Welcome

Welcome to Dashing Hamsters. I created this website back in 2005, initially to have a place to share my love of hamsters. Throughout the years I have come across a lot of information that just often doesn't match up. Care standards and information are outdated, and these little creatures are misunderstood by many. So I decided to make this website as more than just a hamster lover's website, but a hamster website for modern owners who are looking for up to date advice on how to care for and understand their beloved hamsters. On DH you can learn about hamsters, see some cute pictures and read through a hamster filled blog.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Rest Peacefully Anna

Anna came to me from a member on Hamster Hideout, Mika, who's family member (cousin I believe) found little Anna and another hamster outside near his home. The two of them were outside and completely unprotected. After hearing the story I couldn't help but want to take one in and soon Anna came to live with me after spending some quality time with Mika until I could get down to Toronto.

Anna proved to be a bold and friendly hamster, quick to learn that humans mean food, treats, water and time out of her home for some fun. She would always come out to greet me whenever I stepped into my room, even if I tried to be quiet. She never bit and was quick to win over the rest of my family. She was only with me for just over two months though. When I came home from work on August 28 after midnight I talked with my Mum for a bit and than went upstairs to greet the hamsters. Bones was busy foraging in her food dish. Yet when I looked for Anna I quickly noticed she wasn't burrowing, or running on her wheel or jumping up and down to get my attention. Instead she lay very still inside of on of her hideouts. Peaceful, like she was having a good dream, and her head rested against the side. I reached in to wake her, to find her body cool though not yet stiff. She did not wake, she was already gone.

My sister said she heard Anna running on her wheel just 20 minutes before I got home from work, her wheel was the only one that made noise, so we know it was her.

I do not know what took her away from me, but I do miss my Anna Banana quite terribly. She quickly became a heart hamster and I am in shock that she is gone so soon, much too soon really. She couldn't have been over 4 or 5 months old. She showed no symptoms, she wasn't sleeping more, she was eating and drinking and doing everything else just fine. I don't know what to think of it except to know that I did my best while she was with me.


Posted Image 



A picture from Mika to show me who I would be picking up from her



A picture of her from her first day home with me



On her adventure to explore the 'hidden window'



On the old swing



Eyes of Ruby



Rest In Peace Anna. 

Friday, August 24, 2012

A Call for Help!




I am putting together something about different brands and recipes of hamster foods. It's already a long list, but I am hoping to cover as many mixes and lab blocks as possible. Basically just going through each one to explain if it would be a good choice to feed or not, and why. It's been a big project so far but I am hoping to be done within the next few days. My biggest problem is that a lot of companies do not seem to like to represent their own products very well. There are several foods that I am finding it difficult to find an accurate ingredient list as well and some basic nutritional information (namely protein, fat and fibre percentages).

I had some great detectives help me find some information for one mix already but I'm wondering if I can get some more help. Some of your help perhaps?

So far the foods that I have completed on the list are these ones:
-8 in 1 Ecotrition Essential Blend Hamster and Gerbil Food
-8 in 1 Ecotrition Organic Blend Hamster and Gerbil Food
-All Living Things Hamster and Gerbil Daily Diet
-Burgess Supahamster Hamster Harvest
-Burgess Supahamster Dwarf Hamster Harvest
-CareFRESH Complete Menu Hamster and Gerbil
-FM Brown's Natural Hamster Food with Vitamins and Minerals
-FM Brown's Tropical Carnival Gourmet Food for Hamsters and Gerbils (thanks to my detective friends)
-Grreat Choice Hamster/Gerbil
-Hamster Muesli by Pets at Home
-Hartz Bonanza Hamster and Gerbil Diet [Thank you HoppingHammy from HH]
-Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse, Rat and Hamster Food
-Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Hamster and Gerbil Food
-Kaytee Forti-Diet Crunch Hamster and Gerbil
-Kaytee Supreme Hamster and Gerbil
-Kaytee Forti-Diet Hamster/Gerbil
-Kaytee Chunky Hamster and Gerbil
-Kaytee Nature's Benefits Hamster and Gerbil Daily Diet
-Kaytee Fiesta Max Hamster/Gerbil
-Kaytee Supreme Daily Blend Hamster and Gerbil Mix
-Living world Classic Hamster food [Thank you SyrianPumpkin from HH]
-Living World Extrusion pellets [Thank you SyrianPumpkin from HH]
-LM Farms Hamster and Gerbil
-LM Animal Farms Bonanza Gourmet Diet Hamster and Gerbil
-Mazuri Hamster and Gerbil
-Oxbow Essentials for Hamsters and Gerbils
-Premium Hamster Muesli by Pets at Home [Thank you SyrianPumpkin from HH]
-Purina Little Wonders
-Purina Garden Recipe Hamster and Gerbil Diet
-Sun Seed Sunscrition Vita Prima Hamster and Gerbil Formula
-Supreme Pets Food Hazel Hamster (Note: Different than Harry Hamster)
-Supreme Pets Food Harry Hamster (Note: Different than Hazel Hamster)
-Supreme Science Selective Hamster
-Tesco Everyday Value Gerbil and Hamster Food
-Tesco Hamster Food Peanut and Sunflower Seed
-Vitakraft Menu Hamster
-Vitakraft Vitasmart Hamster
-Wagg Hamster Gerbil Mouse Munch
-Wilko Original Hamster Mix

(I didn't even realize how many I had until now!)

But I still need some help with some more!:

-Versele-Laga Mini Hamster Nature Complete (I need a more complete ingredient list as well as fat, fibre, and protein content)
-Versele-Laga Hamster Nature Complete (I need a more complete ingredient list as well as protein, fat, and fibre)
-Vitakraft Emotion Beauty Hamster Food (I need a more complete list of ingredients as well as protein, fat, and fibre content)
-Pets at Home Hamster Nuggets (need ingredients as well as protein, fat, and fibre content)
-Beaphar Care+ Hamster Food (Need ingredients plus protein, fat, and fibre content)
-Beaphar Xtra-Vital Hamster Food (need ingredients plus protein, fibre, and fat content)
-Beaphar Care+ Dwarf Hamster Food (need ingredients plus protein, fat, and fibre content)
-8-in-1 Pet Products Premium Hamster/Gerbil Food Wild Harvest (Full ingredients plus protein, fat and fibre content) 

And so far that's it. If there any you know of that I don't have on either list please let me know too! I can try checking a couple of them next time I am out but many of these ones aren't available around here. If anyone can help even if it's just a picture of the needed information off the bag while you're out shopping, it would certainly help! I will be sure to give credit to anyone that helps as well as to those that have already helped. You can e-mail me at holly.hammie@gmail.com or post it in the comments below.

I've been looking on various forums, on the company’s websites, on other websites selling the product with little no luck. Maybe some of you have better Google skills than me? Or access to the actual food even.

Anyways any help is appreciated!