Hamsters are adorable furry companions and may require as much attention as cats and dogs. Like other pets, hamsters need their basic needs met—like getting enough food or water; and like humans, hamsters need to stay hydrated, too. But if you’re not at home 24 hours a day, you may wonder how long you can leave your hamster without water, especially when your hamster’s water runs out while you’re away.
A hamster should go no longer than three or four days without water. Ideally, it should get fresh water every day. Always check how much the water bottle in your hamster’s cage will hold. Hamsters should drink around 10 mL (0.34 oz) of water daily.
If you plan on leaving town for a few days, be sure to fill your hamster’s water bottle all the way up so that you aren’t risking dehydrating your hamster. Just because a hamster can typically go three to four days without water, that doesn’t mean it should. Read on as I discuss further water and hydration for hamsters.
How Many Days Can Your Hamster Go Without Water?
You might find yourself worried about leaving your hamster while going on vacation to any city in the United States of America. It’s easier to take dogs and cats on a flight than it would be rodent-like, and while dogs love hiking and camping, your hamster would probably rather stay home.
Not to mention, paying for a pet sitter makes more sense when there’s a litter box to clean or a dog to walk, but hiring a sitter for a hamster can be expensive.
So if you’re leaving for a few days, what’ll happen to your hamster? If your hamster finishes all its water, will it die?
Your hamster can go without water for three to four days only. You should give your hamster 10 mL (0.34 oz) of water daily. Some hamsters may drink more or drink less. Even so, ideally, they should never go without fresh water.
Again, this is a general rule for hamsters. Some hamsters might drink more, and some hamsters might drink less. However, you should be cautious if you’re worried about your little critter.
If you aren’t going on vacation and are more worried that you haven’t seen your hamster drinking anything, rest assured that it may just be drinking when you aren’t looking. You can gently pinch your hamster skin to see if it’s dehydrated.
You’ll know your hamster needs more water if its skin continues sticking up after you pinch it, kind of like a tent. If you’re worried about the hydration of your hamster, you can always go check in with a vet. Sometimes, refusing water can be a sign of an illness lingering.
Read How To Clean Hamster Cage
A Hamster Needs About 10 mL of Water per Day
In general, hamsters need about 10 mL (0.34 0z) of water each day.
All hamsters are different, just like people and pets. If your hamster is constantly running on its wheel, it may be drinking more. If your hamster is uninterested in physical activity and just likes to laze around, it may not be drinking as much.
A dehydrated hamster might seem sickly, tired, or even confused. You can take your hamster to a vet to see if it’s dehydrated. If you notice your hamster isn’t drinking water or that no water has left its water bottle, talk to your vet about it. Refusal to drink water can also signify diabetes or a condition known as the wet tail.
You should check with a professional if you think your hamster is unwell, but some pet owners say that they’ve helped their hamsters become more hydrated by adding sugar to their water or using Pedialyte. It would only be a short-term solution, to be used once or twice, as extra sugar in a hamster’s diet can cause diabetes.
Additionally, hamsters should also be getting fresh water, so even if their little water bottle has a lot of water in it, you might want to refill it every once and a while so the water doesn’t get stale. You should also clean out the water bottle weekly so that no bacteria can grow within the bottle.