In order to correctly look after your hamster, it is important to address the changing wants of your pet as he ages. The desires of the senior hamster are quite different than the wants of young hamsters or pregnant females.

Hamsters have an average lifespan of 2 to 3 years. This suggests that when a hamster is aged 15 to 18 months, he is said to be middle-aged. A hamster who is over the age of 2 is thought to be a senior hamster.

Senior hamsters are more susceptible to illness than younger hamsters. Keeping his living area clean is always vital and a key to maintaining good health, but as your hamster ages it becomes even more critical to make certain you clean his cage at least one time per week. Rather than doing a thorough disinfecting and washing of your pet’s cage once a month, you may want to think about doing it every 2 or 3 weeks to stop disease-causing organisms from reaching an imperative level.

As your hamster gets older, you may notice changes in activity levels and behavior. This is ordinary and not a cause for concern unless you notice other signs of illness or that your pet is wounding. If you notice that your senior pet is ill, inform your pet’s veterinarian right away.

Older hamsters can develop distressing joints as they age. If it seems like your pet is having difficulty moving, make sure that you remove anything from the living area that might be used for climbing, as this might be frustrating for your pet.

Cataracts can develop in some older hamsters, and this will cause the eye to look milky. At last it may cause blindness, but this does not need to affect the hamster’s quality of living, and most hamsters don’t appear to be discouraged by this development. (Hamsters are extremely nearsighted anyway and can only see for some inches in front of them, even when they are younger.)

Older hamsters can develop problems with their teeth, which can interfere with eating. Test your pet’s teeth from time to time to work out if the incisors still meet properly. If they do not, this is a condition called malocclusion and can cause death by starvation. A veterinarian can treat this condition.

Senior can also have teeth that become more fragile. This will also lead to weight loss and starvation. If you believe that your hamster has an argument with this, try offering soft foods such as cereals, pasts and rice.

Hamsters also have thinning fur as they age. Be certain to provide plenty of warm bedding in order that they don’t become chilled. You can even provide special nesting material ( sold in pet stores ) that is meant to offer a warm area to sleep.

Finally, take care not to introduce new hamsters to your older pet. Not only are older hamsters less likely to accept a new hamster, they could be mistreated by or contract an illness from the newcomer.

Pet Insurance How to look afer older hamsters

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