Is my hamster dying or hibernating

Knowing how to tell if your hamster is dead or hibernating is critical. You is my hamster dying or hibernating have heard all those stories of hamster owners who almost buried their small animals alive because they thought they were already dead. Since some hamsters do hibernate during extremely cold weather, you may be forgiven if you assume that being motionless and cold is a sign that your hamster has died. Discussed below are some ways and tips to help you determine if you have a hibernating or dead hamster.

Last Updated: October 8, Approved. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. This article has been viewed , times. Many animals have developed the ability to hibernate as a natural way to increase chances of survival during the long, cold winter season. Being mindful of their temperature sensitivities is an important part of being a hamster owner. To get a hamster out of hibernation, try waking it up with body heat by holding it against your body for about 30 minutes.

Is my hamster dying or hibernating

Start by checking its heartbeat and breathing rate. Your hamster might be faint and slow during hibernation but is still detectable. Also, if the surrounding temperature is cold, then your hamster likely hibernated to preserve energy. Hibernation is common for hamsters and is a normal phenomenon. The sight of a motionless hamster in its habitat can momentarily startle any owner. Hibernation is a phenomenon where the animal sleeps for more extended periods to preserve their energy. When temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius, hamsters go into hibernation mode. While they do look motionless, try to look at your pet for a few minutes. Breathing is a sure sign of the hamster being alive and healthy! If your pet is just hibernating, you will undoubtedly notice them breathe every two minutes. Their chest and lower body are likely to inflate a bit with intervals in between. However, it is hard to detect it since their metabolism is already slow. Place your forefinger and thumb there for a few minutes, and silently detect whether you sense a thud like a rhythm.

If your hamster is in a state of torpor, gradually improve the conditions, including temperature and light, to safely revive them. So, they can die without a cause. It should be tolerable to the touch.

New hamster parents are often surprised to find their hamsters barely moving, sometimes even appearing dead. Depending on the situation, your hamster may even go into true hibernation. A hibernating hamster will appear to be asleep or even dead. They will be cool to the touch and may feel limp or stiff. They will not eat, drink, or eliminate. There may be no visible heartbeat or respiration, but you may see sporadic, shallow breathing if you look close enough.

Last Updated on: 24th September , pm. When hamsters go into torpor or temporary hibernation, they appear dead. They only show the slightest signs of life, which are easy to miss. Hibernating hamsters slow their heart rate to 3 beats per minute and only breathe once every minutes. Their feet and noses turn blue, but the pouch feels warm. During torpor, hamsters reduce their physical and mental state to preserve energy. Hibernation often occurs soon after a sudden drop in temperature, leaving hamsters with little time to prepare. Also, prolonged exposure to darkness causes hamsters to hibernate.

Is my hamster dying or hibernating

By Eddie Chevrel. Updated on March 11, If your pet hamster has been sleeping for an unusually long period of time, you may wonder whether he is hibernating or simply dead. This article will help you determine whether your critter is going through a period of hibernation or has unfortunately passed on. We will also discuss what hibernation looks like in hamsters and practical ways to keep your hamster safe and healthy during winter. Here are a few things you can check to determine whether your hamster is hibernating or dead:. See also: 8 signs your little hamster has unfortunately passed away. Pet hamsters are not true hibernators, but they do enter a state of reduced activity during the cold months to conserve energy.

Alexandra daddario wikipedia

Featured Articles How to. Use your body heat to provide warmth for your hamster. A gentle pull on the legs will allow a slight stretch. Your hamster is already dead if it is unresponsive, is not breathing, and has no heartbeat. A hamster that is truly dead will lose its body heat completely, so a warm hamster is probably a hibernating hamster. We may direct you to retailers such as Chewy or Amazon that provide us with a tiny commission on resulting sales. I realized that my hamster was just hibernating. Other hamsters require months of continuous cold exposure to go into hibernation. This phenomenon involved the animal usually sleeping for longer periods than usual. Put your thumb and forefinger on either side of the chest of your hamster. Email Address. Ringworm in Hamsters.

Start by checking its heartbeat and breathing rate. Your hamster might be faint and slow during hibernation but is still detectable.

Thank you for your feedback. It is common to have a low body temperature during hibernation. I realized that my hamster was just hibernating. But you will see none of these if your hamster is dead. Feed it to your hamster in a bowl or in their water dropper container. Watch for movement. Liyana Mirza Mar 2, Who knows, maybe we might even find someone who can relate to our content and benefit from it Hibernation is common for hamsters and is a normal phenomenon. It helps to rehydrate your pet. If it remains stiff, then it is likely that he has died.