Guidelines to keeping your hamster clean

As a responsible pet parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your little critter happy and healthy, and looking (and smelling!) good. But when it comes to your hamster's hygiene, there's no need to break out the shampoo and head to the bathroom sink.

Bathing a hamster can be stressfull

Your pet does a great job of keeping himself clean by grooming his coat from paw to tail several times a day—at least! Regular bathing is not recommended, as it can be highly stressful for your pet. While you may enjoy a dip in the pool or a warm bath, water is anything but relaxing for your rodent. Remember, hamsters are desert animals, so getting soaked to the skin would be a big shock to your little guy's system. He could easily get a chill. Bathing also strips away the natural oils that keep your hammy's coat in good condition.

If you and your hamster are particularly fastidious, you may want to give him a dish of chinchilla sand, readily available from pet supply stores, in which to roll. Not only will this remove excess oils or dirt from his coat, your pet will probably enjoy a “sandbathing” break every now and then.

But what if my hamster smells?

Good question! And believe it or not, it's one that many a pet parent has asked. If you are not exactly pleased with your furry friend's odor, it's time to do a little investigating. Have you been keeping up with your housecleaning duties? Your hamster may be able to keep himself clean, but he can't exactly change the bedding in his cage. To be a good hamster housekeeper, every day you'll need to remove soiled bedding, droppings and any uneaten food that your pet may have stored. Once weekly, you'll need to remove and replace the bedding and scrub the bottom of the cage with hot, soapy water.

Taking care of a hamster includes cage and hamster cleaning

If you've kept up with your cage-cleaning chores and your hamster still smells, he may be ill. Check for other signs of illness, including dull-looking eyes, matted fur, lethargy, runny nose and caked feces around the anus and tail. If you think that your hamster is sick, it's important that he see a veterinarian immediately.

What if he gets stuck in something sticky, smell or just plain scary?

Accidents can happen, so let's say your hammy somehow gets paint, varnish or some other toxic substance on his fur. The easiest, and most effective, option is to cut it out with small nail scissors—carefully and gently, please! Depending on the substance, spot cleaning can also work just fine. Use a soapy washcloth with lukewarm water and gently wipe away the dirt or other substance. You can also use special wet wipes, available at pet supply stores, to safely clean and moisturize your little critter's coat.

If you've tried these methods and still can't remove the offending substance from your pet's coat, it's time to call your veterinarian.