The differences between dead and hibernating hamsters can be subtle. Even those who have raised several hamsters may easily mistake hibernation for death sometimes.
Coming home to a dead hamster can be shocking for many of us. This is especially true when your pet hammy looked to be in great spirits with no signs of illness the last time you saw him. Fear and grief can set in leading to confusion as thoughts of what could have gone wrong begin to consume your mind.
But what if your hamster is not dead but only hibernating? What if you’ve not seen the last of the little guy and can look forward to future bonding sessions when he wakes up from the current state of torpor?
Is my hamster dead or hibernating? A hibernating hamster has a slow heartbeat of 1 per 2-3 minutes, a warm cheek pouch, and may twitch when its whiskers are stroked. A dead hamster has no heartbeat, lies in the fetal position with a stiff body, and stays unresponsive to touch.
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Is My Hamster Dead or Hibernating? Get Your Facts Right!
Knowing the differences between a dead and hibernating hamster can save everyone from unnecessary heartache. These pocket rodents quickly become a tangible part of our lives so losing them suddenly can be heartbreaking.
The pain of losing a beloved hamster can even trigger depression in many folks. Besides, mistaking a hibernating hamster for the dead can have dire consequences for the pocket-sized pet.
Once you’re sure your hammy has passed away, burial or cremation is the next logical step. Can you imagine how much torture your hamster will suffer when he is buried or cremated alive?
There have been several instances of hamster owners burying their pets alive after mistakenly taking them for dead. You wouldn’t want to be a member of the regretful bunch, would you? This is why knowing the differences between a dead and hibernating hamster is so critical.
Why is My Hamster Dead But Not Stiff?
If your hamster is “dead” but not stiff, there’s a good chance that he’s only hibernating and hasn’t crossed onto the other side just yet. Looking for additional signs of life can save you from grieving for a hammy that is still very much alive and only hibernating to conserve food and energy.
In some situations, your hamster could have died a couple of minutes earlier and the corpse may not have stiffened just yet.
Signs that Your Hamster is Hibernating
Hamsters hibernate in the wild during low-temperature periods to conserve energy when food becomes hard to find. Domesticated hamsters may also be forced into hibernation depending on the circumstances in their environment.
Here are common signs that your hamster is hibernating and not dead.
Slow Breaths
Breathing rates can be slow in hibernating hamsters but it still happens anyway. It can be the most definitive confirmation that your hamster is only hibernating. But, finding signs of breathing successfully will require some patience as most hibernating hamsters may only draw 1 breath every 2-3 minutes.
A closer look at the hamster’s nostrils can help you identify possible breathing signs however slow they may be. If you’re unsure that your hamster is drawing any breaths, a third party such as a family member can help.
Signs of breathing in a hibernating hamster should be harder to miss when two people are actively monitoring it.
Your Hamster Has a Pulse
Detecting signs of a pulse can be further proof that your hamster is in a state of torpor and not dead. Unfortunately, this may be hard to identify as a hamster’s heartbeat is almost always at that point.
A vet should be able to detect a pulse easily but booking an appointment just to confirm that your hamster is hibernating may not always be feasible.
A more viable option is to test for a pulse yourself. Put your forefinger and thumb on either side of the hamster’s chest, immediately above the elbows, and apply a bit of pressure. Wait and observe patiently for a minute or two and you should have a pulse.
Watch for Rare Signs of Movement in Your Hamster
Hibernating hamsters lie still and move very little. Any efforts to check for signs of movement can be futile when these cute furballs are in that deep state of inactivity.
However, there are instances when hamsters are in a minor sleepy phase instead of full-blown hibernation. Signs of movement such as nodding of the head or trembling during such phases can be common.
Look for Hamster Reflex Actions
Reflex actions are not impossible during even the deepest forms of hibernation. These movements can be a sign that your hamster is still alive. Many hamsters still twitch when their whiskers are petted even in deep hibernating mode.
Not sure whether your hamster is alive but in a state of torpor or dead? Try this trick. You’ll be amazed at the results.
Cheek Pouch Stays Warm
Hamsters experience extremely low body temperatures when in hibernation. This is one of the signs that can confuse many hamster parents. Checking the little guy’s whole body for warmth can lead to a false alarm.
Instead, feel your hamster’s cheek pouch to see if it is relatively warmer than other parts of the body. That is often a clue to put those burial plans on hold because the hamster is still alive and kicking.
Signs That Your Hamster is Dead
Unfortunately, there are times when your fears are spot on and your hamster has sadly passed on. However, you have to be completely sure that is the case before further plans are made to dispose of him.
Here are a few signs that your hamster is dead.
No Breathing
While evidence of breathing is not easy to detect in a hibernating hamster, it is still possible. Lots of patience is required to identify the often subtle signs of breathing in hammies when they’re in a state of torpor.
However, dead hamsters can show no breathing clues no matter how hard you look. You can identify this by paying attention to their nostrils to look out for the faintest signs of breathing.
If your hamster is simply not breathing after checking for evidence, it is safe to assume that he has passed on.
