Your hamster may be acting differently over the last few days.One of the possible reasons for her changing behavior is that she is pregnant.If you know the signs to look for and how to handle your hamster, you can help ensure the safety of the new baby hamsters.
Step 1: Tell me the sex of my hamster.
Like humans, only a female hamster can give birth.If you don't know the sex of your hamster, you can visit How to Sex a Hamster to find out.To check the sex of your hamster, scruff it, hold it by the loose skin just above the shoulders, and turn it over.Males have testicles just around the tail that make their rumps bulge, whereas females have more prominent pairs of nipples on the underside.If you have always assumed that your hamster is female because it has a typically female name, then you should check it out.If you think your hamster is pregnant due to a swollen belly, then you should refrain from touching her because of the stress handling causes in the late stages of pregnancy.
Step 2: If she has been with any male hamsters.
The average length of a hamster's pregnancies is 15-21 days, so your hamster would need to have been housed with a male hamster within the last three weeks in order to be pregnant.She cannot be pregnant if she has not had company for more than four weeks.
Step 3: The hamster's age should be noted.
As young as 6-7 weeks of age, hamsters can start to breed.If the hamster is younger than six weeks, she won't be pregnant.If you store the hamsters from a litter together, they will start to mate at six weeks old.The male hamsters with the mother are included.
Step 4: It's a good idea to rule out illness.
A swollen belly is not enough to identify a pregnant hamster.A swollen belly is a sign of an illness.Pyometra, which is a womb infection that causes the hamster's tummy to bulge, is one of the possible illnesses that can result in a pregnant appearance.
Step 5: A swollen belly is something to look for.
If this is the first sign that your hamster is pregnant, you should watch to see if her tummy begins to grow.The swollen belly is a very probable sign that she is pregnant if she eats, drinks, and exercises as normal.You may be less than a week away from seeing the baby, since a hamster won't show her pregnancy until the last third.She will have enlarged nipples when her belly swells.If you can't see the enlarged nipples beneath the fur, you're in good shape.Don't pick her up to look at her nipples because it will upset her.
Step 6: You should watch for nest building.
A pregnant female will want to build a nest late in her pregnancies so collecting bedding material together and taking it to a secluded place in the cage can be a hint.
Step 7: See if she has a lot of food.
The pregnant woman may start to eat a bit more and hide a little more food in the nest.This does not confirm pregnancy, but it does help to build the overall picture.
Step 8: There are signs that she is about to give birth.
The late stages of your hamster's pregnancy may cause her to become even more frantic.There are signs of imminent birth that include becoming restless and alternating between eating and grooming.If you reach in, she could also be at you.
Step 9: Take your hamster to the vet.
Your vet will be able to tell you if your hamster is pregnant.Your vet will warn you of the environmental stress that may cause the mother to abandon or cannibalize the litter if you are handled by a professional animal care provider.If the swollen belly lasts longer than 7 days without your hamster giving birth, then you should take her to the vet since she may be presenting symptoms of an illness rather than pregnancy.
Step 10: If you want to feel the babies, don't touch the mother's belly.
If a pregnant woman is stressed, she is more likely to harm the babies when they are born.It puts the health of the babies at risk if a human feels her belly.
Step 11: The mother should be fed a healthy diet during her pregnancies.
Make sure your hamster's diet is good for the babies.Feed a diet she is familiar with, as sudden changes could upset her stomach.pelleted rat or mouse chow is an ideal diet since she can't eat around the healthy bits.Milk and cheese are small enough to provide calcium for the done development of the litter and help the mother in lactation once the babies are born.You can provide your hamster with moderate amounts of hard-boiled egg, nuts, barley, and oats.hamsters can benefit from additional vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, apples, grapes, bananas, and strawberries.
Step 12: The mother should be alone by day thirteen.
Female hamsters prefer to be alone for a couple of days before giving birth.You should not interfere with her cage or bedding by day thirteen.Fresh food should be put in with her as well.Failure to do this could lead to cannibalism.If you don't know when the mother is going to give birth, consider that she usually starts showing the baby around day ten.
Step 13: The hamsters should be kept in separate cages.
A stressed mother hamster can cannibalize her litter, and other hamsters kept in the same cage can lead to that.As soon as you know that the mother is pregnant, you should start housing other hamsters in separate cages.This is a sign that one of the hamsters may be pregnant if they start fighting in the same cage.
Step 14: The babies should not be handled for two weeks.
The mother will smell her babies during the first two weeks.The mother may attack the baby hamsters if you handle them.It is safe to start handling them after a couple of weeks.You accidentally transfer your scent from other handling of the cage.Don't clean the cage during this time.
Step 15: The sipper tubes should be re-positioned.
If you have an adult hamster, the water sipper should be placed at a height.Reposition it so that the litter can reach it to drink.
Step 16: Solid food should be put in for the babies at 7 to 10 days.
Solid food can be placed in the cage after 7 days if you wait.If you soak the pellets in water first you can use a standard pellet diet.
Step 17: If you see the mother abandoning the litter, you should take it to the vet.
If it is the mother's first litter, she is more likely to abandon or cannibalize the litter due to environmental stressors.If this is the case, separate the mother from the litter and take them to the vet.He or she will suggest a rescue or animal hospital that can help care for the litter.