Hamster Broken Bones

Hamsters are very fragile creatures, so great care should be given when you are handling your pet. Because they are so quick and are prone to leaping at an unexpected moment, you should be cautious about holding your hamster when standing. Kids should be warned about the unpredictability of hamsters and how they can leap when they feel anxious or squeezed. Sitting while handling your pet is a good first defense against broken bones and internal injuries.

Hamster exercise balls are also another source of broken bones in hamsters. If you have your pet rolling around in one of these hollow plastic balls, make sure he is away from stairs and steps. Also make sure he is not somewhere that someone could accidentally kick the ball and send your poor pet flying across a room. It is best to keep your hamster in one room of the house (preferably away from other family members) whenever he is in his exercise ball. If he must be in other parts of the house, make sure you let other family members know that your pet is out and rolling around.

Hamsters that are given free reign around the house are quite likely to be accidentally kicked or stepped on, which can also lead to broken bones. Hamsters face other hazards (such as ingesting paint, carpet, wood chips and other materials) when allowed to roam freely, so this is not a recommended way to let your pet exercise. Allowing a pet room to roam also makes him vulnerable to being attacked by other pets.

If your hamster does suffer from a fall or other injury resulting in a broken bone, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Hamsters can suffer internal injuries from a fall and must be seen immediately to help prevent a fatality.

The good news is that hamsters will heal quickly with a broken bone if treated properly. Here are some tips to help make your hamster's recovery quicker and more pleasant.

Take away exercise wheels and other exercise equipment from your pet's housing area. Do not have anything inside of the housing area that could encourage exercise or climbing.

If you have a cage with multiple levels (which is not recommended for hamsters anyway), remove the upper levels if at all possible. Hamsters can fall from the upper levels and cause even further injury. The best choice for housing a hamster is a cage or other container that provides lots of floor space, not lots of height.

Add more calcium to his diet - such as cheese. This will help speed the recovery process and will be a treat for your hamster, too. You can also feed him bread soaked in milk (small pieces) and high-calcium dog biscuits. Extra calcium will help the bones heal much more quickly.

Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from other hamsters and the noise of the house. Keeping your hamster stress-free will help speed up the healing process.