How To Bathe A Hamster? Best Proven Method

Hamsters are the best pets in all ways. They stay happy in their cages, running on their wheels and eating their food. They don't even complain when you are busy. Above all, they are also very good at grooming themselves. However, hamsters can't reach some parts of their bodies. Therefore, after some time, bathing your hamster can help you keep it away from illness. Here's how to do it.
How To Bathe A Hamster

Does your hamster smell bad? Planning to give him a bath but don’t know how to? To give your hamster a bath, start by taking lukewarm water. After that, place your hamster in a plastic container. Wash your hammy using a hamster-friendly shampoo that you can easily get from a vet store. Use a soft towel to dry your hamster afterward. 

Bathing a hamster doesn’t involve any rocket science, but you have to be very careful. Hamsters are sensitive animals. A little offensively warm water or shampoos in their eyes or mouth can go a long way. 

When Should You Bathe A Hamster?

This is a very important point. Bathing a hamster unnecessarily can make him prone to numerous health conditions like hypothermia and skin diseases. 

Only consider a bath if you see something stuck on your hamster’s fur which he can’t get rid of. Moreover, only plan to bathe your hamster if your vet suggests due to fear of stains on the fur. 

Other than these conditions, there is no need to bathe a hamster. Why? Because hamsters are already very good at self-grooming. These little creatures spend around 20-30% of their time taking care of their hygiene.

Best Method To Bathe Your Hamster

Let’s jump to the part you were waiting for. So, what is the safest way to bathe your hamster? 

Simply follow these quick steps to bathe your hamster perfectly:

  1. Start by preparing warm water for your hamster. Coldwater can lead to hypothermia in hamsters which is not a very forgiving health condition. The water shouldn’t be offensively hot either. To check this, dip your elbow and judge if the water is suitable for your hamster or not. 
  2. Visit your nearest vet store and buy a hamster-friendly shampoo. Shampoos made for us are not recommended as they can cause allergies to the hamsters. While washing your hamster, keep the shampoo away from the mouth, ears, and eyes of the hamster. Rinse with lukewarm water you prepared earlier. 
  3. Ensure that you bathe your hamster in a warm place, like in a bathroom without windows. Blows of air can also lead to hypothermia which gets real serious quickly. 
  4. Take a plastic container that can be washed easily afterward. Make sure that the container’s sides are high enough to keep the hamster from escaping
  5. Keep the water low than the shoulders of your hamster. Otherwise, he can get scared or panic.
  6. After washing your hamster, don’t keep him in the water for long and dry him off immediately. Only place him in his after making sure that he is completely dry and warm. 

These were the steps that you have to follow to bathe your hamster in no time and without any risk. 

Grooming Your Hamster

Taking care of a hamster cannot be prepared with the grooming routines of other pets like cats and dogs. Although they are famous for their self-grooming specialization, they can still need your help at some points. 

Here are some things that you can do to keep your hamster tidy, clean, and happy:

  • If your hamster is a long hair breed, brush its hair regularly. Breeds with long hair are more prone to parasites. Brushing will not keep your hamster tip-top, but it will also keep parasites out of its fur. 
  • Hamsters’ teeth and nails never stop growing. Provide them good chewing toys for their teeth and take them to the vet for the nails. 
  • Period inspection for any fecal build-up or urine staining is also very important.

Other than all of this, just take good care of your hamster’s diet, and he will be happy forever. 

FAQs

The following questions related to giving baths to hamsters might be useful to you:

What Are Sand Baths?

Sand baths are the natural way for hamsters to get rid of any odor, fecal build-up, or parasites. As a hamster owner, it is your responsibility to give suitable sand for cleaning.

Can You Use Traditional Soap To Bathe Your Hamster?

Absolutely not! No matter how much you like your soap, don’t bring it near to your hamster. Chemicals used in conventional soaps can cause severe irritation on the skin of your hamster.

What Are Sand Baths?

Sand baths are the natural way for hamsters to get rid of any odor, fecal build-up, or parasites. As a hamster owner, it is your responsibility to give suitable sand for cleaning.

Can You Use Traditional Soap To Bathe Your Hamster?

Absolutely not! No matter how much you like your soap, don’t bring it near to your hamster. Chemicals used in conventional soaps can cause severe irritation on the skin of your hamster.

Bathing An Hamster Concluded

Hamsters are ingenious animals. Most of the time, they can take good care of themselves. However, there are some situations, like in the case of urine stains and fecal build-up, your hamster will need your help. The best rule of thumb is to take your hamster to a vet.

If the vet suggests you bathe your hamster, then proceed. Bathing your hamster isn’t tricky at all. You simply have to take warm water, made for hamsters shampoo, and a plastic container. You just have to ensure that your hamster doesn’t catch cold and shampoo stays away from its eyes and mouth. 

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a little about me
Hi, im Sofia
Hi, im Sofia

I'm a mother of 2, hamster enthusiast, animal lover, and blogger. I have had five hamsters in my life, each with their own personality!

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