You may have noticed that the hamster behaves in an unusual way as the days go by. One possible cause of this change could be pregnancy. By knowing the signs to look for and how to handle the pet, you can understand if she is pregnant and ensure the safety of the puppies.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing a Pregnant Hamster
Step 1. Identify the sex of your pet
It might be obvious, but just like humans, only females can be pregnant. Most people know the sex of their pet, but in case you don't know, read this article to learn more and learn how to tell a female from a male.
- Securely grab the hamster by the scruff (the soft skin between the shoulder blades); try to have a firm grip, but don't pinch the skin. Gently rotate the animal to check its sex. Males have testicles protruding near the tail which makes the butt quite voluminous, while females do not have these attributes but have more noticeable pairs of nipples along the abdomen.
- If you've always thought your rodent friend was female because it has a typically feminine name ever since you bought it, you should check it out.
- If you think your little furry friend is expecting puppies because she has a swollen abdomen, you shouldn't touch her because she is in an advanced stage of her pregnancy, during which she doesn't need to be stressed.
Step 2. Pay attention if she has been in the company of males
The average length of a gestation is 15-21 days, so she should have mated with a male for no more than three weeks to be pregnant. If she hasn't had a mate for more than four weeks, she can't wait for puppies.
Step 3. Take his age into account
Hamsters can mate as early as the sixth or seventh week of life; the only way to rule out pregnancy due to sexual immaturity is to have a hamster younger than six weeks.
This means that you need to be very careful to leave litter members all together when this age approaches, as they may mate with each other, even male kittens with their own mothers
Step 4. Rule out any diseases
A swollen abdomen is not sufficient to establish that it is a pregnancy; this sign could also be a symptom of various diseases. Those that could be confused with pregnancy are:
- Pyometra, an infection of the uterus that enlarges the hamster's belly due to the presence of pus
- Dilation of internal organs, such as the liver or spleen, which is often the result of cancer
- Heart disease that triggers the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen;
- Intestinal problems that dilate the belly with residues not expelled due to poor digestion;
- You may notice several other signs of illness, such as increased thirst (the water bottle empties faster than usual), a decreased appetite (you need to refill the food bowl less frequently), or a loss of body fat (usually above the ribs).
Step 5. Look at the swollen abdomen
It may be the first sign of pregnancy, but if it isn't obvious, pay attention to whether your belly starts to dilate. If the hamster eats, drinks and plays as usual and has had a chance to mate, the swollen abdomen could be caused by the presence of the fetuses.
- Remember that female hamsters do not "show" their pregnancy until the last third (from the tenth day onwards), so it may be less than a week to give birth when you notice the enlarged belly.
- The nipples should swell as the abdomen swells; however, this phenomenon may be subtle on small animals, so don't worry if you can't see the nipples under the fur. Handling a pregnant female in the late stages of pregnancy is very uncomfortable for her, so you should avoid picking her up to check her nipples.
Step 6. Observe the tendency to build a nest
An "pregnant" female builds a nest when delivery time approaches; if she starts picking up the substrate and taking it to a sheltered spot in the cage, it can be a sign of pregnancy.
Step 7. Pay attention if he tends to stock up on food
A pregnant hamster starts eating slightly more than usual and hiding food, probably in the nest. Obviously, this attitude alone does not represent confirmation that the pet is waiting for the puppies, but it contributes to the big picture.
Step 8. Check for signs that labor is approaching
The hamster may become more restless in the later stages of gestation. The signs of an imminent birth are agitation and the constant passing from one activity to another, such as eating, preparing the nest and taking care of one's own hygiene; it may also hiss if you approach it.
Step 9. Take your pet to the vet
If the other methods do not allow you to come to a conclusion, have the hamster examined by the doctor, who can determine if she is pregnant or not. However, your vet may warn you that handling and visit-related procedures, although performed by a professional, could stress your pet to the point of causing him to abandon or eat his puppies.
If the abdominal swelling lasts longer than 7-10 days and no birth occurs (or if the hamster does not exhibit the typical behaviors of a pregnant specimen about to give birth), take the animal to the vet, as it may be ill
Part 2 of 2: Ensuring the Safety of the Litter
Step 1. Never try to touch the mother's belly to feel the puppies
Expectant mothers are extremely sensitive to any ailments and can harm babies if they feel pressure. Being touched on the belly by a human being causes stress, your behavior would therefore seriously endanger the safety of the litter.
Step 2. Have her eat a nutritious diet during gestation
Make sure it is nutritionally rich and suitable for the health of the little ones. Provide her with the food she is used to eating, as sudden changes can cause her stomach problems. However, the ideal diet should consist of pelleted rodent feed, so that the hamster cannot selectively avoid the healthier (but less flavorful) ingredients of his meal.
- Minimal amounts of cheese and milk provide the calcium needed for developing fetuses and for the lactation period following childbirth.
- As a supplementary source of protein, you can offer moderate amounts of hard-boiled eggs, nuts, oats, and barley.
- Females expecting pups can benefit from additional vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, cucumbers, cauliflower, apples, grapes, bananas and strawberries, albeit in very small quantities (otherwise gastrointestinal upset could be triggered).
Step 3. Leave the mother alone from the thirteenth day after mating
Female hamsters like to be left completely alone for at least two days before giving birth. This means that from the thirteenth day of mating you shouldn't interfere with her activities, change her substrate or introduce yourself to her cage. Be very discreet when leaving her fresh food, otherwise she might get stressed out and eat her puppies.
Since you may not have the slightest idea when the mating took place, be aware that the female manifests her pregnancy around the tenth day
Step 4. Keep the other specimens in a separate cage
In addition to a stressed mother, the other hamsters in the cage could also harm and eat the babies. To ensure the safety of the litter, divide the animals into different cages as soon as you know for certain that the female is pregnant.
If hamsters living in the same enclosure start fighting despite generally getting along, it could be a clue, along with other signs, that one of them is expecting cubs
Step 5. Do not touch babies for two weeks
During the first 14 days, the mother recognizes them by smell, but if you touch them even by mistake, the mother attacks them; you can start stroking them safely after about two weeks.
This means that you have to be very careful to avoid transferring your scent to them when handling the cage; do not clean it during this period
Step 6. Change the position of the drinking bottle tubes
Remember that they are most likely at a useful height for an adult hamster, so you need to move them so that the cubs have access to water as well.
Step 7. Start giving solid food to babies after 7-10 days
Although they are not fully weaned until the third week of age, you can start putting solid food for them in the cage after about ten days; you can use regular rodent pellets, but soak them in water first.
Step 8. If you notice the mother abandoning the kittens, take them to the vet right away
Especially new mothers in their first litter tend to abandon or eat their young due to stressful environmental factors. If this happens to your hamster too, remove him from the litter immediately and take the babies to the vet. Your doctor may refer you to a veterinary shelter or hospital that can care for abandoned baby hamsters.
