In summer, temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius. How do you keep your hamster cool during the heatwave? How do you keep your pet’s cage cool? How to protect a hamster from overheating and dehydration?
Summer is a difficult time for many animals. The heat can be overwhelming and even fatal for some species. Some pets like hamsters need special care to make it through the summer months, as they are more sensitive to higher temperatures than others.
Hamsters are crepuscular that live in burrows underground, so they naturally stay out of direct sunlight and tend not to fare well in warm environments with high humidity because their bodies cannot regulate their internal temperature very efficiently.
In this article, I will share 14 easy tips on how to keep your little friend happy and healthy during hot weather.
What Is The Ideal Temperature For A Pet Hamster?
We all know that hamsters love their warm and cosy homes. But what’s the best temperature for a hamster to live in? While there is no one definitive answer, it seems that the general consensus is somewhere between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 23 degrees Celsius). This range not only keeps them from getting too hot or cold, but also helps maintain a healthy gut flora.
Hamsters are very sensitive to drastic changes in temperature, which can result in health problems such as heat stroke or hypothermia. To keep your pet happy and healthy, make sure you find the right balance of warmth and coolness.
Why Is It Important To Keep Hamsters Cool During Summer?
It is important to keep hamsters cool during the summer, because heatstroke is a serious concern for such small animals. They can suffer from hyperthermia and dehydration if their body temperature rises too high.
Hyperthermia occurs when the internal body temperature exceeds 40°C (104°F). It usually happens after a long exposure to hot temperatures. A moderate level of overheating may occur in very young or elderly pets that have trouble regulating their body temperature properly due to health issues like heart disease, respiratory problems, liver failure etc.
If this over-heating progresses rapidly, it can lead to organ damage which can be fatal unless treated immediately by cooling them down.
Signs Of Dehydration In Hamsters
Dehydration is a serious concern for pets, and can lead to death if not treated. How do you know if your hamster is dehydrated? Check for these symptoms
- Dry nose,
- Dry gums ,
- Lethargy (tiredness),
- Inactivity,
- Sunken eyes,
- Skin that doesn’t bounce back easily when pinched into a fold between fingers.
If your hamster displays any one (or more!) of these symptoms, you must then hydrate them by offering small amounts of water at least three times per day until their drinking returns to normal levels. If you see no improvement in their condition after 24 hours, contact a vet as soon as possible to get them treated for dehydration!
14 Tips To Keep Your Hamster Cool During Summer
There are some simple ways to keep hamsters cool during the summer season. Here we go:
Protect The Cage From Direct Sunlight:
Keep your hamster’s cage out of direct sunlight, as their sensitive little bodies can get overheated easily. In summer, try to put the cage in a shaded area or near an air conditioning vent if possible.
Keep Your Hamster Cage Well Ventilated:
Make sure your hamster’s cage has enough ventilation. If the air becomes too humid, it will affect their health and well-being .
Hamsters can suffer from heatstroke when they get overheated in hot or stuffy environments with low humidity, like a poorly ventilated cage that doesn’t have proper airflow. This is because hamsters can’t pant or sweat to cool themselves off, so they rely on the environment around them.
Maintain Room Temperature:
Make sure the room temperature is always comfortable for your hamster. Adjust the thermostat to an appropriate level.If the air conditioner isn’t on, then open windows and doors during cooler hours (e.g., at night) to let fresh air circulate.
You can also opt for oscillating fans that will help cool down the surrounding temperature around a hamster cage. However, never place an oscillating fan directly on a cage; this could stress those little guys out!
Avoid Glass Cages In The Summer:
You should also avoid using a glass tank for your hamster. Because glass is a poor insulator, it will cause the cage to heat up quickly in hot temperatures .
A wire mesh or aquarium tank with ventilation on all sides are good alternatives for keeping them cool during summer.
Provide Access To 24×7 Fresh Water:
Make sure your hamster always has access to fresh, cold, ,clean water. If you live in an area where temperatures hit the 40°C mark, it’s a good idea to place a few ice cubes in their water bottle or bowl once or twice per day. Remember not to overdo with the ice cubes because too much ice water is not recommended.
It will help keep the temperature down and also encourage them to drink more! How awesome is that?
Give Them Cool Treats :
You can offer your hamster pieces of cold food items for snacking. Offer your hamster cool and healthy treats during the summer. Cucumber chunks, celery, apples, and frozen peas all make great cooling snacks for them to munch on when they’re feeling hot.
