When we get a pet, it can be a gratifying experience with them providing us hours of enjoyment every day. Certain types of pets can also allow our children to learn about nurturing and caring for others and teach them a new level of responsibility. One such pet perfect for this task is the humble hamster, which requires very little extra care.
As with all pets, there are certain health risks to be wary of, and some of these can impact your household, such as the dreaded flea. If you or your child own a hamster or are thinking of getting one, you may be wondering, can hamsters catch fleas? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
While it’s not a common occurrence, if your hamster catches fleas, it can be a real struggle to deal with and can be very unpleasant for the hamster. Several things can be a source of fleas for hamsters:
It’s so important to be wary of the things that can cause your hamster to catch fleas, and it’s especially important to check their bedding for eggs and live fleas. The chances you'll introduce your hamster to other animals is probably low but be wary of transferring fleas from an animal that has them to one that doesn’t!
The easiest way to tell if your hamster has fleas is by looking to see if you can spot them. These parasites aren’t hard to see, especially if your hamster has lighter-coloured fur. To search for them, part your hamster’s fur with two fingers or aflea comb and search at the roots of the hair and along their skin. You should keep an eye out for the following signs too:
Once you’ve started to suspect that your hamster has fleas, it’s important to act quickly to reduce the harm they can cause your pet and reduce the risk of them multiplying, as they can do this very quickly. Here are the important steps you need to take to handle this swiftly and effectively:
While fleas aren’t always avoidable, you can take steps to significantly reduce the risk of your hamster catching fleas.
The most important thing you can do to reduce the chances of your hamster catching fleas is to keep their cage as clean as possible. Change their bedding regularly and keep them away from any other animals or sources of fleas. Don’t forget to check them regularly for any signs of fleas, just in case.
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The short answer here is that you should try to avoid doing so for too long. Fleas can transfer onto your skin and clothes and aren’t pleasant. They can spread quickly, temporarily laying eggs and settling into your furnishings, ready to hitch a ride on other household members, including pets. Only handle them during treatment and consider wearing gloves when doing so.
Hamster fleas most certainly can bite humans and other animals, and these bites can be pretty nasty. Excessive bites can be painful and irritating and sometimes lead to infection. It’s important not to panic if you do get bitten by a flea, as while it will hurt if you’re using treatments for yourself, your pets,and your home, they won’t last long enough to continue biting and causing a problem.
Mites are another parasitic creature that can plague your pets if you’re not careful. Hamsters, in particular, can host several different types of mites, including rat, ear, and nose mites, to name a few. But what’s the difference?
Fleas, as described above, will cause pain, irritation, redness, swelling and sometimes infection if left untreated. The biggest issue is that they can spread elsewhere, laying eggs and causing an infestation that is far harder to handle.
These can cause similar irritation and discomfort in your hamster, but luckily, mites cannot spread and cause problems for humans. However, you’ll need to get these dealt with all the same to reduce their impact on the life of your pet hamster.
So, to conclude, can hamsters catch fleas? Yes! Along with keeping fleas away from your hamster, you’ll want to find ways in which you can keep them as happy and healthy as possible.
Give them as large a cage as possible, feed them a proper diet packed with the correct nutrition and healthy treats and supplements, provide them with enrichment in their cages such as tunnels and wheels, and spend plenty of time bonding with them too.
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