Hamsters grow back their whiskers within a couple of months. Whiskers are long hair. They are coarse as compared to normal hair, and they are present around the nose of the hamster. Whiskers are not only essential for the hamster’s personality, but they also have many purposes. Whiskers are made up of a protein called keratin.
Do hamsters whiskers grow back? Yes, hamsters whiskers regrow in 2 to 3 months. Hamsters can lose their whiskers because of stress, diseases, poor hygiene, and low-quality food. You should take good care of your pet hamster.
As compared to hair, whiskers are highly sensitive and thick. Hamster whiskers are multifunctional. And if due to some unusual condition hamster losses his whisker, they will regrow. The time is well defined in the case of a healthy hamster.
It takes a few months for the regrowth of whiskers. But if your hamster is suffering from any medical illness, it may take more time. In this article, we are going to discuss all your hamster’s whiskers.
Do hamsters whiskers grow back?
Whiskers are very important for hamsters as they help them in survival. Especially for wild hamsters, they help them as a survival tool. Pet hamsters are also dependent on them very much. As we all know, hamsters are born blind, and as they grow, their eyesight is still very poor.
They get fully blind in the daytime because of radiation. At night time if the room light is on your pet hamster is still unable to see. Hamster can only see in dim light, and the vision is not much clear.
Importance of whiskers
Whiskers play a vital role for a hamster to detect its surroundings. Various sensors are present on whiskers that help hamster in moving thorough in the cage or a burrow. Whiskers give an idea of exposed subject shape and size. And they can sense danger also.
Whisker’s composition is very interesting as on the inner side; whiskers contain nerves endings. And on the exposed part, whiskers include sensors. Their base is more strong and deep as compared to normal hair.
Whiskers are directly connected to the muscles and nervous system. That way, they are included in sensory organs of hamsters, as they can send direct messages to hamster’s brains and warn about the surrounding.
Hamsters Use Whiskers for Navigation
Hamsters whiskers are in motion constantly. Whiskers aid in finding out the location of the food, to sense any danger. The exact location where burrow is located. And inside the burrow, as there is complete darkness, the hamster’s whiskers help the hamster to survive in the burrow with such weak eyesight.
Whiskers can feel the airflow and support the hamster in case of the detection of the wall or any obstacle. Whiskers are a navigational tool for hamsters. In the case of pets, hamster whiskers are supporting them to work out. Assist them in finding the location of their bedding, exercise wheel, their cage wall.
Hamsters whiskers are very active in sensing the vibrations and touch. And they impressively guide the hamster. And when you take out your hamster in playtime, whisker helps your hamster to navigate your presence and his way around the floor.
In case if a hamster loses its whisker, it will become disorientated. It will become problematic and effortful for a hamster to survive. So to cut or trim your hamster whisker is never a good idea.
It will cause your hamster to lose his support and ability necessary for his survival. As he will not be able to access his surroundings, and he may injure himself.
Smell
Hamsters are using their smells sense for a different purpose. And hamsters whiskers are a valuable aid with their nose in a smelling sense. Hamsters use their whiskers and nose to smell the presence of each other. Hamsters whiskers can sense the scent even in the air.
So it is helpful for especially wild hamsters. Wild hamsters, when leaving their burrow for searching for their food, will go a specific smell in the path. And afterward on returning hamster uses their whiskers and nose to sense that smells leading them to their burrow.
Whiskers also keep them away from predators as they can detect their presence from a long distance. As whiskers are more specific for very light smell too, they play an essential part in the hamster’s life. Whiskers help the hamster to detect the scent of their owner.
Hamster is unable to recognize his owner by looking at him as he cannot only rely on his eyesight. He uses his whiskers that are odor sensitive to acknowledge himself in the presence of his owner.
Detect outside world
Hamsters have very weak eyesight. But they can survive easily as their other well developed and strong senses. Hamsters whisker plays a vital role in fulfilling the insufficiency of their eyesight.
Wild hamsters usually woke up at night and rest in the daytime due to their poor eyesight. But in the case of pet hamsters due to the noise, ambiance, and disturbance, hamsters sleep cycle is also different. Hamsters may even wake up in the morning too.
At daytime, hamsters are fully dependent on their whisker for detecting the environment. They use their special sensory receptors present on whiskers to detect their food in the cage. And in case of hamsters loses his whisker, he is unable to detect his surroundings. And every environment will become uncomfortable for your hamster.
Balance
Whisker plays a prominent role in balancing the hamster body. Whiskers are long and strong, they will keep the body in balance. And if your hamster losses its whisker, his body becomes imbalance partially or may completely lose balance. Until the growth of new whiskers.
Mood indicators
If you are conscious about the mood of your lovely hamster, you can simply know it by looking at his whiskers. When your hamster whisker is relaxed, it means your hamster is in a good mood, or its the best time to play with him.
