How many days can you go without feeding a hamster?

A loving owner will not check how many days a hamster can live without food and water at home. Such an experiment would be inhumane, so there is no exact data on the endurance of the body of small rodents. But the question still worries hamster owners if they need to leave and have no one to leave their pet with.

Rodents are advised to change water and food daily, but many leave their pet alone for 2-3 days without fear for its health. Is it possible to leave a hamster alone for a week? It’s not worth it, it’s a risk to the hamster’s life . When leaving for a long time, it is better to find someone who can visit the animal. An accident can happen even in a cage (its paw gets caught on a wheel, it gnaws through the drinking bowl).

If this is not possible, before leaving you need to create all the conditions for your pet to survive. A hamster is a solitary animal; in a spacious cage with a wheel, it will not be very bored. But food and water are vital for him.

Give the cage a thorough cleaning and add a good layer of fresh litter.
Hide food in different corners of the cage, and also fill the feeder full. The amount of food should be sufficient (calculated based on the weight of the animal - 80% of the hamster’s weight per day).

Only dry food and seeds are left; juicy and protein foods are excluded due to the risk of food spoilage.

You can leave a piece of apple or carrot, which the hamster will eat on the first day. It is very important to provide a small rodent with provisions - hamsters have an intense metabolism, and starvation is contraindicated for them.
Fill the drinking bowl with fresh water to the top. Provided that the rodent is large and the drinking bowl is small, you need to buy a second drinking bowl.
A Syrian hamster can drink up to 25 ml per day. The Djungarian drinks much less (2-7 ml), but the Djungarian will not last long without water. The second drinker is a safety net in case the ball gets stuck in the first one, or the mechanism breaks, and all the water spills onto the litter.

Such situations are rare, but according to the law, meanness happens when no one is at home. If the drinking bowl is faulty, the pet will have a hard time. How long a hamster can live without water depends on the temperature in the room and the characteristics of the body. Provided that the animal eats only dry food - no more than 2-3 days .

It is a mistake to believe that without food and water, a hamster will simply hibernate and wait out difficult times.

A hungry animal can actually go into energy saving mode. But such numbness does not last long.

A hamster is not a bear; even in nature, during hibernation, it wakes up to feed on its reserves. A rodent does not have the ability to survive for a long time on fat deposits. If you don’t treat your baby with a nutritious treat after waking up, he will die from exhaustion and dehydration.

Amount of food

How much a hamster eats per day depends on several factors:

Age of the pet – youngsters eat more than adults.
Pregnancy, feeding babies.
Ambient temperature.
Rodent activity.

According to statistics, a hamster eats a volume of food per day equal to 70% of its body weight. For example, a Syrian weighing about 150 g should be fed 100 g of food.

As a rule, owners do not make accurate calculations, guided by observations of the pet. Don't feed your Djungarian hamster too much. Overfeeding will lead to obesity and health problems.

It’s funny to look at a fluffy, plump dwarf, but the animal is very uncomfortable with excess weight. Obesity threatens serious diseases and shortens the life of a hamster. Keep an eye on your pet while eating; he may not eat the amount of food intended for him, but may hide some of it.

Cell selection

A cage with vertical or horizontal bars is the most suitable and comfortable home for a hamster. Its size depends on the breed of hamster. For dwarf hamsters - Djungarian and Roborovsky - the height and width are approximately 30 cm, length - 50 cm. For golden or Syrian hamsters, it is better to choose a larger cage - 40 cm wide and high, about 60 cm long.

Unlike Syrian hamsters, Djungarian and Roborovian hamsters are indifferent to climbing rods and other acrobatic tricks, so plastic cages (dunes) are quite suitable for them. Under no circumstances should hamsters be placed in tall and narrow aquariums - bacteria multiply very quickly here, there is high humidity and there is almost no access to fresh air.

Feeding frequency

It's funny to watch the animal eat, but the optimal time is to feed once in the evening when the animal is active. Another acceptable option is feeding in the evening and early morning hours, before the animal naps during the day. The evening portion should be significantly larger than the morning portion.

Having decided on a schedule that is convenient for themselves, it is better for the owner to stick to one feeding time. With amazing accuracy, the animal will wait for dinner at the appointed time. This stability is beneficial for the rodent's digestion.

Due to the high metabolic rate, the hamster cannot tolerate hunger strike at all. It is difficult to answer unequivocally how many times a day a hamster should eat.

Although the main meal occurs at night, the animals like to wake up during the day to have a snack. Therefore, access to food should be available almost around the clock.

When it comes to how often you should feed your hamster, it is important not to overdo it. You cannot give food more than twice a day: this will disturb the animal’s sleep. Juicy and protein foods can spoil if the hamster does not eat it right away. For the same reason, inventories are regularly inspected, removing spoiled products.

