If you happen to be a proud owner of a hamster, there is a chance that you will either have already encountered this kind of situation or you will inevitably have this scenario play out.
No matter how careful you are with your pet hamster, there is a very good chance that sooner or later they are going to fall off of something like your hand or shoulder and make a hard landing on the floor.
Will A Hamster Be Okay If It Falls?
The answer will vary greatly on a lot of different variables. If your hamster happens to fall only a few inches it is very unlikely that there will be any injuries of any kind. However, if your hamster happens to fall a foot or more, that is where you will need to be more worried about potential injuries. Depending on the height from which your hamster fell, the greater the chance that your hamster will be injured by the fall.
The Surface On Which Your Hamster Falls
Aside from height, another important thing to consider is what surface your hamster happens to land on. If it falls a few feet and hits a hard floor then there is a good chance that your hamster is going to get hurt.
However, if that same fall happens to occur and the hamster lands on a softer surface, like a thick carpet, then it is much less likely that your hamster will get hurt.
In the latter scenario, it is likely that your hamster will just get up and move on with its day like nothing ever happened.
Signs You Should Look For If Your Hamster Falls Or Drops
If your hamster happens to take an unfortunate fall off of your shoulder or the counter, the next thing you may be wondering is what comes next. The first step is to observe where your hamster landed.
If you see blood and the hamster isn’t moving, then it is highly possible that your hamster did not survive the fall. At that point, all you can do is clean up the mess.
Though hamsters are known for being fairly hardy creatures, so there is a good chance that your hamster will be unharmed from the fall. However, it is highly recommended that you observe your hamster for at least a day to try and determine if it has sustained any kind of injuries from the fall.
During that 24-hour period, look for anything that seems unusual with your hamster.
Examples of things to look for in your hamster include:
- Your hamster not moving as well as it used to
- Not moving at all
- Unusual behavior
- Loss of appetite
- Signs of swelling
- Reacting with hostility when picked up
- Frequent crying/squeaking
If you see any of the above symptoms, then you should call your vet and get an appointment right away. If your hamster has been injured, then it is critical that they get care as soon as possible.
Case By Case Scenario
If two hamsters fall from the same height and land on the same surface, they aren’t necessarily going to have the same outcome. The same fall may kill one hamster while the other one will easily walk off and act like nothing ever happened.
If they happen to hit their head on a solid surface then there is a good chance that your hamster will sustain an injury or die from the damage.
However, there is less risk of injury if your hamster happens to land on its feet. There are other factors to consider as well, like age.
So in short, the chance of your hamster getting injured depends on:
- How your hamster lands
- How old is your hamster
- How much your hamster weighs
What You Should Do If Your Hamster Falls or Drops
For one reason or another, a hamster taking a fall off of some kind of platform or object is nearly unavoidable. If you are lucky, your hamster will never fall from a potentially lethal height.
In this kind of situation, it is important to remember that accidents happen and you will never be able to keep your hamster from accidentally falling on some sort of surface.
So make sure not to be too hard on yourself if an accident happens. But instead, make sure that you keep an eye on your little hamster for the next 24 hours.
If your hamster did happen to get injured from the fall, it is important that they get treatment sooner rather than later. Depending on the fall, it is possible that your hamster will be perfectly fine from the fall.
But even if your hamster seems okay, it is important to keep an eye on your fuzzy little friend and make sure that they are fine.
Any injuries from the fall may take up to a day to become apparent, especially if it is an internal injury. Vigilance is key in this kind of scenario.
Final Thoughts
So can a hamster be okay if it falls? Depending on the height of the fall and the surface of the landing hamster will either survive or not. But you need to observe them within 24 hours after the fall.
If you observe any of the above symptoms as discussed you contact your Vet immediately for a thorough examination
This way you should be careful when handling your hamster. For children it is advisable you make them sit on the floor when they handle your hamster. If they should hold your hamster standing there is a high probability they will drop your hamster.