bathing hamster help!

[nibbles07]

Hey my gf has a hamster which is a 2 and half year old long haired hamster. Shes getting on and her bottom is gettin a mess (its been like this for a while) I know its not diahorea as she has had it for over a month and she is a healthy hamster... ANYWAY it needs cleaning up. I've read in a hamster book best way 2 bath a hamster is using two small bowls of luke-warm water with 5cm in each and some baby shampoo. One bowl for rinsing other for getting the shampoo out. Is this the best way to do it or are there any other suggestion's, note she's never been properly combed before (as her fur is in good cond.) and we've NEVER bathed her before. any advice would be great! thanks!

[pinkpink33]

have never had to bathe a ham, but have some ideas about it-
as she's older, she'll be more suseptible to colds or pneumonia. the wash you dedscribed is for an all over clean, say she rolled in something icky. if it's just around her bum, i've read that with small animals, the best thing to do can be to use warm wet loo roll or tissue to remove it, with maybe a little of the no tears shampoo if it's needed, and then use just a wet paper towel to remove the shampoo (kinda a rinse on a tissue) and then dry her thoroughly.
as she's a girl (i've also got a long-haired girl) her hair will be shorter than the boys, so usually wont need combing. this means it shouldnt get knotted from washing :)
old animals get those problems, it's sad but it happens :(
good luck with your little ham, good to hear she's still going strong at this age :)

[pixibubbles]

if its really bad you could hold her bottom half under the tap... it depends if the skin would be irritated by rubbing. i've only ever done it with one hammie (wet tail) and it was the vets suggestion... the skin was sore and broken and rubbing it made her squeal.

[nibbles07]

if its really bad you could hold her bottom half under the tap... it depends if the skin would be irritated by rubbing. i've only ever done it with one hammie (wet tail) and it was the vets suggestion... the skin was sore and broken and rubbing it made her squeal.

Yeah i think i'd be too worried to do it that way I wouldn't want to hurt her.... it is bad but if it doesnt work the other way suggested she'll jus have to do with as i dont want to hurt her. thank you though :)

[PetLuver21257]

I would use a warm washcloth with some baby shampoo. You could also just rub it with your hands...

For rinsing it off, I would do her bottom under the tap. Make sure the water's not too hot or too cold! :)