Milk: good or bad?

Wanting to diversify the diet, many owners treat hamsters with milk. Experts say that pregnant and lactating females should be fed dairy products. During the period of gestation and feeding, the body gives off energy and requires renewal.

If the mother dies, newborn hamsters are hand-fed with infant formula. Also, milk support is needed for individuals who have suffered from the disease.

It is recommended to give milk to healthy and active animals no more than once a week as a reward or treat:

It is advisable to choose milk with a minimum percentage of fat content.
Before serving, the dairy product must be boiled and cooled for better digestibility.
Cream, kefir, butter and cottage cheese with a high percentage of fat should be completely excluded from the diet. Products with a high proportion of fat content aggravate stomach and liver diseases.

Amount of food

How much food a hamster needs per day depends on many factors:

physical activity;
age (young animals eat much more);
physiological state (pregnancy, lactation);
room temperature.

The average rodent eats an amount of food per day equal to 70% of its body weight.

A Syrian hamster weighing 140-150 g should receive about 100 g of food.

Such accuracy of calculations is not used in practice, and the owner can only approximately say how much a hamster eats per day.

The Djungarian hamster or Campbell is so small that it seems to the owners that they are eating “closely.”

It is a big mistake to overfeed your pet. Hamsters get fat easily.

From the outside it may look cute, but the animal itself faces serious health problems and shortens its life. If a dwarf has already received a tablespoon of dry food, and the feeder is instantly empty, you should not fill it again. The pet simply hid food around the cage.

Bowl or sippy cup?

The daily drinking rate for a healthy rodent is 5-15 ml of water per 100 g of body weight. Using a bowl can cause constant tipping and puddles inside the cage. Litter, feces and food can also spoil the taste of the water if you use the bowl as a reservoir. The optimal solution for the animal is a water bottle.

A drinking bowl attached to the walls of the enclosure saves space and easily trains the animal to drink. When you press the valve or ball at the end of the spout, water drips into the rodent's oral cavity. Most animals determine the source of moisture themselves, but sometimes help is required. Just splash a drop of water on your pet's nose.

How long can a hamster live without food and water?

The hamster is a favorite pet of many adults and children. A cute little bundle can bring a lot of happiness to your home. It does not require complex care and a lot of time.

There are situations in life when a family needs to leave home. For example, go on vacation to the seashore. It is not possible to take a small pet long distance. There are several questions that owners ask themselves. How long can a hamster live without food? How to prepare housing for departure?

It is better not to experiment on animals. No one has tested it, and it is impossible to answer for sure, but several theoretical analyzes have been carried out.

Ideally, rodents need to change their food and water daily. But many owners throw out food and add new food once every few days. This is not scary and will not affect the hamster’s condition in any way. Therefore, you can leave the hamster for 3 days. If you need to leave for a whole week, then you shouldn’t risk his life and it’s better to give your pet and house to friends or relatives.

If this option is not suitable, you need to carefully prepare for a long departure. The rodent will not be bored if there are toys in the cage. And he cannot live without food and liquid.

Nutritional features of hamsters

First of all, it is worth noting that hamsters are omnivores, so in addition to plant foods and grains, their diet may also contain meat. Many manufacturers in their range of food for hamsters have mixtures that contain semi-finished meat products, consisting of various small worms, bugs, midges, or produce additional snacks.

Animals in cages, including hamsters, should never be overfed, as this is fraught with serious diseases. Unfortunately, no matter how hard people try, home conditions differ significantly from natural ones, and the pet’s activity is many times lower. Therefore, feed should be poured no more than the amount indicated by the manufacturer. At the same time, many experts recommend removing the bowl or feeder after feeding, rather than leaving it in the cage constantly. The food should be replaced rather than left in the bowl for a long time if the hamster has not finished it, since many ingredients, especially if the food is not of the best quality, can begin to deteriorate from moisture that gets into the bowl.

The type of diet for a pet must be selected depending on the hamster’s age, health status, taking into account the recommendations for a specific type of rodent.

The most popular types of hamsters today are dwarf hamsters, Djungarian and Syrian.

The popularity of these species is due to the friendliness of pets, non-aggression (not counting the breeding period of females), ease of care and nutrition. But there are also some peculiarities. For example, historically and genetically it has developed that for Syrian hamsters it is desirable to have a predominance of grains and a small amount of dried fruits in the food, but for Djungarian hamsters a greater amount of moisture and fruit is needed. And for dwarf hamsters, it is advisable to select food with smaller ingredients that can be conveniently stored in the cheek sinus.

