General Health

 

Teeth:

Hamsters have incisor teeth that never stop growing, so always give your hamster a variety of chews and toys that will wear their teeth down. If your hamster's teeth get too long, it can cause health problems and you will have to get your hamster's teeth trimmed by your vet. Also, your hamster's teeth should always be a dark yellow. If they are, that means they are healthy. If your hamster has a white tooth, that is very unhealthy and your hamster must be taken to the vet. In comparison, a hamster with a white tooth is like a human with a black tooth. Hamsters have 16 teeth total. They have two incisor teeth on the top and bottom, and three molars each side that are top and bottom. 

 

Nails:

For the nails, when your hamster runs on its wheel, climbs on its toys, and simply runs around its cage, his/her nails should stay at a normal length. However in some cases nails tend to get overgrown, and that can lead to other health problems. Hamsters are not known to stay still, but if your hamster will stay still for a period of time you should have no trouble trimming your hamster's nails on your own. You can buy small animal nail clippers from the pet store, or just use some sanitized human nail clippers. One thing to keep in mind while you are trimming your hamster's nails is to be careful not to cut the quick. The quick is a blood vessel in the nail, and if you cut the nail too short, then your hamster's nail will start bleeding . If you are not comfortable trimming your hamster's nails on your own take your hamster in to the vet, and sometimes they will even do it for free. 

 

 

Grooming:

There's not much you need to do for grooming, hamsters already do most of the work themselves. However it is a good idea to brush out your hamster's fur every once in awhile, especially if you have a long-haired hamster. You can buy a brush from the store, but I just use a clean, un-used toothbrush. It works just as well.   

 

Bathing: 

You should never bathe your hamster in water and soap, it is not only unnecessary but also dangerous. Hamsters have natural oils in their coat to keep them warm and healthy, and giving a hamster a bath will remove those oils, which is not good for their health. Since hamsters mostly take care of cleaning and grooming on their own, there is not much necessary additional upkeep. However if your hamster is in need of a bath, sand baths are highly recommended. A sand bath can either be provided in the hamster's cage or during playtime in a ceramic dish or a plastic container.(Note: hamsters tend to use an in-cage sand bath as a toilet and can become unsanitary). Both pet store sand and children's play sand can be used, However it is recommended to purchase sand from a pet store before using children's play sand. 

(A personal favorite is the dust bath made by the brand All Living Things)