When the whiskers are pointed backward, it means your hamster is nervous or scared. And when your hamster’s whisker is pointed forward its means your hamster is in anger.
Why hamster is losing its whiskers?
As hamster is dependent mostly upon their whisker and to them, whiskers are an integral part involve in their senses. If your hamster is losing whisker instead of proper care and without any apparent reason, try to look after him properly. Maybe a visit to a doctor is helpful for the satisfaction of your hamster health.
Cut off
One of the reasons behind the hamster loses his whisker is by cutting off. Some people think that as in humans when we cut our weak, dull hair, they are replaced by new ones. So they apply this technique to their pet hamster. Cutting off a hamster’s whisker is never a good idea.
Whiskers are needed for a hamster to adopt his lifestyle. A hamster may get injured in the struggle of cutting his whisker. Because he never wants to lose his senses located in whiskers. So love your hamster and avoid such ideas.
Normal shedding
Sometimes losing whisker is a natural phenomenon, and there is no specific reason behind it. As human hair falls, this is because the body is getting rid of dead hair.
Shedding is sometimes nothing to worry a thing. But if a hamster suddenly losses all his whiskers within days, it is a thing to be noticed. As may be, your hamster is suffering from some medical condition, and he requires your attention.
Trimmed
Trimming of your hamster’s whisker is uncommon. And one of the reasons behind the hamster loses his whisker. Maybe for a short period of time, but the period will be very stressful for your hamster.
A little trimming is only needed in case if the whiskers are damaged, overgrow, or causing discomfort to your hamster. As in the case of continuous friction causes abnormal bending of hamster whisker, which enters the nose or eyes. In such a case, a little trimming maybe saves your hamster from irritation.
Whiskers are deeply embedded in the muscle tissue and indirectly connected to the brain. So damage to the whisker causes pain to your hamster.
As well as the plucking of hamster whisker is also very painful and may even cause bleeding. So trimming without any reason will be harmful to your hamster. And say a big no to trimming to keep your hamster happy.
Friction
Friction is always harmful to the hamster’s whisker, and it is also painful. Due to weak eyesight of hamsters, especially at day time, hamsters rub themselves against the wall of the cage. Continuous rubbing against the walls causes hamster whiskers to weaken.
Another reason is dry sliding on the hamster play wheel; it may result in damage of whiskers due to friction resulting in whiskers loss. Friction also causes hamster whisker to bend abnormally against its actual dimension. Friction is among the reason involved in the painful loss of whiskers in your hamster.
Fall out
Falling out of hamster whisker is, in fact, a good sign and is among the reason that’s why the hamster loses his whiskers. Whiskers will regrow, and falling of them shows that your hamster is going to regenerate them.
Falling of the whiskers is never painful for your hamster. But if the loss of whisker is prominent and daily, it is a sign of your hamster health problem. And you have to seek a medical practitioner advise.
Allergy problem
Hamsters lose his whisker due to the allergy problem. For example, dermatitis can cause whisker loss. Some hamsters are more sensitive to allergens. And direct exposure of them to the pollens develop various problems, especially in wild hamsters that are open to pollen, dust, mites.
In pet hamsters, allergy can be developed from any food as you don’t know, but your hamster is food sensitive. Hamsters allergy symptoms are different from humans. Some common symptoms of hamsters are itchy ears, and nose, diarrhea.
Once the allergy is developed, it takes a long time to resolve and can cause whiskers loss. It is also challenging to diagnose, but once the causative agent is found, you can quickly treat the problem.
Excessive brushing
Some pet hamsters are so cute, and they are lovable towards their owner. Everyone wants to keep his hamster neat and clean to protect him from illness. A small brush is available for your hamster’s whisker to be brushed. And after brushing, no doubt your hamster looks extra cute. And he also feels comfortable due to the benefits of cleaning.
Brushing improves the blood circulation in the hamster body and provides him beneficial effects. But on the other side, excessive brushing annoys your hamster and causes his whisker loss.
You can brush your hamster on an alternate day but very carefully. A little pulling of hamster whisker may cause it to break. As we all know, how much a whisker is essential for your hamster’s survival, so be attentive while brushing his whisker.
Nutritional deficiencies
Nutritional deficiency is the major cause hamster loses his whiskers. Nutritional deficiency is due to the improper quality of your hamster feed. Or due to your hamster is not eating its proper food because of any preexisting illness.
All fats, protein, carbohydrates, water, and minerals are the basics of nutrition that is required by hamster for fitness. You can add apple skin in hamster food for better results.
Mainly vitamins and mineral imbalance causes whiskers loss. And if you are providing all of them than notice the reason it may be due to diarrhea, or any stomach problem. A continuous nutritional deficiency will cause a decline in your hamster’s health as it affects the whole system of the hamster.
