Different kinds of behaviors of their pets often make the owners anxious and concerned. They do not always understand how and why their pets are behaving in a particular way. You must be aware of the behaviors and their sources. As the pets are unable to communicate through language, it is vital for the owners to understand their behaviors and their reasons.
However, for small creatures like hamsters, it is more difficult and yet important to understand the reason for their behaviors. They often seem to shake, but do you know why?
What can be the reason for my hamster’s shaking?
Hamsters often shake due to physical stress. If it had a hard and rough day and it exercises too much then you may see it shaking. This is not a regular thing, as hamsters do not shake regularly due to physical exhaustion.
Usually, this physical stress occurs when their daily schedule gets changed. They can start acting hyperactively and that will cause the creature to shake after its energy level decreases.
Is it common for the hamsters to shake?
Hamsters should not shake or shiver regularly. This is not a normal thing for this little pet creature. Sometimes the owners are unable to understand the reason for their shaking and they just ignore it. But this should not be ignored. The hamsters may not be well and healthy and they have some underlying disease, which can be the cause of their untimely and frequent shaking.
Can the hamster be fearful when it shakes?
Fear and stress are some common reasons for the hamster’s shaking. These little creatures are quite nervous and they often get scared for small reasons. There are several reasons that can make them scared.
If you change the interior of its cage and put some new items inside it, it may trouble the hamster. The new item, be it a toy or even a new food bow, may cause tension in the hamster. Thus you can see it shaking when it comes near this new item.
If the room decoration of your house, when the hamster is kept, gets changed, then it may frighten the little thing. Even sudden changes in the room temperature, or the noise of guests, if you are having a house party, can scare this little thing. They do not like harsh sounds or light. You need to be cautious about it.
Sometimes when the hamster is adopted from the rescue center, it may show signs of fear. It will be seen shivering frequently. It can be fearful of the human around it. It can be due to the prior experience of the hamster that it faced in the earlier home. Thus you have to give it time and make it behave normally around you.
If you bring some new human home and introduce him or her to the hamster, then it may start getting shaky. Your intention may be good, but the little creature suddenly gets scared of the presence of some unknown person. This same thing can happen when you introduce your hamster to some other house pets like a cat, dog, or rabbit.
When the atmosphere is not safe enough for the hamster then it may start shaking. It may not be easy for you to understand as a human but the area should be enough dark, noisy free, and solitary to keep the hamster. If there comes too much sound and there is too much light then it will affect the hamster negatively and it may be seen shaking frequently.
How health can be the cause of the hamster’s shaking?
If the hamster is not getting well-fed then it will get weak. As hamsters are quite playful in nature they do not prefer to sit lazily in someplace. You can try to keep it in a well-secluded place but if you are not giving it a proper meal or if it is not having its meal inaccurate portion then it will become weak. It will show signs of weakness when it will try to jump and run like its normal habit.
Sometimes the hamsters also have problems with their limbs. If they get weak their limbs will not move as swiftly as they would have in normal times. Also if it is having some problem in its nervous system then it can be seen shaking. These situations need medication and you need to consult the vet immediately.
When it comes to diseases, there are different infections caused by bacteria that cause the nervous problem. You have to figure out if it is shivering back and forth. In this case, it may be having a stroke. This is a serious situation and needs medical attention.
Sometimes the pet hamster suffers from a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria present in the bedding material. Then the pet starts sneezing, wheezing, and shivering. The bacterial infection cannot be cured without proper medication.
When should you consult a vet for the hamster’s shaking?
When you have ruled out the problem of environment and feeding, then you can take the help of the vet regarding the frequent shaking of your hamster. The reasons that we have mentioned above cannot be the cause of the shaking of your hamster for long. It may not be long a process for the pet to recognize its family members, and other house pets or to get adjusted to the new environment. So when you find that the shaking is getting too often you need to take the pet to the vet.
How does hibernation effects the hamster’s shaking?
When the hamster starts to go into hibernation, it feels the change in the outside weather. Usually, hibernation is the phase when the hamster goes into a long sleep as it is their survival technique to pass through the harsh winter weather.
Thus, when the mercury drops below a certain degree you may see your hamster shiver. It can be a regular thing but you should not worry as the weather will affect the little creature and will make it shiver.
The cold temperature of the outside does not comfort the creature. Hamsters are much more sensitive in matters of weather and thus they become rather inactive in such seasons. Their body stops its general functioning and as a result, the pet goes into the hibernation process.
When the winter falls the hamster does not suddenly go into hibernation. It rather starts shaking which is actually a process of their getting warm. When the pet tries to keep it warm by shaking, it may be an indication for the owners to understand that it will soon go into hibernation.
Why my hamster is shaking when it comes near another hamster?
Some hamsters are more aggressive than others. So when they are kept in a cage, the aggressive ones may scare away the timid ones. When the docile hamsters come near the aggressive ones, they may start shivering or shaking. This is the outcome of their fear and this will be normalized if you keep the hamsters in different shelters.
Also if you find that one hamster is shaking when it comes near the other one, then keeping their cages in two different places is also necessary. That way you can get a docile outcome the fear and thus the shivering will also be decreased.
More:
