How to Pick a Healthy Hamster : Identifying a Healthy Hamster

Being active and clear-eyed are two signs of a home-ready hamster. Learn more in this free video series and guide.

Expert: Laura Nessen
Bio: Laura Nessen works at The Pet Kingdom in Cottonwood, Arizona. She has many years experience working in pet stores and caring for her own animals.
Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• picking healthy hamster tips
• picking healthy hamster guide
• picking healthy hamster buying
• picking healthy hamster advice
• healthy hamsters
• getting healthy hamsters

[hexbugmrc]

omg the poor poor hamster was todaly freaking out at 0:17 to 0:24, he was like PUT ME BACK I DON'T WANT TO DIE!

[slowwgirl]

what store is that

[lydiagreenchocolate]

She seems mean!:(

[phoenixleone]

lady: you should check their tail...........

hamster: stop poking my butt lady!

[RANKO619]

@slowwgirl shoping store :)

[MarsyseKellyMccool]

@ilovemyhamster1000 no they will fight to the death its better if they're seperate

[alicegurl99]

shouldn't they check for this stuff before they sell the hamsters?

[neptuniumforest]

There was no love in that whatsoever

[mixnmachdj]

@ilovemyhamster1000 i dont think so because they become sexualey mature when they are about 6 months old so u need 2 cages, i have 2 girls from the same litter but in 6 months if i dnt seprate them one will kill the other

[mixnmachdj]

i have two 3 month old hamsters and they BOTH are constantly sleeping could they be catching a cold?

[KrisKrossx3]

@jlrsmiles The most common source of infection is stress. This is why many hamsters that are sold by pet stores commonly have the infection. The reason behind this is that most pet stores have animals shipped to the store. The shipping causes the animals stress, plus the added factor of being in a new environment. Thus the animals will have wet-tail because of it. Many pet stores sell young animals which are most prone to this infection.

[KrisKrossx3]

@jlrsmiles Wet-tail is a common infection that small rodents can contract very easily. It is the equivalent of something like dysentery. The animal will get a severe case of diarrhea and become dehydrated. Dehydration is very serious in hamsters because they are so tiny. A day without drinking can be lethal to a hamster. This disease is very contagious, so if you house more than one hamster, and if one hamster has wet-tail, it is very likely that they will all contract it.