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Old 06-30-2017, 09:27 AM   #1
Lizwig
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Default How do you hold a hamster on their back?

I've currently adapted/rescued a female Syrian who I am naming Ellie, and I'm in the process of settling her into her new home and giving her the once over for health checks. Although I currently don't know how to hold a hamster carefully on their backs to see their undersides.

I've seen her underside from when she's been climbing the bars of her cage and noticed she has been sitting in her pee, and whilst she is a short-hair hamster the fur across her underside seems longer and is matting a bit and I just wanted to make sure to give her clean and check that she has no infections down there.

I would take her to the vet but I am currently away for the next week (Hamsters are being looked after by my mother whilst I'm away.) so I want to try and look at her sooner rather than later.

I've added a litter tray and a sand bath in the cage for her to clean and sit in and hopefully absorb some moisture down there. Overall I am asking if someone could instruct me or poke me in the direction of a suitable guide on how to hold them on their backs?

(p.s. she seems to be a bit of a nipper too.)
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Old 06-30-2017, 09:43 AM   #2
AprilPearl
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Default Re: How do you hold a hamster on their back?

Seeing as Ellie is currently settling in, I'd leave her alone for a few days before even attempting to handle her. After that, I would not try holding her upside down straight away as a hamster who is not used to this will be frightened and that could set back the taming process. First, you will need to win her trust. So, to start with, get her used to being stroked and held the correct way up! Depending on how tame she is already and how long it takes her to get used to you, this may take a while.

If you want to inspect her underside more carefully, for now I would just encourage her to get into a clear container and look from the bottom.

Don't worry too much about the matting for now. If she will let you, you can tease it out with a toothbrush or even clip any tangles off with a pair of nail scissors. But, hamsters do keep themselves remarkably clean and she is unlikely to have any infections. If she is behaving strangely or you see blood in her urine or she starts to smell funny, that might be the time to take a vet trip.

When you are more used to one another, the method for holding a hamster on its back us as follows: grasp the hamster around the middle from above with its head poking out in your thumb and forefinger. Wrap your fingers around their body firmly but not too tightly. Then, turn your hand over so that the hamster is facing tummy up with its back lying on your upturned palm.

The above method will take practise for you both to get used to. I wouldn't suggest attempting it right away, as I have said.
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Old 06-30-2017, 10:01 AM   #3
Burakki
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Default Re: How do you hold a hamster on their back?

A good advice on how to properly hold your ham upside down that I've heard is that you put your hand on their back as if they were a computer mouse - similar holding position. Then you simply turn your hand upside down with the ham in it. But as AP said, it's better to leave it until you're more used to each other.
I think Erin's animals YouTube channel has a video with health check tutorial. It includes a tutorial on how to hold a hammy on his back. I think it's titled "How to give your hamster a health check" or something like that.
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Old 06-30-2017, 10:04 AM   #4
AprilPearl
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Default Re: How do you hold a hamster on their back?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burakki View Post
A good advice on how to properly hold your ham upside down that I've heard is that you put your hand on their back as if they were a computer mouse - similar holding position.
Brilliant comparison! That's exactly right. Was struggling to explain it myself.
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Old 06-30-2017, 10:36 AM   #5
Lizwig
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Default Re: How do you hold a hamster on their back?

@Burakki @AprilPearl

Thank you guys. I'll go have a look at that video. I guess I can practise holding Donny upside down since he's tame with me. And it wouldn't harm giving him a health check too.
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