![]() A gentle pull on the legs will allow a slight stretch. Feel whether the cheek pouch temperature is slightly warmer than the body temperature. Watch for twitching whiskers while stroking the hamster’s fur. If you see a slight fog, your hamster is breathing. To determine if a hamster is dead or in a state of torpor, hold a mirror or spoon directly in front of the hamster’s nose. Eating, drinking, and eliminations cease. There is no visible heartbeat or breathing. The body may be cold and limp, then become stiff. What happens to the body during hibernation? Hibernation is a state of inactivity where a hamster’s body temperature lowers and their heart rate and breathing rate markedly decrease to conserve energy. A complete veterinary exam is needed to determine any health concerns and for appropriate treatment recommendations. Dehydration and malnutrition are common outcomes due to fasting that occurs while hibernating, and a gradual reintroduction of water and food is necessary. If torpor has lasted more than a day, there may be other health consequences to consider. External heating elements are not recommended as these will raise their temperature too rapidly. ![]() ![]() You can also wrap them in a slightly warm cloth (not too hot!). One good way to gradually warm your hamster is to cup them in the palm of your hand and let your body temperature gradually warm their body. A gentle massage may help to increase circulation. ![]() If it’s been longer, or your hamster doesn’t revive, provide 12 hours of bright light, along with adequate food and water. If the torpor has lasted less than a day, increasing the body temperature may be all that is needed. If your hamster is in a state of torpor, gradually improve the conditions, including temperature and light, to safely revive them. If you find your hamster in a possible state of torpor or hibernation, first check their breathing and heart rate. What To Do if Your Hamster Is Hibernating Keeping your hamster in the dark for 12 hours a dayĪ lack of food and water, or reduced access to food and waterĪ lack of safe housing or bedding material to burrow into The exact trigger for torpor depends on the type of hamster. Other hamsters require 1-2 months of continuous cold exposure to go into hibernation. If the temperature falls below this range for 24 hours, some hamsters will enter torpor. Hamster Hibernation ConditionsĪ hamster’s ideal temperature range is 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Sometimes torpor and hibernation are used interchangeably, because both torpor and hibernation result in slowing of the heart and respiratory rates and a decrease in activity and body temperature. Obligatory or true hibernation occurs when certain species become fat in the summer months and hibernate in the winter months. An extended torpor could result in death of the hamster due to dehydration or hypothermia. This can happen when food is scarce or environmental temperatures are low. It is also known as permissive or facultative hibernation because it is triggered by the hamster to conserve energy. Torpor is a type of hibernation that can occur at any time of the year. Both behaviors help the hamster to survive when conditions are not favorable Torpor and true hibernation may seem similar, but they aren’t the same thing. Female hamsters hibernate for shorter lengths of time than male hamsters. By contrast, dwarf species do not hibernate under normal conditions but will do so when the environment requires it. This is known as true or obligatory hibernation. European hamsters will sleep for significant periods of time during the winter months. Not all species of hamsters have the same forms of hibernation behavior. There may be no visible heartbeat or respiration, but you may see sporadic, shallow breathing if you look close enough. They will be cool to the touch and may feel limp or stiff. Is My Hamster Hibernating or Dead?Ī hibernating hamster will appear to be asleep or even dead. What triggers this behavior, and if there’s anything you can or should do about it, depends on the type of hamster you have and the underlying causes of the hibernation. Depending on the situation, your hamster may even go into true hibernation. Instead, it’s a natural adaptation to most hamster’s native desert environments. But it many cases, this behavior-known as torpor-isn’t a sign that your hamster is truly sick or dying. New hamster parents are often surprised to find their hamsters barely moving, sometimes even appearing dead.
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