Packages of chew sticks generally cost $1-$10 USD, depending on what brand, quantity, and store you buy them from. You can also give your hamster popsicle sticks, which are available at most craft and big box stores. [3] X Research source Chew sticks are often made out of balsa wood or another light-weight wood. Make sure chews are constantly available or your hamster could face dental problems in the future, such as overgrown teeth.
Wood from an apple tree is best but cherry, peach, or pear wood works as well.
Consider dog biscuits a special treat that will also keep your pet healthy if eaten in moderation.
Make sure that every chew is non-toxic. Look for a label that states that items are non-toxic and appropriate for pets. Also, be sure of what you are giving your hamster before you give it to them. For example, don’t give your hamster a random piece of wood you find if you are not sure what type of wood it is. A great chew for hamsters are empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls. This will give the hamster something to chew, and the hamster will even turn it into bedding.
Some hamsters may have a misaligned jaw, which can it make impossible for them to grind down their teeth. If this is a problem with your hamster, your vet can help prevent overgrown teeth.
If the top or bottom incisors are overgrown, they will not meet and grind against each other. If the teeth still meet but are so long that your hamster cannot fit a piece of food between them when it has its jaw wide open, then its teeth are too long. You should also look for broken or misshapen incisors. Broken or otherwise misshapen teeth should be looked at by a veterinarian.
Hamsters do tend to hide stashes of food in their cages, so your hamster may be hiding food even though it is not eating any. When you clean out your hamster’s cage weekly, be on the lookout for stashes of food.
Try to weigh your hamster regularly so that you know what it weighs when it is healthy. This will make identifying weight loss much easier. To weigh your hamster, place a treat on a digital scale and then zero out the weight. Once the scale reads zero, allow the hamster to climb up on the scale for the treat and read the weight.
Excess saliva can often be spotted by the staining it creates around the hamster’s mouth and on its chin.
If your are hesitant at all to do this at home, then have your veterinarian do it. Poorly trimmed teeth can cause further health problems instead of eliminating them. Overgrown back teeth need to be clipped with special tools, and this procedure should be done while the hamster is sedated in a veterinary office. Your vet will likely use an ultrasonic dental machine to safely grind down the hamster’s teeth.
Make sure to go to a veterinarian that has experience working with rodents. These vets are typically labeled as exotic pet veterinarians.
In the case of an infection caused by overgrown teeth, your veterinarian will likely prescribe your hamster a round of antibiotics. Give this medication to your pet as directed.
