My Dog Ate a Hamster Will He Get Sick?

Many of us keep more than one type of pet at home. In fact, people do choose to have dogs, fish, hamsters, and other types of pets all at the same time!

But what happens if the hamster escapes and the dog finds it?

Dogs & Hamsters

When bringing many types of animals into your home as pets, it’s important to remember that some of these pets are prey animals, and others are predators (they eat prey animals). This is a very important consideration because animals will act out their true natures.

For example, dogs and cats are predatory animals. This means they will go after anything such as fish, rodents (including hamsters), and more. On the other hand, pets such as hamsters are prey animals. If they escape their cage, a prey animal will wonder around the house and possibly become the target of a sharp-eyed dog or cat.

You need to understand this is a possibility and seriously consider whether or not it’s safe to have these pets together. If so, then as a pet parent, it’s important to ensure the hamster is completely safe from a dog or cat you may also have.

What If a Dog Eats a Hamster?

Again, this is a possibility when you have prey and predator pets in one home. If your hamster escapes, there’s a high probability that almost any dog would eat it. This is because in the wild, canines do eat rodents. Dogs, while domesticated, have still kept many of their wild traits. Such as eating a rodent.

Is there anything to worry about if your dog eats a hamster? In most cases, no. The worst that could happen is that your canine fur baby will have an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea. This may last a couple of days or until the hamster passes through your dog’s system.

It’s important to monitor your dog’s health for a few days afterwards, too, to make sure he’s not become infected with salmonella, which is a bacterium commonly carried by hamsters. If you notice any worrying symptoms, then it’s time to the call the vet and take your dog for a checkup.

Keep Hamsters Safe

One of the best ways to keep this from happening is to ensure your hamster’s cage is well out of your dog’s reach. Also, when cleaning the hamster’s cage or playing with the hamster, make sure this is done in a room with the door shut.

That way, if the hamster does escape, he’s safe in one room until you can catch him. Just make sure your dog can’t enter the room until the hamster’s been found and placed back in his cage!