What Kind of Milk to Give to a Baby Hamster

Pet hamsters wean from their mother's milk by the time they are three weeks old. Many baby hamsters, properly called pups, are sold or given to new homes at this time. Contrary to popular belief, they do not need milk or dairy products in order to survive. The only hamster pups requiring milk are orphaned pups under three weeks old.

  1. Formula

    • Hamster breeder Doran Jones recommends two types of milk for hamster pups of all pet species: evaporated milk and commercial puppy or kitten formula replacement liquid or powder. Hamsterific.com notes that human baby formula can work as a substitute. Even this milk is too thick for hamster pups to swallow, so it needs to be mixed one part milk to one part water. This mixture is heated to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and allowed to cool to room temperature before feeding. Never feed evaporated milk, puppy or kitten formula or a mix of these with water when it is cold or the pups could die of chill.

    Expert Advice

    • When possible, use liquid kitten or puppy formula replacer rather than powdered formula. This makes the baby hamster formula much easier to make. Powered kitten or puppy milk replacer needs to be made into a liquid as per the manufacturer's directions. Then, it needs additional water so that the baby hamster milk is half kitten or puppy formula and half water, according to Doran Jones for "Hamsters."

    Feeding Syrians

    • Doran Jones advises that Syrian or golden hamster pups need feeding from an eye dropper or syringe 12 times a day at 1 millimeter of milk each. When they are two weeks old, give 2 milliliters per feedings 8 times a day. Also offer wheat germ, tiny seeds or fresh broccoli after giving the milk. They also need to eat adult hamster droppings in order to get needed digestive bacteria. Without these pellets, the pups will die. Leave a water bottle full of half Pedialyte and half water or a juicy apple slice with them to keep the pups from dehydrating.

    Feeding Dwarfs

    • Dwarf hamster pups need 2 to 3 drops of formula every half hour around the clock until they are a week old. Afterward, change to 4 to 6 drops per half hour. At two weeks of age, give 0.5 milliliter every half hour and stop when the pups are three weeks old. When they are five days old, begin feeding wheat germ and move to larger food like small seeds as they age. Dwarfs also need adult hamster pellets and Pedialyte mixed in with their water.