do-hamsters-smell

Almost every person in this world wants to have a pet at home, at least ones in a lifetime. We welcome them to our homes and accept them as members of the family. They add joy and love to the household and continually improve their owner’s well- being and the overall quality of life.

Admittedly, there are so many reasons why owning a pet is very important. But this doesn’t mean that there are no drawbacks. Choosing to have a pet can be costly and inconvenient to many. Cleaning cages and keeping their pets tidy can be time-consuming.

But unless you want your pets to emit unpleasant, undesirable odor, then be ready to commit yourself to clean up your pets and their surroundings on a regular basis.

Not all pets are the same. Each species has its distinct features that separate them from others. Most of us know that dogs need to be bathed at least once a week to avoid being dirty and smelly, while cats rarely require baths because they are self-groomers.

But what about the Hamsters? With small legs, round bellies, and gentle nature, we see them as one of the most beloved pets for children. It makes it all the more significant to understand what to expect from a hamsters smell, especially for those who are looking to add one into their household.

 

Do Hamsters Have Odors?

Generally, a hamster has very little odor from birth until the time they reach sexual maturity. These pets are also capable of regularly grooming themselves, much as cats do. As they grow, the way they smell becomes mostly dependent on factors such as gender or a dirty living enclosure. Any distinctive smell that is noticeable in the absence of the conditions as mentioned earlier should be sifted through to find out the presence of an undiagnosed health problem.

 

1. Gender

It is normal for female hamsters to develop some smell when they are in heat. The strong odor they emit is necessary to attract the male hamster’s attention towards mating. On the other hand, males typically release secretions through their scent glands to emit different odors and mark their territories.

 

2. Living Enclosure

Hamsters tend to rub themselves all over their cage and beddings, especially when they get excited. The dirt along with the waste products and secretions that the hamsters produce pile up; and the unpleasant smell within the cage is acquired by the hamsters who live in it. Moreover, keeping your hamsters in a dirty cage can cause stress, and the development of germs and bacteria can cause serious diseases.

 

3. Illness

Stress can cause a male hamster to produce excessive medical markings, and this creates an odor that is strong and acrid. A wet tail, which is the most common indicator of disease amongst hamsters, is usually accompanied by diarrhea, lack of appetite, and a foul-smelling secretion.

 

What Is a Scent Gland?

A hamster’s scent glands are usually found on their hips. It can appear a bit wet and greasy looking and sometimes pigmented with long hair growing over them.

These glands are also known as flank glands or hip spots. The scent glands are much more prominent in males than females. Although they also have it, it is little tricky to identify female scent glands.

Male hamsters often use the secretions from their scent glands to identify and mark their territories. These glands are barely noticeable during the first few weeks of life, but when the hamster reaches maturity, the scent glands become much more apparent. During that time, it also starts sweating a powerful odor, which can be off-putting to humans and that smell might also transfer to human hands and even clothes.

 

How to Clean Hamsters?

Hamsters are capable of grooming themselves, but you can also clean them up by bathing them in somewhat warm water. It is because the cold water may strip the hamster’s fur off. You can also use natural oils during the bath which can shield them from catching common hamster diseases such as wet-tail.

The only time when water bath can be acceptable is when it becomes necessary to avoid serious harm to the hamster such as toxic products or when harmful objects are attached to its fur that can only be removed by doing a water bath.

If it is possible to try other options and the hamster is not life-threateningly dirty, a better way to freshen up your hamster is through a sand bath. The hamster can roll around happily, and most of the dirt will fall off naturally.

In case you notice an unusually unpleasant smell coming from either your hamster or hamster’s cage, here are a few critical points and guidelines to help you handle the situation and put a stop to these bad smells.

 

How to Make Your Hamster Smell Better?

Consult a Vet and get the hamster checked regularly. Before attributing the smell to external factors, it is first useful to have the hamster checked by a veterinarian to evaluate your pet’s general well-being and find out the presence of any medical condition that can be causing the smell.

Make sure there is enough living enclosure maintenance. Once established that your hamster is healthy, you may want to check if there is an unpleasant odor coming from inside its existing enclosure.

It’s very likely that you’re not cleaning your pet’s cage as often as you should. Make sure to clean it up on a regular basis and remove all the uneaten food and fecal matter. You should also replace the beddings, and clean the bottom of the cage with soap and water at least once a week.

Provide good ventilation. Cages situated within well-ventilated living areas are less likely to smell bad as compared to those within an enclosed space that has minimal air flow.

 

Conclusion

Hamsters are typically not smelly animals. They are clean and are constantly grooming themselves. But just like humans or any other animals, they can smell bad if they are neglected or if their home is not kept clean.

In the wild, they can create burrows to use as a bathroom, but being domestic pets, they cannot do this in a cage. This responsibility, therefore falls on the humans, to clean their cage, and make sure that they get a healthy and happy environment.

 

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