Constipation in a hamster: symptoms, prevention, treatment

Every day our cheerful Syrian or Djungarian hamster actively builds funny faces and caresses the hands of his beloved owners. Suddenly, the fluffy baby becomes restless, his stomach swells. What to do if your hamster is constipated? It is urgent to help the pet to empty the intestines, constipation is fraught with intoxication of the body, the formation of fecal plugs, prolapse of the rectum, and death.

Causes of constipation in a hamster

Most often, this disease develops in hamsters through the fault of the owner. Lack of access for your Djungarian or Syrian to water and excessive eating of dry food leads to the development of this unpleasant intestinal pathology. The natural causative agent of intestinal motility is the fiber contained in raw vegetables, juicy fruits and cereals. Lack of these foods in your little friend’s diet is the root cause of constipation. Sometimes the disease develops against the background of stress, various intestinal pathologies and mechanical injuries.

Symptoms

Constipation in a hamster is a disorder of the intestines, which is characterized by difficulty in the act of defecation or regular incomplete emptying of the intestines. The owner of the hamster should alert the following alarming symptoms of the disease:

• reduction in the number of bowel movements;
• litter is very dry, dense and small;
• refusal of food and water;
• an increase in the volume of the abdomen;
• matted wool;
• restless behavior and sleep;
• moisture around the anus;
• the hamster often pushes and squeaks;
• lethargy, apathy.

Treatment for constipation in a hamster at home

When the first signs of the disease are detected, it is recommended to urgently provide first aid to the pet to prevent intoxication and sad consequences.

To stimulate peristalsis and facilitate bowel movements, it is urgent to drink 1-2 ml of vaseline oil to the hamster, which is injected into the pet’s oral cavity from an ordinary disposable syringe without a needle. After 20 minutes, the procedure must be repeated. If defecation has not occurred within 4 hours, you should continue feeding the animal oil.

If it is not possible to use vaseline oil, you can replace it with linseed, sesame, olive or sunflower oil.

Hamster owners often use castor oil as a laxative. This is highly discouraged, it strongly irritates the intestinal walls up to the formation of ulcers.

After infusion of oil, it is necessary to gently massage the pet’s abdomen in circular motions clockwise, so you can mechanically stimulate intestinal motility. For the same purpose, it is desirable to make the baby move, run in a tunnel or wheel, play in a basin.

After successful defecation, for the duration of treatment and recovery of the body, it is advisable to feed the hamster with semi-liquid food and vegetables: well-boiled buckwheat, carrots, prunes, oatmeal, parsley, dill. Dairy products, meat, eggs, flour, dry feed mixtures are excluded during this period, you can add sunflower seeds in small portions.

Treatment of constipation in a hamster in a veterinary clinic

If after a day the above measures did not help, you should urgently contact a veterinary clinic. The doctor examines the hamster using an ultrasound machine and prescribes treatment.

In the clinic for bowel movements, a specialist conducts a cleansing enema using painkillers. A hamster with signs of intoxication and dehydration is injected subcutaneously with a Ringer-Locke solution to stabilize the body. To restore the intestinal microflora, a specialist prescribes a veterinary probiotic in drops.

In the case of intestinal obstruction, surgical treatment is used followed by postoperative therapy.

Prevention of constipation in hamsters

To prevent constipation in your pet, it is advisable to follow simple preventive measures:

• a balanced diet with the obligatory use of raw vegetables, fruits and herbs;
• constant access to a drinking bowl with clean drinking water;
• maintaining the physical activity of the hamster using wheels, tunnels, stairs.

Feed your funny hamsters properly, take care of them, and in return they will give you great love with their little hearts.