How to Feed a Hamster With a Syringe
Sometimes small pets, including hamsters, will become too ill to eat on their own and need to be fed from a syringe. A vet may prescribe special medicated food for a hamster, or you may be feeding a hamster a puree of fruits and vegetables, both of which will require using a syringe. Feeding a hamster this way is moderately easy but can be stressful for the hamster.
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Instructions
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Load the syringe with the food, and only feed a few milliliters at a time. Depending on the type of food being fed to the hamster, you may need to prepare the food in advance. For example, veterinary diets may be powdered and mixed with water as per the directions. Non-medicated foods might be moistened with water to make them thin enough to be sucked up into the syringe easily.
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Pick your hamster up and place it gently on a firm surface. With your thumb and two forefingers, gently grasp the hamster by the scruff of its neck so it opens its mouth. Then, turn your hamster over so it's on its back and supported by the rest of your hand.
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Place the syringe into the hamster's mouth and push the plunger down. Push the plunger down as fast as possible so the food goes down the hamster's throat. The faster the hamster is fed, the less likely it will squirm and try to get away. Repeat until the food is finished.
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Tips & Warnings
If your hamster is a baby, try putting putting a few drops of food from the syringe onto its nose. It will lick the food off, which is another way to get food into its stomach.
Getting nutrients into your hamster is important, but stressing it out by syringe-feeding can make its illness worse. Consult a veterinarian if your hamster is sick.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
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Comments
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if you push the plunger down as fast as possible you are likely to choke the hamster, feeding a hamster by syringe is a very very slow process and you want to only be feeding about 0.1 - 0.2ml at a time, as they have very tiny stomachs and especially when poorly this can make them worse. (Fed hamsters by syringe for years in various cases).
