Care of Elderly Hamsters

Aging Signs

• According to Hamstercentral.com, the typical lifespan of a hamster is about 3 years and many hamsters begin to show sings of aging after about a year and a half. The female hamsters that have bred will live longer than those that have not. Signs that your hamster is slowing down include it using the metal wheel in its cage less frequently, eating less and sleeping more. In some species, fur will begin to have a silver hue or turn gray. You might also notice excessive shedding. Decreased appetite will cause weight loss and your hamster will have less mobility and poorer eyesight.

Keeping Active

• As your hamster ages and you notice that it has become less active, you can spend more time with it outside of its cage. As best as you can, encourage it to move about a new environment. Its curiosity with the different surrounding might stimulate your hamster to explore and exercise. Increased movement will stimulate your hamster's metabolism and make the aging process less painful. Additionally, you can provide different toys in the cage for the hamster to investigate and play with.

  If you notice that your hamster has limited use of its hind legs, you can put a new wheel in the cage that is lower and easier to access. If you have a cage with tubing and elevated structures, remove these elements so that your hamster is not at risk of falling.

Maintaining its Appetite

• As your hamster reaches an elderly age, pay special attention to its teeth. Hamsters' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, but with age, your hamster will be eating and gnawing less, meaning its teeth can become overgrown. If you notice its upper teeth growing beyond its bottom teeth, you will need to take your hamster to a veterinarian to have the teeth trimmed. If your hamster refuses to eat, you will need to switch to a soft diet. Hamstercental.com recommends a mixture of oatmeal and pureed vegetables.