How to Bathe Hamsters

Image via Wikipedia

First off, Hamsters don’t need much in a way of a bath, but if you must bathe them then this is how.

Bathing hamsters and other small animals are not hard at all. I have two Chinese Dwarf Hamsters. They are easy to bathe and easy to handle. If you have one of these hamsters then this is going to help a lot.

Note: most animals don’t like water

Chinese Hamsters are easy to bathe because they don’t scream. Some hamsters scream when scared. The Russian or white Russian Hamster is known to scream. I suggest that if you’re going to bathe them use caution.

To bathe hamster that have never been bathed before:

1. Grab a small bowl or a cup, some q-tips, a bath towel
2. Place the towel down where you’re going to sit. Open it up.
3. Fill the small bowl or cup with Luke warm water. (Don’t use cold or hot) and find a body wash that is very light. Only use a ½ tea spoon in the water.
4. Get you little one and keep them calm.
5. Take a q-tip and dip it into the water and use it on the hamster very gently. 

They may try to chew the q-tip or get loose from your hand. You might go thought at least 5 q-tips.

Step six: After they are clean, place them in the towel and a take a part of the towel and place it around them. Keep them warm. If you leave them alone inside the towel they will dry themselves. Use your hand to dry them quicker.  Make sure that they are 100% dry before you put them back in their cage. They can get cold easy. The last part of their body to dry is their but or tail end.  Never bathe them more than once a month. Hamster can get dry skin. Never dry your hamster with a hair blow dryer that just scares them more and it can give them very dry skin.

A better way to bathe your hamster:

1. Get a deep bowl, a towel and a light soap
2. Fill you bowl ½ full with Luke warm soap water use only a tea spoon of soap.
3. Pull out your towel
4. Place hamster in the bowl slowly let you hand under them.

They are going to want to hang on to you, that is natural.  If you let them go they are going to start to swim don’t let their head go under the water and don’t keep them in too long. Keep them no more than two minutes.

Step Five: take them out and place them in towel and dry them off. Don’t do a ½ job. Dry them completely and Keep them warm. Keep them calm at all times.

If you have a screaming hamster don’t use this method. Never use cold water.