Tips on how to properly introduce new food

You should not suddenly switch from one animal food to another. Many pet owners replace food at one time and at a time, which leads to digestive upset in hamsters. After which the first thing seems to be that the new food is not suitable. It is necessary to introduce a new type of food into the diet gradually over 7-10 days, first mixing the new food with the old one. Every day increasing the proportions in favor of new food.

What should you not give to hamsters?

For hamsters, just like for humans, there are a number of prohibited products that can cause significant harm to the health and even life of the pet.

Any products containing spices, salt and sugar. These ingredients can lead to serious gastrointestinal diseases or diabetes. Even fruits and dried fruits that hamsters can eat should be given in limited quantities or according to individual needs;
Flour products (yeast and yeast-free), breakfast cereals, cereals, muesli, etc., unless it is a specially designed product for rodents: the hamster’s body is not adapted to such food;
Fruits and vegetables that are not in season or not typical for the region where they were bred. Firstly, such products are genetically alien to the hamster’s body. Secondly, it is no secret that out-of-season vegetables and fruits are often treated with special compounds for better storage, which are harmful to health;
Any food prepared by frying, smoking, or very fatty foods should also not be present in a hamster’s diet;
Products containing large amounts of starch should be in limited quantities;
Dairy and fermented milk products.

What can hamsters eat?

Vegetables (starchy and exotic with caution); Fruits (seasonal, not exotic); Dried fruits (well washed, not sticky); Greens (it’s better to buy special ones at a pet store, since hamsters can’t do much); Yolk; Bugs and midges;

How to extend the life of a pet

In order for the hamster living in the house to please you longer with its cheerful disposition, it is recommended to follow certain rules. They are simple but very important:

Try not to make noise. For such a baby, an unexpected loud sound seems deafening and frightening.
Promptly clean the cage, wash the drinking bowl and toys, remove garbage and stale food. The Syrian hamster always has an emergency supply in his house, and he does not like interference in his bins. You need to remember this.
It is recommended to constantly add chalk stone, clean dry twigs and dried plant roots to the animal’s home. This will allow the hamster to grind down his teeth in time. After all, for lack of solid food, he will begin to gnaw his master’s fingers.
It is necessary to ensure that the rodent's diet contains fresh vegetables and fruits that contain valuable vitamins.
You should not smoke in the room where the Syrian hamster lives. Tobacco smoke can be destructive for the lungs and other internal organs of such a fragile creature.

This animal's life is short, but proper nutrition, timely care, careful care and careful treatment of the animal living next to him can extend the life of a pet up to 4 years, or even longer. It is careful and proper care that determines how many years a Syrian hamster will live.

Why does a rodent drink a lot of liquid?

If your pet's need for water has sharply increased, and the hamster begins to drink a lot of liquid, then you need to think about a change in behavior.

Changes in temperature and humidity in the room. The ideal temperature is considered to be up to 22 degrees. For favorable wakefulness, it is better to move the cage with the animal to a cool place.
Damage to the drinking bowl. It is necessary to check the connections for integrity and replace them in case of leaks.
Changing the diet or quickly introducing a new food. It is advisable to switch to a new type of food gradually. Adding salty foods can also be a source of thirst.

Eating more food.
Rapid weight loss or obesity.
The ruffled pose of the animal.
Irritability and increased activity.
Increased sleep duration.
Frequent urine discharge, possibly with the smell of nail polish.

When your hamster drinks the weekly amount of water, you must show the animal to a doctor and begin a course of treatment.

The hamster is not used to using the drinking bowl. You need to bring the animal to the tip of the sippy cup and moisten its face with a drop of water.
Abundance of succulent food.

It happens that the animal is capricious and does not use the drinking bowl. Abrupt refusal may mean:

The hamster is not satisfied with the quality of the water.
No access possible. Different drinker configuration or malfunction.
Musty moisture. It is necessary to wash the tank and fill it with clean water.

Watch the video on how to teach a hamster to drink from a drinking bowl.

There is a lot of debate about whether hamsters need to drink. The rodent is able to balance the level of fluid in the body itself, but even with low consumption, the animal cannot be denied free access to water. With timely care and attention, a small pet can delight its owner for many years.

If you are interested in the question of how long do hamsters live in groups at home? The answer is clear – not for long! Remember that almost all breeds of this domestic animal do not like the proximity of their fellow animals. The only exception is the mating period. In other cases, there is no point in hoping that a family or group of animals will live together for up to three years.

These pets have a special predisposition to injure and destroy each other. Sometimes the injuries are so serious that the animal simply cannot be saved and it dies at an early age.

Does a hamster need water?

Hamsters can only live without water for 2-3 days. It all depends on the species. If your pet goes without fluid for seven days, dehydration and various illnesses may occur. It’s better to play it safe and leave your pet as much water as possible. An additional drinking bowl is very inexpensive, and you can buy it at any pet store.