You can also make a mealtime run for ice cubes by freezing their daily food ration into “ice lollies” and then offering those as treats or snacks during the summer months. Just be careful not to overfeed, and make sure they thaw out before giving them to your hamster.
Mist Their Surroundings with Cool Water:
Use cool water to mist their living quarters daily, but avoid spraying directly on them.The best way is to place ice cubes in front of an oscillating fan or air conditioner, which encourages evaporation and chills the surrounding area.
Provide A Shady Spot Or Hideout:
A shaded area or hideout in their cage can make a big difference to how cool your hamster feels. Provide an igloo, a small cardboard box with holes for ventilation, or any other shady spot inside the cage which could serve as shelter from direct sunlight .
Your pets will appreciate having somewhere to hide and get relief from the heat of direct sunlight.
Replace Plastic Items And Accessories :
Remove any plastic items and accessories from your hamster’s cage during summer. Plastic can hold heat and make the surrounding air much hotter than it would otherwise be .
If you have any plastic items for your hamster’s cage, replace them with non-toxic ceramic, wood or stone accessories instead. How about getting your hamster a new wooden house?
Place Pre Cooled Accessories Into Their Cage:
You can also place pre-cooled accessories from your freezer into their cage when you need to. Place accessories such as ceramic hideouts, plain ceramic tiles, ceramic mugs , ceramic plates, ceramic bowls, etc in your freezer for a few hours. You can then use these accessories in your hamster cage. Your hamsters will simply love how cool and refreshing these accessories are, and they will thank you for it!
Pro Tip:You might need to replace these pre cooled accessories two or three times a day. It’s a good idea to stock up and have a back up set of accessories in the freezer. This will ensure that you can keep rotating these accessories and always maintain a steady supply of cool and relaxing accessories for your pet hamster.
Set Up A Sand Bath:
Sand baths are a great way to help your hamster stay cool and comfortable in summer. Sand is, comparatively, a much cooler substrate, and it can act as a great relaxing area for your hamster during the harsh summer heat.
Providing them with a sand bath will give them an opportunity to dust off, which they do by digging in the dry powdery material and rolling around .
This activity helps spread their scent (pheromones) through the cage; it also absorbs oils and will help to keep them cool.
If your hamster has a sand bath, make sure to place it in a shaded area of the cage. Your pet will love digging around for some cool relief during the summer .
Pro Tip: You can place their sandbox in the freezer for a few hours and then place them back in the cage. This will provide an additional cooling and refreshing experience for your hamsters.
Click Here To Know More About How To Give Your Hamster A Sand Bath!
Use Aspen Shavings Bedding Instead Of Paper Based Bedding:
In general, avoid any substrate that isn’t aspen-based during the summer months.
You should never use paper based bedding for your hamster during the summer. Aspen-based bedding is a poor insulator and doesn’t hold heat well . Paper bedding, on the other hand, overheats quickly.
Pro Tip : If you can’t use aspen bedding for the entire cage, as a temporary solution to heat wave conditions, you can simply place a few inches of aspen bedding on top of their regular paper bedding . This will allow them access to a fresh and cool area at all times.
Place Your Hamster Cage On The Ground Floor Of Your Home:
If you have a house with more than one floor, it is best to keep the cage on the lowest floor possible during the summer. Since hot air rises, you’ll be better off keeping them on a lower level of your house.
This way, they will always be closer to the cooler ground and air, which can help cool them down .
Make Use Of Re-freezable Ice Packs:
You can also place a re-freezable ice pack in the cage during summer. It’s great for keeping them cool and comfortable when temperatures get high. You can even stuff it into their bedding or hideout to help keep them cooler .
Just pop these ice packs into their cage and they will be able to get some nice cooling relief whenever they need it .
Wrapping Up
There are many ways to keep your hamster cool in the summer. The best way is to regulate their temperature and make sure they have enough water available. You can also provide them with a shady area, or even an ice pack if necessary.
Make sure that you don’t overheat your hamster by providing too much light exposure during the day-this will only increase their body temperature. However, it’s important to not let them get cold either; so be mindful of where you place your animal cage when placing it near windows or air conditioning units, for example.
As long as these simple guidelines are followed, there should be no need to worry about how hot things become outside!Your hamster will thank you for it!
XoXo
Genie
