| Harmful Products |
| Fluffy Bedding: Fluffy bedding, or cotton wool-like bedding, can become wrapped around a hamster's limbs and can cut off circulation. When digested, it can block stomachs and will not dissolve due to the type of plastic they are made of. Be aware that this type of bedding is not safe despite the manufacturers attempts to claim that it is so. They are usually packaged in plastic bags and are sold in most petstores (unfortunately). You can do your part to stop the sale of this harmful product by talking to the owner of your local petstore and informing them that the product is a hazard to hamsters; they may not even be aware of the potential risk the product has, so you'll be doing them (and many hamsters) a favour. Please see the Equipment page for suitable bedding materials for hamsters. Hamster Ball (or Runabout): While manufacturers and even petstores insist that it is safe, injuries and deaths caused by this toy are very common. The hamster is placed and sealed into the ball and then is left to run around, moving the ball around the room. While it is safe in moderation and under careful supervision, the toy has many flaws: - airholes are small and sparse: the hamster gets overheated and has a shortage of air - shocks: as the hamster rolls around the room, it is inevitable that the ball will hit a hard object. The shock can be strong enough to bruise (not to mention scare) your hamster - the lid of the ball is not fool proof: hamsters can sometimes escape from the ball as repeated shocks can dislodge the lid Most injuries occur when the hamster is not watched: falling down stairs or off a table are common, and result in broken bones or death. Harmful medicines: Below is a list of harmful medicines that should never be given to hamsters. - Amoxycillin - Ampicillin - Carbenicillin - Cefoxitin - Cephalexin - Chloramphenicol - Clindamycin - Dihydrostreptomycin - Erythromycin - Gentamicin - Lincomycin - Penicillin - Streptomycin - Tetracyline - Vancomycin (www.petwebsite.com/danger.htm) Hamster Leashes: Hamster leashes are new on the pet supply market, but they definitely aren’t a worthy contribution. Hamsters aren’t made for leashes the way dogs are and suffer discomfort or pain while the leash is on. For one, the leashes aren’t made nearly big enough for Syrian hamsters and it’s a struggle to get them on in the first place. Once on, they squeeze the hamster’s neck, windpipe, and lungs. Unless the leash fits very loosely, it’s advisable not to use them at all. If you do choose to use a leash, be a follower rather than the leader, and go where your hamster wants to go, at its speed: do not yank on the leash or pull the hamster where you want it to go. Use the leash only when necessary and for short periods of time. |
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