To understand exactly how long a rodent can live without water, you need to consider:

The hamster loves to drink clean water and may refuse it on the second or third day.

There is a special drinking bowl that is mounted on the wall. A thin tube is stretched out of it. When the rodent wants to drink, it is enough for him to lick his thin nose. Water will flow out of it. This way the liquid does not spill and retains its beneficial properties longer. Hamsters are very smart and always find water in the nipple drinker.

How long can a rodent live without water? From three to seven days. But it’s better not to check, but to take care of proper care for your beloved pet. Such experiments can negatively affect the health of the hamster.

Cell and its contents

When buying a pet hamster, you should first arrange the housing. The dimensions of the cage, its flooring, as well as other attributes for an active lifestyle are no less important to ensure a long life for your pet.

Each breed uses different designs depending on the size of the hamster. On average, its dimensions are about 35x65 cm. A wheel, ladder, and additional floors are necessary for the rodent to play, as well as burn extra calories.

For flooring, you should use environmentally friendly material, which can be purchased at any pet store. These can be special granules or sawdust. It is very important that there are no cutting or piercing objects in the flooring that can injure the rodent, thereby causing illness and death.

Life expectancy of a Syrian hamster in the wild

In 1839, Englishman George Robert Waterhouse first described Syrian hamsters. He called the species extinct, but this turned out to be a mistake. In Aleppo, Syria, an expedition by Israeli zoologist Israel Arachoni in 1930 unexpectedly discovered a pregnant Syrian hamster. At the University of Judaism, where she was transported, the female gave birth to 11 babies. But three of the brood survived.

A male of a related species was found for their mother. This pair gave rise to a new population - the same Syrian hamsters that we are talking about today as such popular pets. And then they were assigned the role of objects of laboratory research. And scientists have recognized that representatives of this species no longer live in natural conditions.

Almost a century has passed since then. The natural geographic habitat of Syrian hamsters is now limited to northern Syria and southern Turkey. Research, which was organized in 1997 and 1999, made it possible to identify and map only 30 burrows in these lands. It is unrealistic to meet the animal itself in nature today.

This small rodent lived in shallow burrows and was awake at night. He had to travel considerable distances in search of food. Its lifespan directly depended on the activity of the Syrian hamster.

The animals died of hunger or became prey to stronger predators. Much less often, hamsters suffered death from disease and other tragic circumstances. They were even considered long-lived among representatives of other breeds. After all, their lifespan in nature reached 2–3 years, unlike other dwarf breeds with a lifespan of no more than 1–2 years.

Syrian hamsters (or Central Asian) would have died out long ago if it weren’t for pet lovers.

Lifespan

Unlike other members of the household, this pet is not blessed with a long lifespan. On average, domestic hamsters live no more than 2-3 years. At this age they die a natural death.

If your hamsters live up to three years, they can be considered long-livers. The vital indicator depends on several factors:

conditions of detention;
rodent breeds;
diet;
hamster size.

If you are interested in how many years a hamster lives in the wild, then believe me, this figure is even lower. Because in addition to the above factors, habitat, weather conditions, as well as the risk of being injured or eaten by large predators play a big role.

How long can a hamster live without food and water? Is it possible to leave him alone at home?

Give the cage a thorough cleaning and add a good layer of fresh litter.
Hide food in different corners of the cage, and also fill the feeder full. The amount of food should be sufficient (calculated based on the weight of the animal - 80% of the hamster’s weight per day).

Clean water is the key to your pet’s health

Many pet rodent lovers still don’t really know how to properly feed their newly acquired pet.
After all, fluffy dogs are often bought for fun for children. However, despite its small size, this animal, like any other pet, needs proper nutrition. A well-chosen diet will help you avoid many health problems in your animal, such as obesity. An obese and sedentary domestic rodent lives much shorter than its active counterparts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYY8hHlUyok

The basis of the diet should be only natural and ordinary products that your hamster needs. Fresh fruits, vegetables, grain mixtures, as well as a vitamin and mineral complex. You should not put a lot of food in the cage. Thus, you will contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora in the cell, which will cause diseases in the rodent.

As for drinking, the water in the drinking bowl should always be clean and fresh. Don't be lazy to change it every day. Make sure that the drinking bowl does not become empty. Frequent dehydration of the body can cause accelerated aging, and as a result, premature death of the rodent.

In order for your beloved furry to please you for as long as possible, you need to monitor his diet and follow certain care and safety recommendations. We'll talk about this below.
First you need to reduce the background noise. Rodents do not tolerate loud sounds well, and therefore you should not try to compensate for the lack of games and communication with your hamster using TV or radio.
Do not leave your pet's cage on a windowsill or in other places where direct sunlight will fall on the hamster.
Keep the cage clean. It is necessary to remove excrement every 2-3 days and completely change the filler and wash the cage once a week.
When choosing a home for an animal, give preference to single-story cages or terrariums with a large area. Also, you should not take cages with painted rods, the hamster will chew them and may get poisoned. It is better to give preference to stainless steel rods, which should be located at such a distance that the animal cannot crawl between them. We also recommend buying a cage with a retractable plastic bottom so as not to disturb your pet unnecessarily.

