She had a traumatic experience (I was trying to move her so I could clean the cage and I dropped her!) and now she plays dead every time I try to pet her. She is not injured. Any ideas?
2006-11-01 10:45:16 · 9 answers · asked by science1975 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I've never seen a hamster play dead before. Oh wait. I did. On youtube.
When did you drop her? Because some injuries arent very obvious. I only noticed my hamster had a swollen hand after some time.
Sometimes they have broken bones, and perhaps like humans, if the bones arent corrected/put to place, it will heal and cause the hand to look disfigured. I'm just sayin.
Perhaps that experience has led her to associate you with bad things. You should tame her again. The process of taming is to build trust. That's what you need.
1. Talk to hammy so it'll be familiar to your voice. Do this for a few days.
This just came up: You can check if you can proceed to the next step by saying something to your hammy and see if it comes to 'see' you. If it does, it means it can recognize your voice and so on.
2. Slowly insert hand into cage so hammy will get used to your hand. Make sure you wash your hand and rub your hand with some of its bedding so hammy won't freak out and try to bite you. Don't try stunts yet. i.e., grabbing hammy.
Do this until hammy is comfortable with a big hairless monster in its cage.
3. This time, when you put your hands in cage, you get to hold a treat! Be it sunflower seed or a frozen pea. I heard yoghurt drops are fattening, although I've never used them.
Sunflower seeds are fattening too.
Hold treat in place and wait for hammy to come over.
Usually when they're eating, you can do (almost) anything to them. So after hammy takes treat from you and starts nibbling, try stroking its back. Gently. Don't move to fast though. At this stage, it is advisable not to touch their ears.
Do this until hammy's comfortable with taking food from you.
4. Next, put food in your palm. Hopefully hammy will climb on and starts picking food.
*I swear they're the cutest when they sit on your palm and eat!*
Some just pick and go away. But dont worry, its no big deal. Every hamster is different.
Again, continue until hammy is comfortable.
5. Now see if you can hold hammy. Try lifting it the next time you feed it treats/food. Cup hammy but dont squeeze. I read from a forum post that dwarfs should be held in a certain way that it doesn't cause eye prolapse.
Make sure hammy is ok with your hand in the cage. Stroke'em and stuff.
If it always jumps off your hand when you try to lift it, try this.
- If you have a bath tub, make sure its dry and the sink hole thingy is covered. If so happens you don't, sit in a tub. Anything like a tub should be fine. Just make sure it's big enough and ventilation is good.
- Get a toilet paper (TP) tube to transport hammy into tub. Or move hammy cage into bath tub and open cage door for hammy to climb out. Some hamsters dont get the msg of climbing out the cage door until later. Like mine.
- Let hammy on your lap or something. Main point is for it to climb over you. All over. In the meantime, try to hold hammy. Cup, no squeezing. Remember to let it rest and have some water if you're planning to sit in there for a while.
Transport hammy back using the TP tube if it still isn't used to being handled yet.
Also remember when they bite you, dont jerk your hand away or say no or anything loud. They would associate your hand as something bad and scary. You can make your hand into a fist so if they bite, they would bite your knuckle. Wont hurt too much.
If there are nipping problems, try sticking your hand into the bedding. <-- "dry cleaning".
2006-11-01 18:42:58 · answer #1 · answered by cheahwey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be a lot less afraid you may want to prepare your hamster to believe you first and maximum perfect. do not rush into the different stuff till you're particular the bond between you is in good structure. also keep in mind, like human beings, critters have their own personalities, so be attentive to this besides. upon getting that down, you should use fashionable treats and affection as rewards for each step of a trick you puppy does nicely. do not attempt to coach each and every thing unexpectedly. step by technique of step, is nice and be affected human being. i can't pressure that very last area adequate.
2016-12-05 10:50:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you quite sure she isn't hurt? A fall can do a lot to a hamster. I'd check with a vet! I think it's funny that she plays dead but it's not so funny that your pet doesn't trust you. Pet her as much as possible, give her special hamster treats occasionally. Hey, if she likes them, she'll realize that she can only get them from you!! If none of these tips do anything for you, call a local pet store and they will give you specific info. Hope I helped :)
2006-11-01 11:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I love animals, so I just get them used to my presence. It may take a while but it works
2006-11-01 10:48:16 · answer #4 · answered by Bilko! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont let know one near him for a while just you hold him where it is quiet for him to get used to u
2006-11-01 10:53:25 · answer #5 · answered by ♥♥♥you rock my world ♥♥♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what you do is hand feed her every week and play with her out side everyday.
2006-11-01 10:48:08 · answer #6 · answered by mickeymousedude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stroke her on the head every so often.
2006-11-01 14:12:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://russiandwarfhamsters.tripod.com/hams/id32.html
2006-11-01 12:51:37 · answer #8 · answered by Who am I? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take her tp the vet
2006-11-01 12:50:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