Hamsters have a smaller mouth and throat which could be prone to choking when they consume large chunks of food at once. This is why cutting food into small pieces before feeding them is recommended by nutrition experts and vets.

This article centers on “How to Tell if Your Hamster is Choking” by revealing the signs of the condition and the best forms of help available when it occurs. We also look at the side effects of choking and how quickly it can turn fatal, if possible. Let’s get started.

How To Tell If Your Hamster is Choking

Choking hamsters lower their chin down toward the throat and flatten their ears while showing significant amounts of drooling. Additional signs of choking in hamsters include wiping their mouth on surfaces such as cage wires and hideouts while their chins often become wet.

Witnessing a choking hamster can be terrifying especially as a first-timer and taking him to an emergency vet may be the logical solution. Unlike other animals, choking does not always block the little guy’s entire airways making breathing more than likely.

Most hamsters are able to sort themselves out within 30 minutes after suffering a choking episode while others may need an hour or two. If the hamster seems to be breathing fine, you can leave them alone and watch from afar for some time to see how things turn up.

However, if your hamster is unable to breathe after choking, we recommend booking an immediate vet appointment before it turns fatal. Full recovery is common in most cases so don’t panic too much and trust that the vet knows what to do.

Can Hamsters Choke on Food?

Hamsters sometimes choke on food like insects, pellets, and seeds although it is not a common occurrence. It typically happens when they swallow food particles larger than their throats can handle blocking parts of their airways and leading to discomfort.

Choking can be extremely stressful for the affected pet rodent and could last for a couple of minutes to a few hours. The associated distress may be heartbreaking for many owners but keeping a cool head and taking him to the vet is the best course of action.

If you live in a remote area with the closest vet several hours away, you may have to watch the suffering pet rodent helplessly and hope for the best because your options could be limited.

Can Hamsters Choke on Bedding?

Hamsters may choke on certain types of bedding after an accidental swallow. It is not uncommon for them to eat cage bedding when starving for long periods in the hope that it might be edible. Sometimes, bedding can accidentally enter their mouths during burrowing.

Accidental swallowing of cotton and other types of fluffy cage bedding poses the greatest risk of choking in hamsters. They may also choke on bits of wood shavings or sawdust if that is the bedding of choice in their cages.

How Can I Help a Choking Hamster Breathe?

If your hamster is struggling to breathe after choking on food or non-edible stuff, the situation could turn fatal if some form of manual intervention is not sought. Here are the top ways to provide relief from choking-induced breathing difficulties.

Turn Hamster Upside Down

Turning the hamster upside down while maintaining a strong grip is one of the best ways to stimulate breathing after a choking incident. This tip could easily cause dropping accidents so knowing how to keep a firm grip without letting go under any circumstances can be lifesaving.

Once the hammy is turned upside down, press his chest firmly but be mindful of how sensitive he is because excessive pressure may cause more harm than good. Continuous chest compression often forces out whatever is blocking the airways for instant relief.

Insert a Q-Tip

Inserting a q-tip into the hamster’s throat is another effective way to remove the stuck item for easy breathing. This method requires a bit of skill so do not try it unless you’re confident of pulling it off.

It involves inserting the cotton tip into the rodent’s throat and pulling out the stuck item. Be careful during the insertion process because any mishaps can cause significant pain. Hamsters are required to stay in one place during the entire procedure so you may have to get another member of the household to hold them while you focus on the insertion and removal.

Do not hesitate to stop immediately if you notice signs of bleeding because accidental rapturing of the throat or mouth area is possible.

Surgery

This can be a last resort when all attempts at removing the source of choking have proved futile. It typically involves the vet making an incision in the hammy’s throat to remove the stuck item for relief. Some vets may refuse surgery due to the degree of risk involved but others may go for it and speaking to them is the only to be sure.

Surgical removal may require the use of local anesthesia and the hammy typically has to stay in the hospital overnight for further observations after the procedure. The costs could run into a couple of hundred dollars depending on the vet’s skill level and other factors.

How Do You Prevent Choking in Hamsters?

Choking typically occurs when your cute buddy swallows large pieces of food such as vegetables, fruits, dried mealworms, dried crickets, and nuts. Always cut their food into small chunks to ease the swallowing process and make sure they have constant access to drinking water.

The chances of choking are greatly minimized when hamsters stay hydrated because their throat remains moist. This aids quick swallowing while minimizing the risks of choking.

Conclusion: How to Tell if Your Hamster is Choking

Signs of choking in hamsters include gagging action which involves lowering their heads towards their throat with a corresponding flattening of the ears. Excessive drooling is not uncommon while they may wipe their mouths on any surface in proximity.

In most cases, hamsters gain relief from choking over time without the need for human intervention but if breathing difficulties are being experienced you may have to try to push the stuck particle out of the rodent’s throat.

Your vet may help remove the stuck food item or particle from the throat via a q-tip or even surgery if need be.