You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

During the winter months hamsters will naturally go into hibernation but owners are often concerned because they look as if they are dead.

It can be quite difficult to tell if a hamster is dead, or if it is just hibernating. In the summer months you can tell by feeling a heart beat (very rapid in hamsters !), by watching the hamster for chest movements during breathing and, of course, the hamster will move if stimulated.

When environmental temperatures and daylight hours decrease as winter approaches hamsters will naturally go into a state of hibernation during which all activity stops and their metabolic rate slows. During hibernation the normal signs of life may be very slow and extremely difficult to see, and the hamster may not respond when touched. Also, the hamster will feel cold. If the hamster has "gone to sleep" in it's nest it is likely to be hibernating - but you can not be sure. On the other hand if you find a hamster lying on the floor of its home, or somewhere else in its environment - such as under an exercise wheel -  it is less likely to be hibernating. Putting a hamster in a warm place in the house (NOT in an oven or microwave !!) may encourage him/her to wake up - but it is best to wait until Spring to see if he/she wakes up naturally.

Alternatively the hamster can be examined by a veterinarian to confirm whether any signs of life are detectable.

Updated October 2013