Eating any part of hamster poop is not advisable as this may be risky as many parasites could be found in these feces. Some hamster parasites are so rare that they are still undiscovered, and very little is known about them. These organisms might invade your body, causing infections and diseases
This blog post will answer the question, “can you eat hamster poop?”
Is Hamster Poop Harmful to Humans?
- It can cause respiratory problems, eye infections, and other illnesses
- Hamster poop can be harmful to humans because it is a vector for the h7n3 bird flu virus
- Hamsters produce smelly, irritating dung that can transmit diseases to humans.
- Not only does this animal leave behind three types of bacteria that are harmful to humans, but they also secrete a type of vitamin b that, when ingested by people, causes pins and needles feeling in the extremities, diarrhea, anorexia (an unhealthy decrease in appetite), weight loss or gain and difficulty breathing.
- Skin problems.
- It contains bacteria that could lead to several other health issues, especially an irregular heartbeat in people with underlying heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias.
- When hamsters are infected with salmonella, they shed it in their droppings. They also pass the bacteria through their urine and produce them in their skin, fur, and saliva. Their cages become breeding grounds that easily transfer to humans, and with the smallest cut or scratch on your hand while cleaning, you could be exposed to salmonella.
Are Hamsters Supposed to Eat Their Poop?
Hamsters can eat their poop at all hours of the day. A scientific study found hamsters poop for about two to four hours each day and “usually leave the droppings undigested in the dung-heap” because they constantly eat their poop.
The food ingested from eating their poop is very important to a hamster’s well-being. So, if your hamster seems sick and walks funny, you should take him to see a vet immediately!
Here are some ways that you can help your hamster cope with eating his poop:
- Give him fresh hay or cat litter at least twice a day; this will help keep his digestive tract clean and prevent constipation.
- If your hamster is a dwarf species, try to pick up his droppings with an “ass-gag” hand (held out in front of you) instead of a glove (held out to the side, this will prevent your hamster from associating picking up his poops with negative stimuli.
- If your hamster is a Syrian, you should also try to get him to eat as many veggies as possible. The healthier your hamster is, the fewer chances he has of regurgitating his food and eating it again.
- You can also help by giving him more space or a bigger cage or aquarium so he won’t step in his poo.
Do Hamsters Poop Out of Their Mouth?
Hamsters poop out their mouth when they are not fully grown yet. Hamsters take quite a while to grow and develop, so they still have anal glands in the infant state, meaning they have to poop out their mouth.
Hamsters poop out of their mouth for two reasons. The first reason is that their body organs are not strong yet.
Hamsters have four stomachs, and they have to have time to develop before they can digest food properly; this can cause problems like diarrhea which means hamsters have to poop out their mouth while they are still little.
The second reason is that hamsters do not take in enough insulin; the food does not break down properly. Also, hamsters used to be desert animals in the wild and so, therefore, require a lot of water; this can cause hamsters to poop out their mouth because their body organs are not strong yet.
Why Do Hamsters Throw Their Poop?
Hamsters throw their feces because they’re doing their best to keep their habitat clean. It’s called coprophagy, the process of eating one’s feces as a natural source of valuable minerals and nutrients.
In hamsters’ case, they eat their feces so that it will provide them with a tasty treat that keeps them from getting bored and going without food.
Hamsters also throw their feces because they’re trying to show their territory. They’ll sniff other hamsters’ poop and then mark it with their piles. It’s a way of letting everyone know where they’ve been and where they can go.
And lastly, they’d like the poop because they’re trying to get rid of parasites in their intestines. The parasite will leave the hamster’s body when it’s expelled in the feces, so by eating it, the hamster is doing its part to keep herself and its colony as clean as possible.
To prevent your pet from throwing feces all over your home, try incorporating fresh fruits or vegetables into its diet.
What Diseases Are Humans Likely to Get After Eating Hamster Poop?
- Salmonellosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- E. coli infection
- Listeriosis
- Bacteriophage infection
- Gastroenteritis
- Influenza-like symptoms in humans and other mammals.
- Toxoplasmosis
- Listeriosis
- Shigellosis
- Trichomoniasis
- Toxoplasmosis, cystitis, urethritis, and endocarditis.
FAQs
What happens if you touch hamster poop?
You will get toxoplasmosis, which is a parasite that can cause flu-like symptoms in extreme cases and chest pain.
You will get tetanus which is caused by bacteria in animal feces and can lead to convulsions, lockjaw, and muscle spasms.
You will get E. coli which can make you very sick to your stomach.
You will get salmonella which causes diarrhea in extreme cases and fever.
You may also get legionella which causes legionellosis or legionnaires disease resulting in respiratory problems and lung infection.
You may also get hepatitis SV or hepatitis b. These viruses can cause symptoms including coughing and vomiting, low fever, jaundice that makes your skin yellow, swollen abdomen, and dark urine.
You may also get cytomegalovirus, which can cause infection of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
You may also get rabies which could cause you to have seizures or become paralyzed and stop breathing.
You may also get tuberculosis which is caused by bacteria in animal feces.
Can hamsters give you worms?
Yes, hamsters can give you a type of worm called hookworms. They’re called that because they “hook around” the intestine and cause an infection.
Two types of hookworms are both blood-sucking parasites. People call them “Ancylostomiases” and “Nicator.” Ancylostomiases are the larger of the two types and are typically found in dogs and cats.
Nicator is the smaller type found in humans and other mammals like hamsters. They’re both in a group of roundworms called threadworms.
According to the CDC, hookworm larvae are white and passed through contaminated soil, food, or water. The parasite then goes through many stages before infecting people or animals. After going through all of those stages, the worms are infective.
Hookworms burrow into your skin when you walk barefoot on contaminated soil or sand. You can get infected by drinking contaminated water or swimming in a contaminated lake.
Hookworms travel to the lungs, then into the heart, carrying them through the bloodstream. The larvae then migrate to your body’s capillaries, which travel to your intestines.
People who are infected with hookworms may not have any symptoms for years. Sometimes people get an itchy rash on the skin around the feet and ankles.
Small blood vessels break, causing itching that makes people scratch their skin; this shows up as tiny red bumps or blisters filled with blood called “microscopic hemorrhages.” At other times, people may feel tired and weak because they don’t have enough oxygen.
Does hamster poop smell?
Hamster poop smells like your standard poop, it is fine, and if it smells foul, it is because the hamster has not been eating right, so you should watch them more closely.
Hamster poop does have a smell to it because of all the protein they eat, but they are not hard to clean up after
Sometimes, when hamsters stop eating enough, their poop will start smelling bad. If you notice it smells very bad or is green, that might indicate something is wrong!
When hamsters poop, they go several times a day, and their poop tends to be in full color, pretty much the same as when they are fed and happy.
The only way you could get a strong odor from your hamster is if they stopped eating for too long and haven’t eaten in a while, but it is still not surprising if your hamster has a bad odor!
Final Thoughts
The hamster is a kind of rodent known for eating its poop, However, it does not have the same effects on humans, so you would likely get sick from the hamster poop.
Hamster poop is harmful to humans; many diseases can be easily transmitted by eating small amounts of the hamster’s feces. If someone were to eat it, they would most likely experience diarrhea from the unprocessed content.
Since the food is still inedible after being absorbed by the intestines, you produce a large amount of gas; this would most certainly be a very painful experience.
Hopefully, this article was helpful: consider the tips for handling hamster poop.
