To paraphrase the famous saying, we can say that the person who tamed the animal is responsible for its future fate. First of all, a small hamster is not a funny “toy”, but a living creature with its own “problems”. The animal can get sick and become infected with parasites. The owner will have to save the pet.
The health of the rodent depends on the correctness of his actions and the chosen methods of treatment. Negligent behavior can result in the death of a pet or unpleasant consequences for a person.
Can a hamster have fleas?
You need to look for an answer to the question of whether hamsters have fleas before the animal gets into the house. The decision to have a pet should be a conscious one, so you should initially become familiar with the peculiarities of keeping animals in the house and possible diseases of the rodent. Yes, hamsters have fleas!
The animal's body is covered with fur, and the skin is easily bitten by parasites. Contrary to popular belief, fleas do not live directly on the body of animals, but regularly feed there. It makes no difference to parasites whose blood they drink - cats, dogs, mice or hamsters. The most susceptible to pest attacks are fluffy Syrian, royal, and Angora hamsters. Animals of the Dzungarian and Roborovsky breeds suffer less from this scourge.
Djungarian hamster
Symptoms of fleas in hamsters
To determine whether a hamster has fleas, you need to carefully examine your pet for the presence of parasites. Most often they hide behind the ears and on the stomach of the rodent. If you do not find them, but you are confused by small black lumps on the animal’s fur, take immediate action.
The black-brown sand on the body is processed blood by fleas.
Another sign of fleas is redness on the hamster's skin in the form of red spots. Some animals manage to scratch the bite until it bleeds, which is really dangerous. Through the wound, the hamster is exposed to various bacteria.
Symptoms of fleas on a hamster
Routes of infection
Fleas on a hamster are not a natural phenomenon. This animal is not their permanent “master”. However, under certain conditions, they can exhaust the animal for a long time.
Main sources of infection:
- Other pets and pests. Cats, dogs, as well as rats and mice bring insects into the house. Infection occurs during mating if one of the participants in the process is a temporary guest.
- Stay at the pet store. There are situations when a pet is brought into the house already infected. Initially, the symptoms are not visible, but appear over time.
- Street grass. Rodents are offered green grass that grows outside as food. The eggs and the insects themselves are found in sand, soil and thickets. Thus, the person himself brings the infection into the house.
The likelihood of infection is low if there are no other pets in the house, the pet is fed special food, and the presence of street rodents is not allowed.
Prevention
To prevent fleas from breeding inside your home, you need to regularly carry out wet cleaning. Thoroughly vacuum the floor, upholstered furniture, and carpets.
Given that fleas breed and move around in the summer, anti-flea drops are applied to the hamster's fur at this time of year. All free-roaming animals are wearing special collars to prevent them from bringing insects into the house and infecting rodents.
What should I give my hamster?
Parasites often choose damp and warm places for laying eggs, such as basements. You can simply place dry twigs of wormwood or bouquets of Dalmatian chamomile in them. The natural pyrethrins contained in these plants will repel insects.
Fresh filling can be calcined in the oven; it may already be infected with parasites during storage in a warehouse or store.
A small and inconspicuous insect, the flea carries diseases dangerous to humans and mammals. The fight against them begins immediately after detection.
Symptoms of flea infestation
The presence of parasites can be recognized by their characteristic signs. Fleas cause discomfort and pain to a hamster. The pet's behavior and appearance changes. He becomes restless, sleeps poorly, loses his appetite, often itches and chews out fur.
Flea
Upon examination, the following is found:
- blisters and bite marks on the body;
- dried blood stains;
- sand-like grains;
- receding hairline;
- scratching.
If the owner leaves the pet without proper attention, the wounds become infected, inflammation begins, and purulent formations appear.
The danger of parasites for hamsters and humans
Severe infection leads to death in a short time. Parasites annoy with bites, drink blood, exhaust and weaken the animal. In addition, the presence of insects on the body of a pet is dangerous for the development of other serious diseases.
- Fleas are carriers of helminth eggs. At the moment when the rodent tries to remove the bloodsucker with its teeth, the worm eggs enter the hamster’s body. The first symptoms of infection may appear after 14 days.
- Open wounds and scratches become infected. Dermatitis, eczema, and abscesses appear on the body. In addition, insects spread plague, salmonellosis, and typhus.
- A flea-ridden animal loses sleep, appetite and strength. Nervous and physical exhaustion leads to death.
Insects are not that dangerous to humans. Fleas do not specifically attack people; they attack when a room is heavily infested.
Rodent treatment
After discovering parasites, it is worth asking the pressing question of how to remove fleas from a hamster. Timely treatment guarantees a quick recovery for the pet and a restful sleep for the owner.
What you should not do is bathe your hamster with flea shampoo for cats and dogs. Animals do not tolerate water treatments well and risk dying from colds. It is recommended to use special products at home or seek help from a veterinarian.
