Lots of people know stories of how easily hamsters can be scared to death - they often have heart attacks.
While other rodents are also small and gentle creatures, they don't seem to be that easy to scare, so why is that?
Let's find out more about why evolution has made hamsters so fragile.
Delicate hearts
Hamsters can sometimes have heart attacks because they have small and delicate hearts.
A hamster's heart is tiny, and it pumps blood to their body. If a hamster gets very stressed or scared, it can make their heart beat too fast and too hard.
This extra strain on their little heart can cause it to stop working properly, and that's what we call a heart attack.
Noises can scare them to death
Things like loud noises, sudden movements, or even handling a hamster too roughly can stress them out and increase the risk of a heart attack.
Hamsters are also more prone to heart issues as they get older.
Keep your pet healthy
To keep your hamster healthy, it's important to handle them gently, keep their living environment calm and quiet, and provide them with a good diet and care.
This can help reduce their risk of having a heart attack.
Conclusion
No pets should be scared or treated badly, and hamsters are no exception - especially because of how gentle and vulnerable they are.
Protect your pet from loud noises and other animals that can scare them, so your pets will be happy and healthy.
