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Why is my dwarf hamster shaking? What causes it and how can I help?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Unknown - Small Animal | Female

She has been shaking a lot and I've done research online and the temperature in my home is supposed to be a good temperature for dwarf hamsters and I don't know what I can do to help her. She is a dwarf hamster, and is about 1-2 years old.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM

Veterinarian

Published on June 11th, 2018

There are some environmental things that can make hamsters shake, including temperatures, as you mentioned. Ideally, around 70-75 F is a range to keep hamsters in. Also, making sure their cage is not near a window or door to avoid excessive heat and drafts is a good idea. Too little bedding can also contribute to shaking - ideally, hamsters would have at LEAST 3-4 inches of bedding to dig/burrow into. Please avoid cedar and pine shavings as they can be irritating to a hamster's respiratory tract (lungs). Being sick can also make hamsters shake. Unfortunately, shaking is a vague sign, so there are numerous causes - a common one is weight loss associated with disease as they can become skinny which makes it hard for them to keep warm as well. I would recommend making any of the environmental changes above, and if there is no improvement in a couple of days, having Bebe evaluated by a veterinarian. They will be able to see if Bebe is thin, and perform a full physical exam. Depending on what is found, they may recommend diagnostic testing, or may have treatments for you to try. I hope that gives you a place to start!

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