It is the main reason behind hamster whisker loss. So keep an eye on your hamster whisker as they are showing a lot about your hamster’s health.
Stress
If your hamster is uncomfortable or unhappy for a long time, it may cause him to fall in stress. And when hamsters are in stress, he stops producing new whiskers.
And the present whiskers get so weak that they may fall by a little touching or brushing. Here the whisker’s loss is temporary, and in rare cases, it may be permanent.
In case of persistent stress, there may be a complete whiskers loss. Your hamster’s immune system becomes so weak, causing his whiskers to fall out.
Definitely regrowth of whiskers is a process of weeks to months. This time will be more stressful for your hamster as whiskers are an essential part of his survival. Counseling with your hamster Vet is a good idea.
Aging
Whisker’s loss in your hamster is also associated with his aging process. Aging affects the whisker density and whisker growth. Meanwhile, whiskers thining is also an impact of age.
Older hamsters are more prone to develop skin abnormalities. Such as wrinkles, scaling, they interfere with the growth of the hamster’s whiskers. Adding natural yogurt in the hamster diet is helpful for regrowth of the whiskers.
Parasites
Parasites can enter the body of your hamster through contaminated water or food. Parasites are common in wild hamsters due to their wide exposure.
In pet hamsters, they are rare. Parasites are easily transmitted from one hamster to another. Parasites are undoubtedly involved in whisker’s loss of your hamster.
They are found in the gut, stomach, and skin. But the whole body is affected by their effect. They weaken the immune system, and several insect parasites cause whisker’s skin eruption where follicles are present.
Parasites also cause the whisker’s skin itching and soreness. The inflammation of the skin causes damage to the whisker follicle, which may result in whisker loss.
Bacterial and fungal infection
The fungal infection affects the whisker’s growth, and in severe conditions, they can cause the whisker loss.
Fungal infection is more common in hamsters. The induction of chronic disease is more harmful and associated with whisker’s loss and also interferes with the whiskers regrowth. Prescribed oral or topical antifungals are helpful to get rid of fungal infection
Several bacteria can affect the pattern of growth of whiskers. The recurrent bacterial infection is sometimes a secondary consequence of some other disease. A proper check-up of your hamster is beneficial.
Is it painful for hamsters to lose their whiskers?
No, it is not painful for your hamster to lose his whiskers. It is usual for hamsters to lose them. There are no pain receptors present on whiskers. And whiskers are not like the arteries involved in blood supply, so they never bleed.
This process is not painful at all. It is only painful when the whiskers are plucked off as they are directly embedded in muscle tissues.
It will be very painful for your hamster to bear this pain. If you try to trim your hamster whisker, it will be uncomfortable for them because of the shock waves. But it is not painful.
How do hamsters feel after losing their whisker?
Hamster badly needs its whiskers for healthy survival. After losing their whisker due to some medical condition or normal shedding, it’s like your hamster has loses his superpowers. He is not able to see correctly, feel the ambiance, and his body loses balance.
Meanwhile, you are not able to feel the current mood of your hamster as whisker also indicates their mood. In the case of missing whisker, it means the hamster has lost his protection too as he becomes unable to investigate a thing so close to him. In other words, his navigation becomes very weak, and he may also harm himself.
We can say that after losing his whisker accidentally or naturally, hamsters feel incomplete. And he waits continuously for their regrowth to enjoy life.
How long it takes a hamster to grow back its whiskers?
The time period of regrowth of a hamsters whiskers depends mostly on the reason for whisker’s loss.
Studies have shown that a hamster with normal health and free from any medical complaint can regrow his whiskers in a normal manner.
The hamsters that are suffering from medical illness are firstly dependent on recovery from the illness. On average it takes around 2 to 3 months for hamsters to regrow their whiskers.
As the whiskers are very sensitive, any small disease can prove as an obstacle for their regrowth. The pattern and time for the regrowth of whiskers vary from hamster to hamster. Normal whiskers grow 1mm a day. This growth pattern continues for about a week, and afterward, it slows down.
The older whisker will fall out before the regrowth of the new whisker. In case if a whisker is damaged, pulled out, trimmed, the new whisker will grow after the previous whisker stops increasing in length. Cutting of the whisker or plucking off whisker superficially will not affect the growth of new whiskers.
The follicle of the new whisker is much deep than the older one. Regrowth in both gender male and the female hamster is almost the same. The width and length of the whisker increase steadily from tip to base.
In the case of nutritional deficiency, the rate of regrowth varies, and it stops in the absence of a proper diet. And its shocking that the regrowth will recover after three days to a proper diet.
When your hamster is suffering from stress, its whiskers regrowth will be slower, and fall will be faster. Aging is a prominent factor that affects the regrowth of your hamster’s whiskers.
As hamsters whole body is going through various changes, his whiskers are also going towards decline. The existing whiskers will become weaker, and the regrowth process slows down.
