The incisors, or front teeth, of your hamster, are the easiest to identify when they become overgrown. 1 They will usually grow so long that they begin to curve and stick out between the lips. Once they get too long they can become stuck on things, or worse yet,
grow into the gums or roof of your hamster's mouth
.
What do you do if your hamster's teeth are too long?
If the teeth are overgrown, take the hamster to the vet asap. You might not be able to tell when your hamster's teeth are too long, so the best idea is to
let your hamster deal with his dental health himself
. A wooden chew toy and plenty of hard, dry food, will usually be all he needs to achieve it.
How long is too long hamster teeth?
It's important to leave the teeth
at least a 1⁄2 inch long
. For a guide, this is often where the teeth turn opaque. When cutting, be careful that the rat or hamster's tongue or cheek is not in between the tooth and the clippers. Be sure that your pet is steady and relaxed.
What should my hamsters teeth look like?
When they're healthy, your hamster's teeth should be
brownish-white in color
. Unlike most animals, hamsters have incisor teeth that continue to grow throughout his life. As a result, rodents like hamsters continually need to grind their teeth down to keep them from getting dangerously large.
Why are hamster teeth so long?
Since their incisors grow throughout life, hamsters commonly
develop overgrown incisors
that may get so long that they interfere with closing the mouth to eat.
Do hamster bites hurt?
It's rare for a hamster to actually be aggressive, though, and they typically only bite when they get scared. Those tiny teeth may not do as much damage as those of other animals, but
a bite will hurt and should be discouraged
. Fortunately, you can gradually train your hamster to accept being handled and stop biting.
How do I get my hamsters teeth down?
To lessen the chance of developing overgrown incisors, pet hamsters should be given
small, soft wood blocks or other appropriate wooden chew toys made for small rodents on which they can chew and wear down their teeth
.
Can I cut my hamsters teeth?
A
pair of suture scissors
or small nail clippers work to clip the overgrown incisors. Care should be taken not to clip the teeth too short which will cause pain and possible trauma to the teeth. Many exotic pet hospitals will perform these tooth trims inexpensively with a technician or a doctor.
How do hamsters keep their teeth short?
Hamster teeth are not like human teeth. Their teeth keep growing, similar to the way your fingernails grow. In the wild, hamsters grind down teeth through regular eating behavior and chewing on sticks or pine cones.
Provide wooden blocks or wooden chew sticks
in order to help your hamster keep his teeth ground down.
Why do hamsters teeth never stop growing?
All rodents have a pair of upper and a pair of lower teeth called incisors. Unlike our teeth, these incisors don't have roots, and they never stop growing! To keep these teeth from growing into their brains,
rodents grind their teeth against each other
. This friction is similar to using a grindstone to sharpen a knife.
Do hamsters like to be held?
They do not like to be held
. They are more prone to bite if they are startled or woken from a deep sleep, or if your hands smell like another animal or food. Handle your hamster gently. … Do not allow other animals like cats, dogs, and ferrets to be around when you are handling your hamster.
How long do hamsters live for?
On average, hamsters live
between two and two and half years
. Some breeds may live shorter or longer than this. … There is no surefire way to prolong a hamster's lifespan. However, you can take certain measures to make sure you're giving your hamster as high quality a life possible.
Which type of hamster is the friendliest?
- Also known as teddy bear or golden hamsters, the most popular breed for children is the Syrian hamster. …
- Roborovski is the smallest hamster breed, growing to a tiny one to two inch size. …
- Chinese hamsters are good natured towards people, and rarely bite.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a hamster bite?
Any person with a bite from an animal that might have rabies should see a doctor. An animal bite that breaks the skin has a risk of tetanus.
If it has been more than 5 years since the last shot, a tetanus booster is needed
. A person with an animal bite that breaks the skin will most likely need to see a doctor.
What to do if your hamster keeps biting you?
- Don't shake your hamster to get it to release its grip on you. …
- Don't shout at your hamster. …
- Clean the wound with warm water, and an anti-bacterial solution, make sure the wound is dry, then use a loose piece of bandage to dress it.