Flea drops
They are considered the most effective and most convenient to use. To fully treat your pet, you need to apply 1-3 drops of the product to the withers area, where the hamster cannot reach with his teeth. Within 2 hours, the active components are completely absorbed by the skin, localized in the hair follicles and the upper layer of the epidermis. The poison enters the body of insects during bites.
The effect of the drug lasts from 1 to 3 months. Drops are used to treat and prevent re-infection.
Drops
For the treatment of rodents, it is recommended to choose safe agents whose active components do not enter the systemic bloodstream. These include, for example, drops for treating cats Frontline . This brand also produces a product for dogs, but the dosage is higher, so it is not suitable in this case. If your hamster has fleas and you don’t know what to do, buy drops for cats and use them once.
Injections
This treatment method is suitable for severely infected pets and a high probability of re-infection. The veterinarian knows very well how to remove fleas from a hamster with an injection, so there is no shame in using his services.
The drug used can cause serious side effects, including death, so the rodent should be supervised at first. Typically 1% Ivermectin twice at 15 day intervals.
Insecticidal powder
The product in powder form is applied to the animal’s body and thoroughly rubbed into the skin. The active components begin to act immediately. Insecticides paralyze insects on contact, after which they die. The effect lasts for about 2 weeks. If necessary, repeat the treatment. To treat domestic hamsters, veterinarians prescribe Insectal, Celandine .
Anti-parasite sprays
The drug is available ready-made in a special spray bottle. To remove fleas from a hamster, it is enough to treat the animal’s fur once. The sprayer is kept at a distance of 5 cm from the surface to be treated. The product dries quickly, but it is advisable to ensure that your pet does not lick the spray from the fur for 20 minutes after treatment.
It is recommended to use a special spray for rodents, Ultra Care Flea And Tick Spray For Small Animal, or a product for cats, for example, Bars .
How to remove fleas from a hamster
The breeding process must begin with putting the cage in order and completely replacing the filler. After all, it is in it that insects lay their eggs. They are so small that it is impossible to notice them.
Some of the eggs are on the cage itself and objects that are inside it. After the cage and all equipment are well washed, they need to be treated with any insecticide. Convenient to use aerosols. Treated items are rinsed so that any remaining poison does not harm the animal. Sometimes repetition of manipulations is required.
The animal itself should be treated only on the recommendation of a veterinarian. This is due to the fact that the calculation of the amount of contact insecticide depends on the weight of the pet. Most often prescribed:
- BioVax;
- Stronghold;
- Frontline.
The drugs must be used according to the instructions, taking into account the prescription of the veterinarian.
All pets will need to be treated for fleas at the same time as rodents. The living space is subjected to general cleaning. Attention is paid to the floor and floor coverings. The carpets are taken out to dry on a sunny day and beaten well. They can be taken to a special laundry. After cleaning the room, insecticide is sprayed or scattered in it. While animals are being processed, people are removed from the premises.
Cell processing
Adult insects jump onto the animal’s body for the purpose of feeding; they rarely stay there all the time. The eggs are scattered throughout the room, and the larvae often develop in the bedding or cage of the hamster. To completely get rid of parasites, you should clean the “house” and disinfest the cage.
Clean cage
Remove food debris, clean bowls and drinking bowls. Wash toys with soap. The bedding is washed and then treated with steam. The cage is treated with an insecticidal spray. Any product will do, including Dichlorvos . They do this outdoors, and after 3 hours you can release the animal there.
Treating all pets and your home for fleas
Since the rodent's cage is in the house and flea eggs can be scattered anywhere, it is advisable to clean and treat all pets.
It is advisable to disinfest the premises in case of severe infection; in other situations, folk remedies are used.
- Sprinkle carpets with boric acid powder and vacuum after 24 hours.
- Wash the floors with water with the addition of vinegar or ammonia. For 1 liter of water, a tablespoon of the product.
- Wipe the walls with the solution at a height of 1 m above the floor level.
- Pour boric acid into the cracks.
It is necessary to treat the room, otherwise you will have to constantly fight against parasites.
Signs of defeat
Rodent owners are convinced that the absence of cats or dogs in their home is a 100% guarantee that they are free of fleas. It is a myth.
One of the symptoms of the disease is itching. Signs of the presence of parasites:
- dark lumps of digested blood on the skin of a rodent;
- bald spots;
- scratching;
- skin inflammation.
Taking into account the fact that most parasitic species are dark in color and have decent body sizes, up to 3-5 mm, they are easy to notice with the naked eye under the pet’s fur.
Very often, parasites are selected for areas with shorter hair, ears or muzzle. The behavior of a hamster affected by fleas may remain the same for a long time. Itching begins to bother the animal when there is a significant increase in the number of insects in the cage, where the entire development cycle takes place.
Taking into account the fact that insects can move with powerful jumps, people will also feel their presence in the house and unpleasant bites.
What should be in a hamster's cage?
