What should you do if you find that your hamster is playing dead? Here are some ways to handle it:
Don't panic and don't disturb it. When a hamster is playing dead, it is in a state of extreme nervousness and fear. If you overly interfere with it, it might become even more frightened and could even lead to a cardiac arrest.
Provide it with a quiet and warm environment. When a hamster is playing dead, its body temperature will drop. So, give it a comfortable temperature, avoiding it being too cold or too hot. Meanwhile, reduce the stimulation of noise and light to give it a quiet space to rest.
Wait for it to wake up naturally. The time that a hamster plays dead varies. Some might wake up in just a few minutes, while others might take several hours. It depends on its mental and physical conditions. All you need to do is wait patiently and don't force it to wake up. Let it return to normal naturally.
Give it some energy-supplementing food and water. After the hamster wakes up, it might feel hungry and thirsty. So, give it some energy-rich food, such as glucose, eggs, fruits, etc. Also, give it some clean water to help it replenish water and nutrients.