How to Save a Hamster Runt

Just like many other mammals who lay litters of young, hamsters occasionally have a runt. Runts have a much lower rate of survival than their larger and healthier siblings and many don't make it into adulthood. Runts are victims of genetic defects and often get pushed away from food by the others in the litter, growing weaker and weaker without outside intervention. To save a runt hamster from wasting away and possibly dying off, you will need to become the surrogate parent for a while.

Things You'll Need

  • Special veterinary baby milk
  • Warm towel
  • Teaspoon
  • Baby food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the runt from the litter only if you see that it is not able to feed alongside the others. If it is feeding, leave it alone and wait to see if it gains weight on its own.

    • 2

      Warm the baby milk on the stove or in the microwave.

    • 3

      Feed the runt hamster the warm baby milk from the tip of the teaspoon.

    • 4

      After manually feeding, replace the runt with the litter and keep an eye on it, seeing if it is able to feed the next time around. If he is not eating and begins to move slowly he may be getting ill, and you should take him to a veterinarian.

    • 5

      Handle each of the baby hamsters as well as the mother for a bit so that she is familiar with your smell and does not react to the fact that one of the babies smells like a human.

    • 6

      If the runt still does not feed, remove it from the litter again, and repeat feeding steps for up to two weeks.

    • 7

      After two weeks, begin feeding the runt human baby food. If the runt has survived for two weeks it has a very good chance of surviving into adulthood.

    • 8

      Keep runt hamster in the litter every day after the two-week point and remove only if it is not eating right. Feed it more baby food if it doesn't eat with the others.