My hamster was stuck in the car for 1.5 days. Is it sick now?

Many of our exotic companion mammals, such as hamsters, will do well in the car if their environment is kept stable. Since you are taking her in her cage, that may help. Other things that you will want to do is remove the water bottle while you are actively driving, but if you stop to take a break (ex: for gas, for you to eat something, or to use the bathroom), make sure that you put the water bottle in to give Mamy an opportunity to drink. Ensure that she has food available at all times as well. I would also recommend removing her wheel while you are actively driving so that she doesn't hurt herself on it. One of the most important things for you to do in the car is to make sure it does not get too hot or too cold. I would recommend running the air conditioner in your car to get it to the temperature that your house would typically be, but make sure that the vents are not blowing directly on Mamy. With Mamy being a hamster, hopefully she will sleep the majority of your time on your drive (unless you plan on driving at night). If you notice that she is restless or seems stressed, then I would recommend evaluating the temperature first. This is often the most stressful part of traveling for these little guys. If you plan on staying in a hotel (which for that long of a drive it may be a good idea, just to give her a break), then you can have her cage set up as you normally would during that time. I hope that helps, and that your trip is a success!

She may be painful and dehydrated and undernourished. An immediate check up at your local vet is required to have a better clinical picture and treat appropriately. Pain relief meds and eventually antibiotics (if there is any sign of infection) are possibly required. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Unfortunately it sounds as if your hamster is very sick. The life span of a hamster is 1.5-2 years so Milla is considered an older hamster. If you are unable to take her to be examined by a veterinarian the best thing you can do for her at home is keep her warm and dry and encourage her to eat as much as possible, even if you are able to hand feed her. Also make sure she is still urinating and defecating as well. Best of luck. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!

While it's unlikely that your hamster is contemplating the meaning of life when she stares off to space, it is possible that she may be ruminating on something, dozing or even snacking on a piece of food in her cheek. However if she is showing any other signs of confusion, circling, disorientation, etc that she doesn't snap out of if you get her attention, it may signal a problem and should be checked out. Otherwise, keeping her entertained with some new toys, a treat or some attention may help.

No, I would not be overly worried. He may just be tired from stress. Just keep an eye on him and if he isn't better in 24 hours you should take him to a vet for an exam. He may be coming down with an illness; very common, especially if purchased at a pet store.

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear that Willow has lost some weight. You're absolutely right - a loss of 10 grams is significant; in fact, it's about 18% of her body weight. That would be like a person losing 15-25 pounds in 3 weeks. While the stress of being away from home could be the cause of the weight loss, I highly recommend that you bring her to an exotic vet to be checked out if she doesn't start putting that weight back on in the next week. A hamster's lifespan is 1-3 years, depending on the species, so if she's on the high end of that range, it's even more important that she sees a vet, especially if she doesn't appear to be eating or acting normally. There are certain parasites, organ diseases, and cancers that hamsters can acquire, and the only way to be sure that she's healthy is to see a vet. If you don't already have a regular vet, there is an exotic specialty practice near you. Here is their information: allCREATURES VETERINARY CLINIC 10305 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA. 94530 (510) 524-4551 I sure hope that little Willow gets better soon!

He will likely be fine. My only concern is that that stress him and he may develop an infection later. Watch him to make sure he is eating and acting normal. If not, I would have a vet take a look at him. You may have to have a health certificate to fly with him so be sure to contact the airlines to see what type of paperwork you need.