Simon had a Bath!

[BrainGirl]

Originally Posted by Vonni911

There are quite a few hamster sites that advocate conventional hamster bathing in extreme circumstances.

The key word there I'm afraid is "extreme". It's the same way for chinchillas. They should not have wet baths either but I have actually been in a situation where a chinchilla needed to be fully cleaned. A rescue who had been kept in such filthy conditions that she had ammonia burns and there was still urine and filth stuck in her fur. In the end I opted for a foaming no-rinse cat shampoo and spot cleaned a little of her each day to try to avoid causing added stress.

[DrKMcK]

You know, the very worst YouTube video I ever saw was of someone putting a dwarf hamster in the bathroom sink to "swim". I was devastated. The poor hammy was clearly drowning and the guy kept putting it back in the water. I actually had nightmares and wouldn't look at anything on YouTube for at least 2 years. Hamsters are desert animals and aren't meant to be put in water. I have had to wipe a hamster off twice, but never actually put it in the water. There are such good books on hamsters with information on their history, health and nutrition. Quite a lot of the stuff on the internet is just plain wrong. This was one of those.

[AndTheSwiftCriedNews!]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

You know, the very worst YouTube video I ever saw was of someone putting a dwarf hamster in the bathroom sink to "swim". I was devastated. The poor hammy was clearly drowning and the guy kept putting it back in the water. I actually had nightmares and wouldn't look at anything on YouTube for at least 2 years. Hamsters are desert animals and aren't meant to be put in water. I have had to wipe a hamster off twice, but never actually put it in the water. There are such good books on hamsters with information on their history, health and nutrition. Quite a lot of the stuff on the internet is just plain wrong. This was one of those.

That... that is just horrible. =[

[Scampi16]

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

You know, the very worst YouTube video I ever saw was of someone putting a dwarf hamster in the bathroom sink to "swim". I was devastated. The poor hammy was clearly drowning and the guy kept putting it back in the water. I actually had nightmares and wouldn't look at anything on YouTube for at least 2 years. Hamsters are desert animals and aren't meant to be put in water. I have had to wipe a hamster off twice, but never actually put it in the water. There are such good books on hamsters with information on their history, health and nutrition. Quite a lot of the stuff on the internet is just plain wrong. This was one of those.

I think I know the one you mean it's the conditioning roborovskis video and it is horrible, it's sick!!!

[Axeria]

oh, I am sorry you put your hamster through that! you very easy could have just used a damp cloth on him and some patience... I understand you feel judged but honestly, you know you should not bathe a hamster in water so why even bother writing a post about it here when you even predicted the outcome? I dont mean to be harsh but this really was not good... sorry....

Your hamster probably pooed alot when in the bath and blew up the pouches? it is because they are TERRIFIED of water and that is their way of reacting in a emergency whitch being plumped into water is for a hamster. They use their pouches as lifevests! Also even if warm outside a wet hammie can get really sick from itty bitty drafts that we really dont notice. So please dont do that again, you know the bathing ^_^

Now I agree with the posts over me here that those cruel people on youtube who let their hamsters "swim" (I personal call it: experiance water torture NOT swiming) and laugh about how cute it is are just really sick individuals who never should have owned any animal

I am glad to hear that your hamster is OK tho ^_^

[Susie]

Well, you made a grand mistake and that being that.. nothing can change the fact it's happened just consider yourself very lucky that your Simon isn't ill. There's plenty of advice here of what to do if this occurs in the future. When my longhaired boy Saracen gets poop stuck in his fur i just cut it out.. or if it was in a un-cuttable place i'd get small animal wipes :P

[HollyHamster]

I think the OP isn't going to continue to respond to this thread anymore.