What should you do if your hamster doesn't move?What may be the cause?Sometimes hamsters enter a form of hibernation, where their heart and breathing rate drops, and they sleep.It is difficult to tell if they are alive or dead.Here's what to do if you find your hamster in this state.
Step 1: Ask yourself if it's normal.
Did your hamster get sick recently?It might be that it stopped eating or lost its appetite, it was drinking more than usual, you were having to clean out wet bedding more frequently, and it had lost a lot of weight.If these are signs of ill health, it means your hamster has died.It doesn't rule out death if the hamster seemed perfectly healthy before hand, but it makes it more likely that he will die.
Step 2: How old is your pet?
How old is the hamster?The average lifespan is 18 months, with the odd hamster making it to 36 months.The chances of your hamster passing away increase if it is older than this.
Step 3: Consider the ambient temperature at night.
Hibernation is dependent on temperature.hibernation is not very likely if the air temperature is over 20C.Consider if the hamster's cage is near an air conditioning unit on a hot day.Don't discount a low air temperature even in hot weather because air conditioners can kick out extremely cold air, which could cause your hamster to go into hibernation.
Step 4: Determine your hamster's access to food and light.
It can be difficult for a hamster to find enough food and water.When there are low temperatures, short day lengths, and a lack of food, these tend to be associated with harsh winters.If the hamster has more than 8 hours of daylight a day, it has plenty of food.The short day length and low temperature could cause food to go bad.
Step 5: If the hamster is breathing, it's time to watch it.
If it's a possibility, keep an eye on your hamster for several minutes.Look for signs of breathing.The breathing rate can become as slow as one breath per two minutes if the whole of the hamster's body systems slows down.It's possible to blink and miss one breath if you watch the hamster for more than two minutes.You could wrongly assume the hamster is dead if you only watch for two minutes.
Step 6: Try to detect a heartbeat.
Feel for a heartbeat if you don't see the hamster breathing.A hamster's heart rate can slow down.It can be as little as four beats a minute or as much as one beat every 15 seconds.It can be hard to find a hamster's heart beat.If you want to do this, place your thumb and forefinger on either side of the hamster chest.If you apply gentle pressure, you can hold the hamster to stop it from running away.You should feel a heartbeat against your fingers.
Step 7: Body heat can be an indicator between death and hibernation.
The hamster doesn't feel cold.This doesn't mean it's dead.The body temperature will fall when it is chilling and it will match the environment.
Step 8: Make sure the hamster's body is stiff.
The difference between death and death is rigor mortis.rigor mortis is a sign of death if the hamster feels stiff and hard like a board.
Step 9: You should put a hamster in a warm room.
The temperature in the room should be around 20C.Wait for 3 days.The hamster should wake within that period.If it doesn't wake up, there will be more obvious signs of death such as an unpleasant odor and rigor mortis.A hamster shouldn't smell bad.This is the preferred option of waking a hamster because it mimics the natural waking process and places less strain on the body's blood sugar reserves.Make sure the waking hamster has enough to eat and drink.
Step 10: Warm the hamster up.
Warming up your hamster in a warm room can take a long time.Put the hamster in a warm place.The hamster can wake up within 2 - 3 hours depending on the temperature.If you put the hamster in a cardboard box, it will wake and chew its way out.Another idea is to place a hot water bottle on the floor of the cage.Ensure the hamster has food and water because it will use up valuable energy reserves to wake up, and these need to be quickly replaced, or it could suffer a serious injury.
Step 11: Warming up is a natural process.
This is a natural process that your hamster will recover from.If the hamster is back to eating, grooming, and running in its wheel, you don't need to worry about getting it checked out by a vet.
Step 12: hamsters have a short life span.
The hamster is probably dead if you don't wake it up.hamsters have very short lives and their time might be up.You may need to accept that your hamster has died if you eliminate all other possibilities first.
Step 13: The hamster should be prevented from being in the house.
If you don't have to worry about it again, make sure the hamster is always in a room that is at least 20C and has plenty of food and water.His body doesn't think he has to conserve energy.