Hamster starved?

Question
Some friends asked us to take care of some animals while they were gone for the weekend. Their hamster was completely out of food and water. It was cold to the touch and stiff and barely moved when I picked it up. I had to revive it with applesauce mixed with water and thought it was dead at multiple points.

In the cage next to that hamster was another hamster cage with the meager remains of another hamster. It had clearly been eaten by this other hamster. I since have learned these teddy bear hamsters are prone to cannibalism even if they have food available. But my question is this: how long would it take one hamster to completely consume another hamster? The only thing left of this other hamster were two feet and a small strip of fur. There were no bones and just the smallest piece of flesh attached to some of the fur. I want to know how long it would take for the hamster to be consumed because I want to know how long the owners did not notice one of their hamster was eating the other one.

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Mary

What a horrendous discovery you have made.  

First of all, Syrians are solitary and must be kept alone.  Otherwise they will fight and sometimes to the death.  Whilst they can mutilate one another I don't believe that total cannabalism is typical, unless they are starving.  I kept two eyeless hamsters together - they had always been together and due to their lack of eyesight felt comfortable with the other one around. This is the only occasion out of all the hamsters I've had where I've risked keeping two Syrians in the same cage. One died naturally - I noticed him looking old and frail and the next evening just 24 hours later I made the gruesome discovery of finding that the other hamster had chewed off his face more or less.  Now the reason for this, wasn't due to starvation as that is one thing none of my pets would ever suffer from as I tend to over-feed them if anything, but he could obviously smell food still in the cheek pouch and helped himself.  He did not touch the other hamster's body apart from his cheeks and the rest of his body was unmarked.  It was very obvious when I looked in the cage that evening that there was a serious problem.  I've not had
direct experience of Syrians totally eating one another, but would think that it would definitely take a few days, and only then would have been due to starvation as it would be a natural instinct to try and survive.

In terms of the other hamster who is malnourished, you have done well to get it to eat.  I would advise that you buy a packet of baby food. I find that the creamy porridge oats variety is  popular with hamsters.  If you mix it with water, then you can either try and feed off a spoon or with a dropper (if you make it runny enough).  If the hamster is strong enough it will eat this on its own.  It is also worth getting some oral rehydration powders - the type that you take when you have had sickness/diarrhoea.  If you mix one with water as per the instructions and put this in the water bottle for a few days.  Also, give some of this through a dropper - this will help rehydrate him and will help him feel better.

It is also important to make sure he has plenty of dry hamster mix, fresh vegetables (avoid giving lettuce as this can cause diarrhoea).  Have you been able to check his teeth - it would be worth looking at them as it is important that they have not overgrown as he hasn't been eating.  Hamsters have very long bottom teeth and much shorter top teeth - the teeth should be even, but the bottom teeth should not be overgrown - if you search on the Internet there are some sights that have photos of Syrian hamsters' teeth to give you an idea.  If they are overgrown or uneven then they will need trimming - this can be done carefully with nail pliers,but you need to be careful you don't catch the tongue/cheek in it and that the teeth don't splinter.

I think you are in a difficult position - as these hamsters belonged to your friends.  In all honesty, if a friend asked me to take care of their hamsters in this condition I would be tempted to keep them and not give them back.  Whilst children can lose interest in their pets, ultimately the parents should still keep a close watch to make sure the pet is being cared for properly and these sound as though they have been totally neglected for quite some time to have prompted this type of behaviour and condition of the remaining hamster.

Good luck with this - I hope you get on OK.

Regards
Sheila