When a hamster suffers from heatstroke, you should immediately move it to a cool and well-ventilated place and take measures for physical cooling.
First Aid Measures
Physical Cooling: Move the hamster to a cool and well-ventilated place, such as the bedroom floor or a ceramic nest. You can place ice cubes about 15 - 20 centimeters away from the hamster, or put the hamster in an air-conditioned room with a temperature of 23 - 25 degrees Celsius.
Replenish Water: Feed it electrolyte water or glucose water. If you don't have these, you can use boiled and cooled water. Be careful not to force-feed it. Wait until the hamster recovers a little in the cool place and then let it drink on its own.
Use Ice Cubes: You can wet the hamster's body with ice water, especially in places where heat dissipates like its paws. But be careful not to let the ice cubes directly touch the hamster, as a large temperature difference may cause its death.
Provide Oxygen: For hamsters with severe heatstroke, you can give it an appropriate amount of oxygen. But note that you don't need to perform artificial respiration.
Follow-up Care
Rest: After suffering from heatstroke, the hamster needs to rest quietly. Avoid paying too much attention to it and causing it anxiety. Hamsters are animals that are prone to die from stress, so it's important to keep quiet during this period.
Keep the Diet Unchanged: During the period of heatstroke, the hamster's body functions are relatively weak, so it's not recommended to change the diet structure randomly. Just continue to feed it with the previous food and in the previous amounts.
Observe the Recovery: If the hamster resumes its previous food and water intake, has a good mental state and dry fur, it means that it has fully recovered from the heatstroke.
Preventive Measures
Avoid High-temperature Environments: Pay special attention to the possibility of heatstroke for hamsters when the temperature rises in summer. Avoid placing them in high-temperature environments.
Provide Sufficient Water: Make sure that hamsters always have enough clean water to drink.