IMMEDIATE THINGS TO DO WHEN PUPS ARE ABANDONED BY THEIR MOM

It is just a rare case for mommy hamsters not to take care of their young. Well, if it is their first time, most female hamsters are stressed out on what to do and this is the most sensitive phase of their motherhood. High chances of pup fatality happens when the mommy hammy does not want to feed her young or she would just eat them out of stress. The discussion on how to calm a mother hamster will be in a separate topic but we are going to check out the immediate things to do just in case pups are abandoned by their mom.

If the pups are already a week old, there is a higher rate of survival on their own. Not literally just leaving them on their own but you can take care of these cute little orphans by yourself. At this period, they have grown some teeth and started to nibble on food. Although they can start with softer food like boiled egg white, you can also give them pellet concentrates mixed with oatmeal in order to soften the pellets. Still provide them with milk. This you can administer by using a small syringe for them to feed.

A little younger than a week is quite critical for these cute furries. Although you can still try to hand-feed them yourself, sometimes, even the small animals' syringe is too big for them to suck milk from. And you also have to feed these babies every two hours around the clock apart from keeping them warm though these babies can start to keep themselves warm after day 3. Another option you can look for another mommy hamster who can take care of the orphans. You need to count on how many hamsters can she take care with her own young ones to make sure that they are all going to be taken cared of. Once you have established a surrogate mom then you can start transferring the pups.

First, take a scoop to carry the pups. Have this scoop be placed in the bedding used by the surrogate mom in order to take its scent. It is better you use a scoop than to hold the pups by your hand to minimize your scent getting to the pup.

Second, take the surrogate mom to leave her litter for the moment. Perhaps you can give it a treat far away from her pups. You have to add the orphans to her litter while she is away.

Third, scoop the orphans and place them inside the litter. Take them beneath the real pups of the surrogate mom. In this way, the babies would have to rub their scent to the orphans.

Fourth, bring back the mom as soon as you are done transferring the orphans. And make sure that she is well sustained with food and water this time as she is going to feed more babies now.