How do get yor hamster to take a dust bath and why does it need to have a dust bath?

Question

How and Why!!!!

Answer 1

Pet stores sell "potties" for hamsters.  Put either chinchilla sand or kitty litter in it.  Place these potties in their cage and they'll clean themselves there on their own.

Because hamsters need to retain the oil on their fur and can't get wet and therefore can't take baths, they use chinchilla sand or kitty litter to rid of their excess oil.

Answer 2

Hamsters can twist and bend like a pipe-cleaner. That way they can l**k and nibble their fur to keep it clean. Keep your hamster AWAY from the dust bath. It isn't good for their breathing. Little noses can get stuffed up easily by the dust bath.

Answer 3

Hamsters DO NOT need any kind of bath. They are naturally one of the cleanest animals you can ever have and they always groom themselves immaculately.

There are pet shops that stock products for hamster bath but remember never to buy them since they are only for attracting gullible shoppers and not for the hamster's goodness. Also never give a hamster bath with water or shampoo since it will strip its fur of natural oils and make it prone to skin infections.

CHINCHILLA SAND is a good option for hamsters. Buy only chinchilla sand and not the dust since dust can cause respiratory infections for hamsters. Place a 1 inch dish filled with chinchilla sand permanently in the hamster cage so that the hamster can roll on it and clean its fur whenever it wants to. Be around to see it, it is sheer entertainment watching them doing that !! Change the sand in the dish once a week.

Answer 4

hamsters don't need that

there called chinchillas and its to keep there fur nice and soft

Answer 5

You'd use chinchilla SAND - never dust. Dust is too fine and can irritate their lungs.

Just put some in a bowl, hamster potty or something similar in his cage and wait - hamster will find it and play in it.

Why - helps keep them clean - although not absolutely necessary - hamsters are really clean animals - its fun for the hamster.