A hamster's diet consists primarily of grains, but it also requires fruits (apples, persimmons, pears, peaches and bananas) and vegetables (zucchini, turnips, lettuce, carrots and radishes). But it is better to exclude white cabbage or onions. Nuts (walnuts and peanuts) will also be useful for your pet, but not almonds - their peel contains substances that are dangerous to the animal. You should not feed him citrus fruits or chocolate.

Periodically, your pet needs to be given protein food. Two or three times a week you can give the animal low-fat cottage cheese, boiled eggs or chicken breast. Pay attention to what the little furry hides in his bins. There should be no perishable food there, as the pet may get poisoned. Despite the myth that hamsters can survive as long as they want using their cheek pouches, they will only survive 2-4 days without food or water.

Some people buy a special chalk so that their pet can receive useful minerals and grind down rapidly growing teeth. Sometimes hamsters need additional vitamins, but here it is necessary to consult a specialist.

When choosing a drink for your pet, you need to consider some factors:

Tap water is disinfected with chlorine dioxide. Even a minimal amount of bleach can harm a hamster's health.
Boiling kills the presence of chlorine in the liquid, but increases the concentration of salts. Frequent consumption of boiled water can lead to diseases of the pet's genitourinary system.
Rainwater or water from a pond must be boiled to destroy helminth eggs.

The optimal choice would be:

Tap water that has passed through a specialized filter.
Bottled water.
Still mineral water with minimal levels of salts and trace elements.
Melt water that has been deep frozen. The naturally thawed liquid does not contain harmful substances and is suitable for drinking.

How long do hamsters live - the effect of diseases on life expectancy

If you are just choosing an animal, then you need to pay attention to its mobility. A healthy animal will be playful and active, and its eyes will be shiny and clear. The fur of the animal is soft and shiny. If you do not pay attention to these factors, you risk acquiring a sick hamster that, despite your care, will not live for a long time.

Determining that an animal is sick is very simple:

activity decreases significantly;
the animal becomes sleepy;
breathing is heavy and intermittent;
the fur becomes dull and sometimes even falls out;
the animal does not groom itself, does not brush its fur and does not wash itself after eating.

Other factors

How long a hamster lives at home depends on other factors and living conditions.

Rodent transfer

Try to move your hamster not only from the pet store to your home, but also around the house, as carefully as possible. It is very important that your hamster does not hit his head. A head injury can negatively affect his health and, in the future, his life expectancy.

Content temperature

Sudden temperature changes in the room where the pet is kept do not lead to anything good. Your furry can freeze, get sick and die from a cold. The optimal temperature for keeping a domestic hamster is 18-20 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is lower, the rodent hibernates, thus experiencing another cycle of its life.

Age of acquired rodent

Not everyone can determine the age of a hamster when purchasing. If you end up with an unscrupulous pet store seller, it is possible that you will buy a one-year-old pet or, on the contrary, one that is too young (up to 60 days). As you understand, an old hamster will not live long, but one that is too young, not yet adapted to living independently in a new place, will die without maternal care and warmth.

Diseases

When buying a particular breed, it is very important to pay attention to the animal’s fur. It should be smooth and shiny. The eyes of a healthy animal should not be cloudy, sour or have any injuries.

You can determine whether a hamster has a disease not only by its fur and eyes, but also by its behavior. A sick animal will be lethargic and sleepy. Even by difficulty breathing, you can understand that the rodent is sick with something.

As you understand, a sick animal cannot live longer than a healthy rodent. It is very important to pay attention to all these symptoms, since some diseases of hamsters are dangerous to humans.

What to do if your hamster dies

There is no universal method that would help against all causes that can provoke death.

It will be useful for you to know why hamsters squeak constantly.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to navigate how critical a particular condition is in case the condition is reversible.

When can you save

You can fight for your pet's life:

in case of a prompt response to the occurrence of a stroke and heart attack, there are quite high chances of saving the pet;
with the use of adequate antibacterial therapy, it is possible to overcome many infectious and bacterial diseases;
if the hamster’s condition has just begun to deteriorate and you realize that this is due to an improper diet or violation of living conditions, prompt elimination of these causes can significantly improve the animal’s condition;
in case of minor injuries and fractures, with proper care, complete recovery is possible;
if the hamster, despite a clearly visible illness, continues to eat and show at least minor activity, then, most likely, he will be able to recover.

