Who doesn’t love hamsters, right? They are very cute and make for great pets as they are very well-behaved.
That being said, hamsters are quite sensitive. They get anxious and scared very easily. So you might be wondering if it is okay to put hamsters in water and if they can get wet. Let’s find the answers to all your queries about hamsters getting wet.
Can hamsters get wet?
Hamsters are not used to getting wet. If hamsters get wet, they get very stressed and scared. These small animals also get panicked if they come in contact with water. So, you should not put your hamsters in water if you do not want them to grow stress-related diseases.
Table of Contents
Hamsters usually live in dry spaces, they are not used to being wet. They are also fearful of water as they cannot swim.
In fact, they can’t even learn to swim as their feet are not made for swimming. As a result, they can get very scared when they get wet.
The fur of the hamsters is quite heavy. When they are exposed to water, they will remain wet for a long time if not dried properly. So, it can lead to various diseases and sicknesses.
The hamsters can’t get wet also because the water will remove the oil from their skins. The oil in hamsters’ skin basically helps them to groom themselves.
If the natural skin oil of your hamster is removed, it won’t groom itself which will make them very dirty.
Hamsters will get fever and can also develop acute pneumonia if they get wet. When the hamsters get wet, they won’t be able to control their body temperature.
As a result, the hamsters can develop hypothermia if they are exposed to water and remain wet for a long time.
Your hamster shouldn’t get wet also because it can lead to the development of a disease called the wet tail. It is basically diarrhea of the hamsters. This disease occurs when they get very stressed and scared, which usually occurs if they get wet.
Is it OK to put hamsters in water? Can hamsters get wet tail more than once?
It is not okay at all to put hamsters in water. Hamsters are not used to being in the water. Most of the hamsters are hydrophobic, so when they are kept in water they get very scared and can also get panicked.
In addition, the water will remove the natural oil that remains on the skin of the hamsters, which will make groom themselves quite tough. The hamsters can also catch a cold or develop pneumonia if they get wet.
The hamsters can get wet tails more than once if they get stressed on a regular basis. Hamsters usually get scared and stressed when they are kept in or when they get wet.
So, if you give a bath to your hamster after it recovers from a set tail, there is a possibility that it will get a wet tail again.
3 reasons why hamsters can’t get wet?
From getting scared to developing serious health issues, there are various reasons for which hamsters can’t get wet. The issues with the hamsters can get quite serious and can be life-threatening if they remain wet for a significant period of time.
Let’s take a look at three of the most common reasons why hamsters can’t get wet.
Health Issues:
Hamsters are not used to being in cold weather and can’t handle low temperatures too well. So, if the hamsters get wet, there is a huge possibility that they will catch a cold. The cold can even develop into acute pneumonia.
Hamsters can’t also handle sudden and frequent changes in body temperature. The body of the hamster will fall instantly when it gets wet and it won’t be able to control its temperature properly. As a result, if the hamsters get wet it can lead to hypothermia.
Wet Tail:
Hamsters will get a wet tail if they are placed in water or if they get wet. They get wet tails if they get scared due to being wet. Hamsters can get wet tail multiple times if they get too stressed due to being wet.
Stress:
Hamsters can get remarkably stressed and frightened if they get wet. They don’t like being in the water and getting wet. In fact, hamsters can get panicked if they get wet, which can leave an very bad effect on hamsters’ health.
Why do hamsters lose their life when wet?
Hamsters can lose their life due to some diseases developed due to being wet. However, hamsters won’t lose their life every time they get wet or get into the water.
Hamsters can get panicked or get frightened when they get wet. If your hamster gets wet on a regular basis, they will remain scared all the time, which can result in anxiety-related diseases.
They can even stop eating and drinking water if they get too anxious.
Hamsters can fall sick and different diseases can develop in their body if they get wet.
The hamster will feel cold even after drying off if they get wet as their fur will remain cold for a long time. As a result, they can catch a cold and it can also lead to acute pneumonia if hamsters get wet.
How to make sure your hamster never gets wet?
It is very important to ensure your hamster never gets wet so that they don’t face any physical or mental issues. Making sure that your hamster never gets wet is not as difficult as it may seem. You can simply do it with a bit of effort and time.
Have a look at how you can ensure your hamster never gets wet:
Keep hamsters near their cage:
Hamsters can jump out of your hands and they are quite fast. If it runs around your house, there is a possibility that it will fall into the water or get wet by entering the bathroom.
So, while handling and playing with your hamster, make sure that you keep it near its cage.
Choose the right bedding:
One of the most significant properties of bedding and nesting material is its ability to trap moisture.
So, you should get the best bedding and nesting material to always keep your hamster dry. You should also change it once a week, to keep your hamsters’ cage odor-free and clean.
Use bottle instead of water bowl:
Hamsters aren’t usually aware of their environment and will chew and tug at anything they can get their hands on. So, hamsters can fall over a water bowl and take an unintentional bath if you give them a water bowl for drinking water.
To prevent your hamster from accidental baths, you should use a water bottle instead.
How to dry a wet hamster?
Drying a wet hamster is not as complicated as it may seem at first. However, you will have to do it in the right way and fast so that your hamster doesn’t get affected due to being wet.
Let’s take a look at how you can dry a wet hamster.
Use paper towels:
When your hamster gets wet, you won’t be able to hold it since he’ll be running all over the place. So put your hamster in a box lined with paper towels, which will absorb all of the moisture from its fur.
However, don’t use toilet paper since it will quickly crumble and stick to your hammy’s damp fur. You should also change the paper towels as frequently as possible for the hamsters to dry very fast.
Put the hamster in a warm room:
By putting a hamster in a room whose temperature is substantially higher than the hamster’s dry body temperature.
So, if your hamster normally prefers a room temperature of 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, it will prefer a room temperature of 30 degrees Celsius when it needs to dry.
Use a clean cotton cloth:
You can use a clean cotton cloth to gently wipe down your hamster while holding him in your hands.
You should do it gently so that your hamster doesn’t get more scared. You won’t be able to completely dry off your hamster using the cloth, but you should be able to get the most of it.
Final Thoughts
Hamsters don’t like being wet or getting into the water. They get very scared and anxious when they get wet. The anxiety of the hamster can also lead them to panic. Hamsters can also get sick and develop pneumonia and hypothermia due to being wet for long.