Is my Hamster dead or hibernating?

You just can’t put your finger on it, but something seems different about your pet hamster. He or she isn’t chirping as much as usual, and when you do hear noise from the cage, it sounds more like sighs than squeaks. Is your hamster lethargic? This could mean it’s dead, or it could just be hibernating.

The difference is important, so here’s how to tell the difference between death and hibernation in your hamster. First, are its eyes closed? If they are, that’s an obvious sign of hibernation. If the eyes are open, then there’s still some hope for this poor little guy.

Keep on reading to find out how to tell if your hamster has died or if they are in hibernation mode, and what to do about it if so!

What is Hamster hibernation?

Let us first determine what a hibernating hamster looks like. When a hamster is in hibernation mode they are in a state of inactivity even though they can still have some awareness of what’s going on around them. If you place your finger inside their cage, they will respond by pushing off from the ground and moving closer to your hand.

Hibernation usually takes up to four weeks with occasional naps throughout the winter months; however this can vary depending on their genetic make-up, diet, living environment and whether there are other pets inside the home.

Hibernation usually occurs during the colder months and in regions where food and water aren’t readily available year-round. The temperature of the air matters too—the higher the air temperature, the more likely your dwarf hamster will stay active. Hibernation typically begins around September and ends in April in North America.

One easy way to check if your hamster is hibernating is to make sure they’ve eaten a healthy meal and had enough water. But sometimes there are other signs. For example, if you notice that the first thing your hammy does when you walk in the room on a cold day – instead of running for cover or exploring – is curl up and go back to sleep, this could be an indication that it’s trying to conserve its energy.

Distinguishing death of your Hamster from hibernation

Is your hamster still alive and in hibernation? If you’re like me then you probably would have asked yourself this question. It’s a fair concern to have! We need our little buddies to keep us company.

There are a few signs to look for that can help you determine if your hamster is still alive. First, check the water bottle for condensation. If the water has not been consumed from the bottle in a few days then it might be time to take your pet to a vet. It also might be time for a vet visit if your hamster does not wake up when handled or if there are any other signs of injury like blood stains on the tail of your little friend.

As long as your pet has an active appetite and appears comfortable with no signs of physical injuries, you should have nothing to worry about. But look out for signs that your hamster may be dying such as slow breathing rate, dull eyes, lack of energy and appetite.

However, If your hamster has been inactive for three days, don’t panic! It might be that your little friend is actually in hibernation. This happens periodically throughout the year and typically only lasts up to four weeks. Some clues that a rodent could be in hibernation include being sluggish with decreased activity and having less food intake than usual. Sometimes healthy pets will go into temporary periods of quiescence where they will conserve energy and drink water less often; during these times your pet may slow down a bit from what would be considered normal but should be fine otherwise.

What to do if your dwarf hamster was in hibernation but doesn’t get up after 24 hours

If you think your hamster is in hibernation but it’s been 24 hours and the animal doesn’t move – it’s possible that your pet could be not only tired but also deceased. It might be a good idea to take a peek in on him/her!

You can do this by either turning off the light for about 5 minutes to see if there’s any movement and then quickly turn the light back on. If nothing happens then you’ll need to check for breathing by feeling the area of his neck near the trachea with one hand and pressing down firmly with two fingers from your other hand. If he has an irregular heartbeat, he may still be alive but needs some medical attention immediately; contact a vet as soon as possible if this is the case.

If the heart rate is regular, it’s likely that your furry friend will wake up shortly. A lot of dwarf hamsters like to sleep during the day and become more active at night, so they often sleep through the first few days after being put into hibernation. Keep checking on them over time and they should eventually come out of their slumber when they’re ready!

Final thoughts

If your hamster has been inactive for three days, don’t panic! It might be that your little friend is actually in hibernation. This happens periodically throughout the year and typically only lasts up to four weeks. Some clues that a rodent could be in hibernation include being sluggish with decreased activity and having less food intake than usual. Dwarf hamsters can also become hunched over when they are going into hibernation mode. A surefire way to tell if your pet is simply sleeping or not is to feel its ears – if they are cool to the touch and still, then you’re on the right track!

Here are some tips to help you determine if your dwarf hamster is hibernating or dead:

1) Gently shake the hamster – do they appear to move? Some animals go into very deep sleep and can appear to be lifeless when touched. If this is the case with your little friend, gently shake them – they should respond by shaking their paws, twitching their noses and sometimes making a sound.

2) Check their breathing- any signs of breathing? Dwarf hamsters have a tendency of going into deeper states of slumber than other pets would typically enter.

We hope you and your little furry friend will have many more happy times together as you continue to get to know each other.