In what cases it is impossible to help

The chances of success are low in the following situations:

the hamster is too old, since his body has already exhausted all available resources;
in case of development of cancer;
if you did not have time to provide first aid to the hamster within the first 2 hours after the stroke and the next 2 days after the heart attack;
in case of complications arising as a result of pregnancy or childbirth due to the too small size of the reproductive organs and the resulting impossibility of effective surgical intervention;
if the hamster no longer responds to the introduction of antibacterial agents by improving well-being and behavioral reactions;
if the animal cannot move independently at all;
It is unlikely that you will be able to help your pet if he no longer shows any interest in food and sleeps more than 22 hours a day;
If a hamster has not gone to the toilet for three days, the likelihood of his recovery is almost zero.

Important! All these indicators are also complex and for the most adequate assessment it is recommended to consult a specialist.

How long do Djungarian hamsters live on average?

After we roughly understand what factors influence the life expectancy of these animals, it’s time to find out the numbers themselves. It should be noted that the lifespan of these animals in the wild and at home is significantly different, which is not at all surprising, given their habitat.

In the wild of nature

The wild nature of Dzungaria (the territory between eastern Kazakhstan and northwestern China) is far from the most merciful place towards these crumbs. Here they are lurked at every step by their natural enemies - bears, owls, hawks, eagles, snakes and many others.

In addition, in winter they find themselves in climatic conditions that are extremely unfavorable for their body, which also does not contribute to a very long life.

In the wild, Djungarian hamsters live on average about 1–1.5 years, almost never crossing this threshold. It is worth noting that females, on average, live longer than males, but males lead a more frivolous life - they spend much more time playing with their brothers and searching for food for themselves, while females are forced to take care of feeding their offspring and protecting them from possible attacks from predators.

At home

Home conditions are a paradise for these animals; they do not need anything, they have no need to hide from predators and constantly search for shelter and food.

The only significant disadvantage of living at home for a dzhungarik is often the lack of communication with his brothers, which, however, is also more than compensated for if he is lucky enough to have a kind and sympathetic owner who does not mind spending time with him.

The average lifespan of a hamster of this species in captivity is 2–3 years. However, you must understand that this does not mean that your hamster will definitely live to that age, even if you shower it with the utmost love and care.

On the other hand, it is also possible that your pet will reach the age of 4 years. This is the maximum known recorded age of the jungarik.

How hamsters die of old age

You can determine that your hamster is dying of old age by a combination of several criteria:

the hamster is more than 2.5 years old;
reducing the level of shine of the coat;
the appearance of gray hairs or matted fur;
significant reduction in pet activity;
weight loss;
refusal of food and water;
aggression in response to affection and care;
cessation of food storage;
reluctance to mate;
absence of any significant signs of injury or pathology.

Hamsters dying of old age usually show no concern about this fact. They don't squeak or try to attract attention to themselves. The quiet and inconspicuous behavior of an old hamster is the first sign that should make you think about the future life of your pet. Death, as a rule, comes completely unexpectedly; the animal does not signal its approach in any way and often itself seems to be waiting for its arrival.

Breed influence

How many years do hamsters live at home, based on their breed? This factor should also not be omitted, since the differences, although small, still exist.

Among all existing species, several breeds are the most popular. What is most interesting is that this indicator is different for each subspecies.

Dzungarian

If all rules of maintenance and care are followed, jungarians live for about 2.5 years at home. In rare cases, representatives of this subspecies can reach three years of age.

Syrian

As for the Syrian breed, its representatives live short lives in the wild - a maximum of two years. But at home, with proper care and maintenance - up to four years.

Campbell

The Campbell hamster, like the Djungarian, lives at home for 2-3 years. With good nutrition and living conditions, such a pet can reach 5 years of age.

Albino

Many novice breeders are interested in the question: “How long do domestic albino hamsters live?” After all, this breed is in great demand and is the most active. The albino hamster, or as it is also called the Siberian hamster, is considered a long-liver and can reach three years of age. Little white hamsters, being constantly on the move, prolong their own lives. They are not obese and are rarely affected by disease.

Age of a hamster by human standards

Many owners are interested in how old a hamster is by human standards. To determine, you should use mathematical calculations. On average, the lifespan of animals is 2 years, and that of humans is 60 years.

Human to pet age ratio:

A 15-day-old hamster is equivalent to a 10-month-old baby.
A six-month-old rodent is 12 years old by a teenager.
A two-year-old pet goes to an elderly person of 60 years old.
Three years for a hamster is equal to 80 years in human years.

Diseases

The disease, of course, can significantly shorten the animal’s lifespan. Symptoms such as:

Reduced activity.
Lethargy and apathy.
Manifestation of drowsiness, even at night - when hamsters are usually alert.
Presence of heavy breathing.
Deterioration of coat condition.

Sometimes even one hour of delay can be decisive. And under no circumstances should you self-medicate. Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis.

The animal can get injured, fall, or hurt itself during a walk. If this happens, it is better, again, to consult a doctor rather than rely on your own doctoral talent.

Djungarians can also get colds. If, for example, you leave the cage in a draft, under air conditioning, or even just walk it outside. The symptoms here are: sneezing, lethargy, nasal discharge, sniffling. A fortified diet and, of course, medications prescribed by a doctor will help.

By the way, a decrease in appetite while maintaining vigor can be caused by dental problems.

If there are loose stools or rumbling in the stomach, this indicates problems with digestion. Consulting with a specialist will help bring your diet back to normal.

One way or another, the success of curing a sick hamster primarily depends on the person.

How to tell if your hamster is dying

There are several signs that allow you to determine with high certainty that your hamster is dying.

They can be divided into two large subgroups: external signs and behavioral reactions.

External signs

Loss of shine and clouding of the eyes. Sometimes - the formation of a whitish film on the eyeball.
Reducing the weight of the animal.
Loss of shine in the coat and loss of individual hairs.
Formation of problems with the fulfillment of natural needs.
Difficulty breathing, obsessive coughing, sneezing, profuse nasal discharge.
Loss of functionality of the limbs, difficulty moving.
Long-term absence of traces of feces in the tray and on the bedding in the cage.
Formation of bruises, bruises and abrasions on the skin even from minor physical impacts.
Lack of visible reactions to external stimuli.
A clearly visible pulsation of the animal’s abdomen that does not coincide with the breathing rate.

Important! These signs alone may not necessarily indicate imminent death, but the appearance of a complex of more than three of them is a serious reason to think about the health of the hamster.

Behavior

Decreased activity of the hamster, loss of interest in exploring the environment and playing.
Prolonged refusal of food and water.
Increasing the duration of daytime sleep.
Aggressive behavior towards their owners, fellow tribesmen and other domestic animals.
A strange squeaking sound, quite loud at first, but gradually fading away.
Stopping the transfer of food from the feeder to hiding places inside the cage.
Violation of adequate sleep and wakefulness for hamsters.
Negative reaction to favorite treats and attempts by owners to stir up an apathetic animal.
Impossibility or lack of need to perform natural needs.

What determines the lifespan of hamsters?

Life expectancy is a multifactorial parameter, and taking into account the influence of each factor on this indicator can be quite problematic. In addition, there is a small group of factors influencing life expectancy, the role of which cannot be statistically accurately assessed.

For example, the presence of other pets in the house with which the dungarian may have a conflict, or the fact that the cage with the pet is located on a hill from which it can fall and break. As an example, here is a list of groups of the most statistically significant parameters with an approximate breakdown of more specific factors that positively affect life expectancy:

comfortable living conditions: the presence of a separate cage, sufficient space, proper bedding in it, the presence of toys, absence of noise and bright light, compliance with sanitary and hygienic conditions;
proper nutrition: the presence of balanced food to which the hamster’s body has already adapted, the presence in the diet of wet food (carrots, zucchini, apricots, apples, bananas, etc.), meat components, vitamin and mineral supplements;
physical activity: the presence of a wheel or labyrinths in the cage, the ability of the animal to leave the confines of its cage for research and games;
health status: absence of congenital diseases, positive heredity, absence of injuries and injuries, adequate functioning of all organs and systems, correct course of metabolic processes in the body;
characterological features: the presence of adequate reactions in response to stressful situations, the absence of aggression, apathy and melancholy, interest in exploring the surrounding space, a high degree of intellectual development;
communication and communication: the owner has the opportunity to play and caress his pet, the opportunity to inform the owners by squeaking about problems (the cage is too dirty, lack of water or food, boredom, etc.), the opportunity, if necessary, to communicate with relatives and other non-aggressive pets.

This list is certainly incomplete, and there is not a single factor in it that would illustrate a negative impact on life expectancy (such as the presence of felines in the house). However, it is necessary to understand that this list can be continued almost endlessly, and every positive factor can be turned into a negative one.

For example, let’s assume that instead of a separate cage, our dzhungarik lives in a wooden box, also with a dozen brothers. So we get a factor that negatively affects life expectancy.

How nutrition and care affect a hamster's lifespan

Cage placement

Considering the nature of the steppe animal living in a mink, it is necessary to protect it from bright light and direct sunlight. The peak activity of rodents occurs at night, postponing wakefulness until the daylight hours. Therefore, placing a cage near a window will not allow the animal to fully rest, which can subsequently lead to detrimental stress.

