pick them up and pet them, they start squeaking!