If you’re a pet owner with a dog and a hamster, you might wonder if letting them be around each other is safe. One common concern is whether or not your dog will try to eat your hamster.
In this article, we’ll dive into the topic of ‘will my dog eat my hamster,’ the risks, and what you can do to prevent your dog from eating your hamster. Also, talk about what happens if a dog eats a hamster. Let’s first understand, Will My Dog Eat My Hamster?
Will My Dog Eat My Hamster?
According to a Wag Walking, dogs are instinctive to hunting and can easily injure or kill a small animal like a hamster. So, Yes, Your dog can eat your hamster if left with supervision.
You should never roam your hamster freely if your dog is one of the high prey drive breeds. However, you can always train your dog not to hurt any small pet or animal.
My friend’s dog once managed to get into her hamster’s cage and ended up injuring her hamster. Immediately, she rushed the hamster to the vet, but unfortunately, it was too late to save it.
This is just one example of how dangerous it can be for dogs and hamsters to coexist without proper precautions. If you are a pet owner with a dog and a hamster, you should take proper precautions. After all, dogs are natural predators, and hamsters are small and vulnerable prey animals.
Dog Breeds with High Prey Drive
| Breed | Prey Drive Level |
|---|---|
| Greyhound | High |
| Jack Russell Terrier | High |
| Siberian Husky | High |
| Border Collie | Moderate to High |
| Australian Cattle Dog | Moderate to High |
5 Signs that Your Dog May be Trying to Hunt Your Hamster
- Showing excessive interest in the hamster
- Sniffing or pawing at the cage
- Attempting to dig or scratch at the cage
- Stalking behavior around the hamster’s cage
- Barking or growling at the cage
Can Dogs and Hamsters Live Together?
Yes, dogs and hamsters can technically live together, but it is generally not recommended. As I told you, dogs tend to have the instinct to hunt and prey on smaller animals, like hamsters. Plus, your dog is so large and stronger than hamsters that they can easily injure or kill them even if they are not trying to hunt them.
Related Article: Can Dogs Eat Hamster Food?
How to Keep Your Hamster Safe Around Your Dog
If you want to keep your dog and hamster in your home, in fact, in the same room, you must take appropriate steps to ensure your hamster’s safety.
- Firstly, you need to get a strong and sturdy cage made from good quality material to last a dog’s playful nature and bites.
- After that, you need to decorate it with the accessories your hamster needs and keep the cage in a secure location that your dog cannot access but can only see. It will help your dog get familiar with the new pet.
- You can consider getting your dog near the cage under proper supervision only. You should always leave your dog and hamster supervised together, even if your dog seems well-behaved around small animals. If your dog shows aggressive behavior, it’s time that you consider a different approach.
- You must train your dog not to go near the hamster’s cage and to obey the “leave it” command. Even after proper training, your dog shows signs of instinct to hunt; I will advise you to keep both pets separately.
- Consider using a baby gate or other barrier to protect your dog from the hamster’s cage. This becomes more important if you have any dog breed with a high prey drive. You should know that few dogs can ever get along with small animals due to their primary instinct to hunt and kill prey.
What Happens if a Dog Eats a Hamster?
Choking & Blockages
Dogs tend to be very curious and have a habit of chewing. But, when it comes to food, some dogs may swallow their whole food within a few minutes due to hunger / over excitement. Therefore if your dog swallows a hamster whole, it can get lodged in its throat or digestive tract, causing deadly choking or blockages.
Or on the other hand, your dog may accidentally swallow non-food items like toys, obstacles, or decorations of your hamster’s cage while attempting to hunt it.
Few Symptoms Of Choking And Blockages In Dogs:
- Coughing
- Gagging
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea,
- Lack Of Appetite.
Digestive Issues
Hamsters have fine fur and small bones that can get stuck in a dog’s digestive system. It can also cause inflammation, irritation, and digestive issues such as diarrhea and constipation.
A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that foreign gastrointestinal bodies, such as bones and fur, commonly cause gastrointestinal distress in dogs.
Some common Symptoms of digestive issues that your dog is likely to exhibit include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite. If your dog is showing any of these symptoms after eating a hamster, I recommend contacting your veterinarian immediately.
Toxicity & Virus
I hope you are aware of the condition at the breeding house. If your hamster was bought from a local pet store or breeding facility, it could have become infected with LCMV after being in contact with wild rodents. If your dog ingests such a hamster, it can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, & seizures.
Behavioral Issues
Undoubtedly, if your dog eats a Hamster successfully, it will have a huge psychological impact on it. Who knows, it will trigger a predatory Instinct in your dog and cause them to seek out more small animals to prey on.
This can become extremely dangerous if your dog lives with other small pets or comes into contact with wildlife.
Fun Fact: Do you know some people also develop a behavioral issue known as pica, a disorder characterized by the persistent craving and consumption of non-food?
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Emotional Distress
Last but not least, if you are a responsible fat owner and you used to look after your furry friends as family members, it can be a real heartbreak for you. If your dog were to eat your pet hamster, it could cause significant emotional distress for you and your family.
I understand that losing a beloved pet, even a small one, can be heartbreaking and take time to recover from. Therefore, if you feel bad for your small furry friends, you can consider donating food & treats to wild hamsters & hamsters that live in the adoption center.
- Interesting Reads
- How Do Vegans Feed Their Dogs?
Recommended Precautions for Keeping Dogs and Hamsters Together
| Provide your dog with plenty of exercises and mental stimulation | A well-exercised and mentally stimulated dog is less likely to engage in predatory behavior. |
| Keep the hamster’s cage high off the ground. | Placing your small pet’s cage on a high surface can prevent the dog from reaching it. Consider doing this for your hamster’s cage. |
| Keep your hamster’s cage in a secure location. | Place your hamster’s cage in a room or area that your dog cannot access. |
| Never leave a dog and hamster unsupervised together. | It’s crucial to closely monitor your pets when they are in the same room. |
| Consider keeping your dog and hamster in separate rooms. | If you’re concerned about your hamster’s safety, consider keeping your pets in separate rooms. |
| Use a baby gate or other barrier. | Placing a barrier between the dog and the hamster’s living spaces can prevent your dog from accessing the cage. |
| Train your dog to obey the “leave it” command. | Teaching your dog to ignore small animals on command is a must |
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Conclusion
After reading this article, I hope you understand that it’s not recommended, especially since dogs are generally unsafe eating hamsters. I hope that next time, you will not ask, ‘will my dog eat my Hamster.’ Rather, you will ask how to keep both of them happy and safe :). You must follow proper precautions because your dog can injure your hamster in a few seconds while you are gone.
It would be best to leave your pets in the same room with supervision. If you have any other concerns, never mind consult a veterinarian, or you can drop a comment below and ask me.
You must pay attention to both your pet’s needs and fulfill their requirements to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving lifelong.
If you like this article, then consider sharing it. Your share will help many people be aware that dogs can hunt and eat their small pets if they don’t pay attention to them.
Who knows, your one share may save many pet lives. PleasePlease, check our other guys on hamster food reviews and care. See you in the next post, till then, take care & goodbye.