Cleaning the cage

Regular cleaning of the cage, which must be done twice a week, will create good conditions for maintaining the health of your pet. In this case, you can be sure that the animal will not be poisoned by expired food, which it did not finish last Monday. Timely removal of natural waste from his house will create hygienic conditions and the opportunity to breathe fresh air (by the way, not only for the hamster, but also for his owner).

Hygiene procedures

Like other furry pets, the hamster needs hygiene procedures. Long-haired cats require daily grooming

It is important to regularly clean the skin from dirt

Bathing

You can bathe pets only in exceptional cases, using a special shampoo. Water procedures are a stressful situation for animals, since they are quite clean and constantly wash themselves.

It is recommended to place a container with dry sand in the cage, in which the animal will clean its fur. When fleas appear, you should wash your hamster with an antiparasitic agent, applying it with gentle movements to the surface of the body.

Dry cleaning of fur.

Nail care

Particular attention should be paid to the claws. They need to be regularly ground down, because with a sedentary lifestyle and the onset of natural old age, they grow to such an extent that the hamster cannot walk normally

At what age is it better to buy

This is a very important question. How much joy and positivity the rodent will bring you depends on how correct the answer you find to it depends.

At the same time, it is not advisable to take hamsters older than 1 year. These are already older individuals - they move little and sleep more. Of course, for a child, watching the house in which his pet sleeps will not bring too much joy.

As for the rest, you must decide for yourself. But most breeders try to buy young rodents - they are cheerful, active and playful. Plus, thanks to their youth, they will spend more time with you. But for fast-living hamsters, every month is a whole era.

How to find out the age of a Djungarian hamster

There are several parameters, based on which you can more or less accurately determine the age of the animal that interests you. This is necessary, first of all, so that you are not deceived during the purchasing process by unscrupulous sellers, because if you buy an old hamster, you will get completely different indicators of activity, satisfaction with what is happening and life expectancy.

Let’s immediately make a reservation that it is difficult to find out exactly the age of a hamster even for specialists, so all divisions will be purely conditional - into old and young. Here are a few basic parameters, based on which you can roughly understand the age of the hamster:

behavior: a young animal is always more active, while an old one prefers rest and tranquility. Old hamsters eat less, hardly leave their hiding places in cages, and almost never explore the world around them;
hair on the ears: young hamsters have a magnificent, pleasant-to-touch white hair in the ear area, while older hamsters often have virtually no hair;
eyes: if you see that the animal’s eyes are cloudy, cloudy or whitish, then this hamster is either old or sick. In any case, you shouldn't buy yourself like that;
weight: perhaps the most reliable of all the previous parameters. If you weigh a young hamster up to 3 months old, its weight will not exceed 40 g, while older individuals weigh an order of magnitude more.

Signs of aging hamster: video

Tips for coping with loss

The death of a pet is always to some extent a trauma for its owner, and the life expectancy of Djungarian hamsters is short. It is especially difficult to console a child who has managed to get used to a small animal. Children often encounter death for the first time.

It will be easier to come to terms with the loss if the death occurred due to natural causes: after all, 2–3 years is the lifespan of a hamster determined by nature itself, which a person is not able to extend.

If your pet died due to illness or injury, you should not blame yourself for everything, concentrating on the bad. You should remember the positive moments from the life of the animal, think about how different, devoid of care and communication with humans, the life of a hamster would be without an owner.

Djungarian old age

A sad fact: even if it is possible to make the animal long-lived, the lifespan of Djungarian hamsters is short. Preparing for the death of a beloved pet is difficult, but it is better to do it in advance.

It is especially difficult to explain what is happening to children, but if you begin to prepare in advance, the loss will pass easier. For example, tell your child that the hamster goes to a better place when it leaves us. Some parents, not wanting complex explanations, simply buy the same Djungarian hamster. But if the child notices, you will have a hard time.

If your pet has been living for more than 3 years, and you notice that activity decreases and appetite decreases, go to the veterinarian. If your concerns are confirmed, consider the possibility of euthanasia: there is no need to torture either yourself or the animal.

Tips for coping with loss

After the first week, a person, seeing how restless these creatures are, becomes so accustomed to them that he can no longer imagine a day without them. Unfortunately, their physiology is such that within a couple of years they die. Naturally, every owner who is accustomed to these active animals experiences suffering. This becomes a serious blow for children who very sincerely fall in love with the little Djungarians and find it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that they are no longer there.

What to do if the dwarf died?

Don't try to place the blame entirely on yourself, don't torture yourself with the fact that this happened because of your mistake. You should switch your thoughts to something else : while the hamster lived in your family, he was very happy, because he was loved by all members. And it is unknown how his fate would have turned out if you had not been around. Unfortunately, not a single person is able to prolong the life of an animal more than is allotted to it by nature.