Hamsters and Dogs. What Do They Have in Common?

Even though the big difference dogs have from hamsters these two popular pets still have some common characteristics which make them similar! Both dogs and hamsters have long hair coats. One may find different long haired dogs and also long haired hamsters which are called “Teddy Bear Hamsters”. Both long haired dogs and hamsters need grooming.

Grooming a long coated dog:

Lift the outer hair and start by brushing the undercoat on the back legs with a body brush. Brush the top coat down with a bristle brush and then comb the coat from the roots to the tips of the hair. Brush the undercoat on the front legs with a body brush. Brush the top coat down with a bristle brush and then comb the coat from the roots to the tips of the hair. Supporting the dog’s head to keep it out of the way, brush the neck and chest. Use the bristle brush, gently brush along the dog’s stomach without tickling it. Using a body brush, groom the undercoat across the shoulders and along the back. Gently comb the hair around the ears and face. Gently comb the tail, taking care not to tug at any tangles. Wipe away any staining and loose hair using a damp cotton wool / absorbent cotton pad for each eye.

Grooming a long haired hamster:

You may groom a long haired hamster especially when bedding gets stuck in her fur. You may buy a brush for hamsters to groom it or else you can use a soft bristled toothbrush. Hamsters will also enjoy a sand bath which will also help keep their coat clean. Chinchilla sand is best used for this, but you must make sure it is sand and not dust as this is too fine for hamsters. Place a small amount in a dish and place it in the hamster's cage, the hamster will slowly walk up to and will probably start to dig in it at first. They will then usually start to roll around in it on their back. Both dogs and hamsters need exercise.

Exercise can be described as the key to a dog’s and a hamster's healthy appetite, as it burns off much of the energy supplied by food. It also helps to maintain its interest in life, a dog and a hamster which are always confined with no freedom become fat and poorly conditioned. Play is essential for exercise. There are many special dog and hamster toys available and plenty more that can be homemade. A ball is a traditional favorite to a dog. Make sure that the ball is too big to be swallowed and cause choking. Frisbees are also popular and dogs have proved to be immensely skillful in twisting and jumping up to catch them! Hamsters enjoy hamster balls, wheels, tunnels, tubes and ramps.

Homeopathy treatment is both used on dogs and hamsters. It is a treatment of disease with a substance that has the power to produce, in a healthy body, signs and symptons similar to those displayed by the patient. Homeopathy treatment addresses the whole organism, rather than simply treating only the specific ailment or disease. It is a very gentle form of treatment to which both dogs and hamsters often respond positively. Herbalism is also used on these two types of pets. Dogs and hamsters have always sought out specific grasses when they feel ‘off colour’ and herbalism could be seen as merely an extension of this. The ability of herbal remedies to be used in a wide range of conditions has contributed to its recent increase in popularity.