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In many cases, pets become part of the family, and it is difficult to deal with their deaths. When you purchase a hamster, you need to know that they have a relative short lifespan, approximately two or three years. If you have children, you will need to explain to them that hamsters do not live long. This can also be a good (though painful) way to teach them about life and death.
Just like with any pet, you want to keep your hamster healthy, and make sure that it lives as long, healthy and happy a life as possible. The most common cause of death in hamsters is old age. When this is the case, you will notice that your hamster is becoming less and less active, sleeps more and eats much less. Sleep will begin to get longer, and soon, last for days, until the time finally comes for that last sleep.
There are other causes that you should be aware of if you plan to become the proud owner of a hamster:
Breeding: Females that are regularly bred often have shorter life spans; unless they are given ample time to recover between pregnancies. This is no different than puppy mills … the more you breed an animal, the weaker it absolutely becomes.
Cannibalism: Hamsters are sometimes known to eat one another, especially in the case of mother hamsters with new babies (this often happens when people handle the new babies, and the mothers do not recognize the scents). You may want to keep an eye on new mothers, and make sure that you do not handle the babies in any way until they are a bit older.
Improper Care: When you get a hamster, you also get all of the responsibility that goes with pet care. You must make sure that you give your hamster the proper care to avoid sickness. This includes making sure that the habitat is clean at all times, and that your hamster always has access to fresh food and water.
Fighting: It is best to keep hamsters in separate cages (except, obviously, when breeding, but still be careful). They tend to be aggressive with one another, and fighting often occurs, which can cause injuries and deaths.
Diseases and Infections: Hamsters, like any other pets, are prone to certain infections and diseases that can extremely result in death. One of these infections is the common wet-tail. To avoid infections and diseases, keep the habitat clean, and avoid contact with other possibly infected hamsters. If you think your hamster is sick, visit a vet right away.
If you notice that your hamster is not acting right, and is showing signs of illness, you should immediately seek vet care. Also, you should prepare yourself, and other family members, especially children, for the possibility that your hamster will not be coming home again.
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Source by Kent Tan