No Heartbeat
The average hamster has a heart rate of 400 beats per minute in a normal active state. But this can tumble to a single beat every 2-3 minutes when he falls into a deliberate state of torpor to conserve food and energy resources.
As long as you pay attention, this singular heartbeat every few minutes can be hard to miss. But, if your hamster has no heartbeat and exhibits no signs of breathing, he’s dead and it is time to put burial or cremation plans in place.
Lies in the Fetal Position
The majority of dead hammies are found lying in the fetal position. Noticing your hamster’s motionless body on one of its sides can be a clue that he’s dead.
While the fetal position may also be a favorite among living hamsters, a dead hammy found in this spot often displays additional distinctive signs to that effect.
For instance, the corpse usually seems more curled up with a less protruding tail. This can be confirmation of the bad news especially when you notice them on your lifeless hamster from dusk to dawn when these rodents are typically awake and more active.
Stiff Body
Seeing your hamster’s body in a stiff state may be confirmation that terrible news is on the horizon. More alarm bells should ring if the muscles seem harder than usual, a sign that your hamster has entered rigor mortis.
Rigor mortis occurs 2-6 hours after death and begins with stiffening of your hamster’s eyelids, neck, and jaw. Muscles in other parts of the body start to stiffen up as well over time.
This means a hamster that may have died less than 2 hours before discovering his corpse may not exhibit any signs of rigor mortis. One of the clearest indications of rigor mortis is that your hamster’s body responds universally even if you touch a single area.
For instance, the whole body reacts even when you touch a small part such as the tail.
Unresponsive
As stated previously, even a hibernating hamster may show some reflexes when touched. Zero responsiveness from your touch is usually proof of death.
The situation is even more likely if the hamster’s body displays all or a few of the signs discussed above such as stiffness, lack of breathing, and the absence of a heartbeat.
Hibernation can mimic death in many ways so always err on the side of caution before concluding that your hamster is dead.
Why do Hamsters Hibernate?
Hamsters in the wild hibernate as a means of survival during winter when temperatures usually tumble to insane levels. Food naturally becomes scarce during the extreme cold, forcing wild hamsters to hibernate to conserve energy.
Hamsters breathe less when hibernating while their heartbeat also declines significantly. The hamster’s body temperature may also plummet considerably to ensure they can survive on minimal food.
When Does a Hamster Hibernate?
Domesticated hamsters may hibernate when temperatures hit extreme lows. They do not have a specific hibernation season as many folks believe.
Immediately temperatures plummet beyond a certain threshold, the hamster’s body prepares to hibernate as a response to the changes in the environment.
Their bodies automatically fall into a state of torpor due to the belief of limited food supply and the resultant need to conserve energy.
Do All Hamsters Hibernate?
Only specific breeds of hamsters hibernate. Sure, it is more common among those in the wild but many hamster parents have reported hibernation in domesticated breeds as well.
Seeing your hamster hibernate for the first time can be confusing for many of us. The misconception of death can be high especially when he lies there seemingly lifeless while his food and toys remain untouched.
What Do You Do When Your Hamster is Hibernating?
The temptation to wake up a hibernating hamster forcefully can be high. However, that almost never works and such actions may amount to animal cruelty.
Increasing your cage’s room temperature can get your hamster to come out of hibernation naturally. One of the best methods is to put the hamster on a warm heating pad of 90F. Leaving the hamster on the pad for up to an hour should do the trick.
Wrapping your hamster in a towel with a hot water bottle can be another effective method. However, protect the hamster from direct contact with the hot water bottle to prevent burn injuries. The additional warmth should help bring the hamster from the torpor state.
Heat lamps can also provide warmth for the hamster’s cage and help speed up how long it takes to get out of hibernation.
Do All Hamsters Hibernate?
Hibernation is more common in Syrian hamsters thanks to their relatively thinner furs which can make survival in the wild a real struggle. Since they originate from desert regions, Syrians learn to hibernate during extreme cold to survive.
Domesticated Syrians follow the same lead when exposed to extremely low temperatures. If you’re raising other hamster breeds such as Chinese or Russians, hibernation shouldn’t be a concern. These breeds do not hibernate even in the wild thanks to their thick protective furs.
How Long Do Hamsters Hibernate?
Hamsters typically hibernate for 2-3 days in the wild. In extremely low temperatures, hibernation can be prolonged when necessary due to a lack of food, water, and other necessities. However, domesticated hamsters usually hibernate for no more than 3 days at a time.
Can Hamsters Die from Hibernation?
Hibernation can kill a hamster when it goes on for too long. When the hamster’s body is left in a state of torpor for extended periods, fatal hypothermia may occur. Fatal hypothermia is caused by an inability to produce enough heat to replace what is lost.
Conclusion
Hopefully, your question “is my hamster hibernating or dead” is now answered and you now know the difference between a hibernating and a dead hamster. While it is easy to confuse both states, there are some nuances that can help you get it right.
A hibernating hamster breathes slowly, has a faint heartbeat, and responds to stimuli with some reflex movements. However, dead hamsters are unresponsive with no heartbeat and do not breathe. The corpse is also likely to be stiff and in the fetal position.
Knowing the differences between death and hibernation can prevent you from burying your beloved hamster alive.