Is my Syrian Hamster Pregnant?

[laurensibs]

Hi Everyone,

I got my Syrian hamster from pets at home a week ago and over the last few days she has been hoarding her food (seriously massive mountain of food) and making nests. She’s quite pear shaped but I’ve never had a hamster before so I have no idea! She’s still a baby but I’m not sure how many weeks/months old she is.

I’ve attached a photo of her

Thanks so much in advance!

[souffle]

It's quite hard to tell from the pic but you need to have her on pregnancy watch for at least another 10 days. If she is showing bumps over her hips though then babies would likely arrive withing the next 5 days really.
Sometimes they do put on weight as they get lots of food when they are in their new homes. Can you get a pic looking down on her>
Take out any small enclosed huts or beds from the cage and any tubes need removed so they don't have babies in those. Give her loads of tissue bedding and leave her to make a nest maybe in one corner or give her a box with the bottom cut out. Geed some extras but not too much as you don't want too big pups in a young mum. If she does have babies then she will likely be in the nest all the time for the first 5 days or so and you need to leave her very quiet and undisturbed. Keep us posted on how she does.
If she has pups then advise the store and they normally make provisions for the pups ie extra cages and maybe food and stuff.

[laurensibs]

Thank you for this. Here is another photo attached, what do you think?

[souffle]

She does have quite prominent nipple lines there which is another sign. She may well be pregnant. Some young mums make very good parents but others cannot cope at all so make sure she is kept very quiet and calm with minimal interference if she has babies. She would look to be due in about 2-3 days.

[Vectis Hamstery]

Hamsters need anaesthetic for an ultrasound and many vets don't have the equipment to accurately focus at such a close depth (even the cat ones don't give great pictures). Syrian hamster gestation is only 16 days so it's safer to wait and see than have the risk of an anaesthetic just to see if a hamster is pregnant.

[laurensibs]

Thanks for everyone’s replies! I’ve attached a picture that I’ve just taken. She seems to be getting bigger everyday, and still building her nest. What do you all think?

Sorry the pic is small, I have to crop and change the file size just so the pic is small enough to be loaded into this forum

[souffle]

She does look pregnant to me. Try and not let her hang off the bars or at least make it a very sort larding with loads of bedding as she could hurt herself if she falls. I'd leave her in the cage now and try and not handle her. Remove the wheel (we would do this at 12 days pregnant) Give lots of ripped tissue and no small houses as I already mentioned. Pups grow quickly. Move her to a quiet spot and give her plenty food to store. Good luck

[laurensibs]

Thank you, I will do all of this! Do you know how many days she has left?

[souffle]

I'd say they only start to show about 12 days so maybe 4 days or less. Pregnancy lasts only 16 days in syrian hamsters

[mzwiwy]

This is so exciting. I'm on the edge of my seat. LOL