AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
Question I just got a syrian hamster that is an adult. In the summer time it gets about 78 - 84 degrees at day, and night around 75-80 degrees. He slept all of the day today .I dont know if this is because I got him paper bedding that has odor control instead of the aspen bedding that he was used too or because he is too hot. I dont want to get rid of him. Do you think it would be better for the animal if I give him to someone else with a cooler house or should I keep him. Please help. Thank you very very much for the advice.
Answer Hi Toby
If a hamster gets too hot they can suffer from heat stroke/collapse. It is therefore important to try and keep the area cool if possible. Heat will cause the hamster to sleep more and be quite lethargic. Is there any area of your home that is cooler that you could move the cage to? It is vital his cage isn't near the window where it can get incredibly hot. Do you have an electric fan that you can use to cool the room down if it starts to overheat?
We don't have particularly warm weather in the UK, but on the rare occasion that we have had a heatwave I tend to keep my curtains closed in the room that my hamsters live in or relocate them to a cooler part of the house during the day time. I also set up an electric fan on a timer switch to come on during the midday heat to keep the room cool. This usually works.
What type of cage is he in? Is it a wire cage or an enclosed plastic/cage? If it is enclosed with tubes, can you get a wire cage as the ventilation is much better in these and he will stay cooler. Paper bedding is fine for him.
It is important the he has access to fresh water and you might want to increase the amount of fresh vegetables you give him as these will provide more moisture (avoid lettuce as it can cause diarrhea).
He may well sleep more soundly during the day, but he should wake up as normal in the evening when the temperature is a bit cooler. If you think that he is suffering from heat stroke/exhaustion and you cannot wake him (it is normal for hamsters to sleep all day and only really stir in the evening) then it is important to cool him down. This is done by gently wetting the hamster and use a fan to evaporate the moisture. Be careful not to overdo this otherwise you can cause hypothermia if you make him too cold. Hamsters who have collapsed due to heat must be rehydrated. A vet can do this by injecting fluids under the skin, however, if this isn't possible you can give oral rehydration fluids via a dropper - if you mix a sachet of the human rehydration powders (sold in the chemist) according to the instructions. Give 1 or 2ml or as much as the hamster wants to drink. They will let you know if they don't want it.
It would be a shame to have to give him to someone else especially if you can do something to prevent him suffering from the heat, but it is important you monitor him daily just to make sure he is OK.
