Risk of Dying from Heat due to High Temperatures
Hamsters do indeed face the risk of dying from heat in summer. As warm - blooded animals, hamsters need to maintain their body temperature within a stable range, and a high - temperature environment poses a severe challenge to their thermoregulatory mechanisms. When the environmental temperature exceeds the range that hamsters can tolerate, they may exhibit symptoms of heatstroke, such as rapid breathing, listlessness, and weakness in their limbs. In severe cases, it can even lead to death.
Hamsters' Sensitivity and Adaptability to High Temperatures
Hamsters are native to arid and desert regions. However, these areas have a large temperature difference between day and night. Hamsters usually rely on living in burrows to avoid high temperatures. In a domestic environment, hamsters are typically placed in cages and lack sufficient means to actively regulate their body temperature, especially in the high - temperature environment of summer. Research shows that the most suitable living temperature for hamsters is between 18°C and 26°C. When the environmental temperature exceeds 28°C, they may show symptoms of heat stress, and when it is above 35°C, their life safety will be seriously threatened.
Measures to Prevent Hamsters from Heatstroke
- Environmental Adjustment: Place the hamster cage in a cool place with good ventilation, away from direct sunlight. You can choose a cool and ventilated corner while keeping the air in the room circulating.
- Physical Cooling: Place heat - conducting items such as marble, pebbles, or aluminum plates inside the hamster cage. You can also use a frozen water bottle for cooling. Fill a water bottle with water, freeze it in the refrigerator, then wrap it in a towel or put it in a sock and place it next to the hamster cage.
- Dietary Adjustment: Provide cooling and heat - relieving foods such as cucumbers, the green part of the watermelon rind, and mung bean sprouts. At the same time, ensure that hamsters have an adequate supply of clean drinking water.
- Auxiliary Supplies: Use items like cooling mats, straw mats, small fans, and small ice pads to help hamsters cool down.
By taking these measures, the risk of hamsters dying from high temperatures in summer can be effectively reduced, ensuring that they can safely get through the hot summer.