The main causes of hamster deaths include improper diet, unsuitable temperature, environmental problems, diseases, and accidents.
Improper Diet: Special attention should be paid to a hamster's diet. Too much fruit, vegetables or snacks can lead to stomach discomfort and even cause diseases like wet tail. Besides, giving hamsters tap water or unclean water may also result in diarrhea or parasite infections. Hamsters should mainly eat specialized hamster food and drink clean water.
Unsuitable Temperature: Hamsters are very sensitive to temperature. The appropriate temperature range is between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius. Either too high or too low a temperature can cause hamsters to suffer from heatstroke or freeze to death. In summer, measures should be taken to prevent heatstroke, and in winter, they should be kept warm to avoid catching a cold or going into pseudo-hibernation.
Environmental Problems: Hamsters are solitary animals with a strong sense of territory. Therefore, each hamster should be kept in a separate cage to avoid fighting and biting caused by putting them together in one cage. Also, hamsters should not be directly exposed to the sun or rain, as these extreme environmental conditions may lead to their deaths.
Diseases and Accidents: Hamsters may die due to natural old age, heart diseases, liver and kidney diseases, etc. Excessive stress and being frightened can also lead to their deaths. Accidents like being hit by a vehicle or falling to death are also possible causes of death.
In order to take better care of hamsters, it is recommended to provide a suitable diet and environment, regularly check their health conditions, and avoid unnecessary stress and accident situations.