Does Your Hamster Get Enough Vitamin E?

Does your hamster get enough vitamin E? You might have a daily routine of taking vitamins, but you're hamster doesn't. Hamsters and other pets can sometimes end up with vitamin deficiencies. This article will focus on vitamin E deficiency in hamsters.

First of all, you may be wondering why a vitamin E deficiency is bad. A vitamin E deficiency affects a the immune systems response to things, therefore a hamster with this deficiency is more likely to get illnesses. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and it actually helps a body to protect cells and membranes. Hamsters with vitamin E deficiencies are prone to disorders like anemia and mastitis.

So, what causes a vitamin E deficiency? An improper or unbalanced diet causes pets to have a vitamin E deficiency. A lot of pet owners think if they just feed their pet the commercial food they get at the pet store, that is all the pet needs. Unfortunately, that is not always true. Many foods are more about making the company a profit than providing pets with the best possible diet options.

How can you tell if your hamster has a vitamin deficiency? If your hamster appears sick in any way you will want to consult with a veterinarian. The signs of a vitamin deficiency may not be noticed if it's lead to another disorder that causes worse symptoms. The symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency include stiffness, paralysis, and lethargy. A vitamin E deficiency can cause serious problems for a pregnant hamster, such as death of her babies. Pregnant hamsters and young hamsters are more prone to suffer from a vitamin E deficiency however, it can happen to both male and female adult hamster is they have a poor diet.

Treatment will mainly be a change in diet since many cases of this disorder are caused by an improper diet. If you ever aren't sure about your hamster's diet give your veterinarian a call or do some research. Your hamster may also need some vitamin E capsules to help increase its vitamin E so it can feel better.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.