Hamster illnesses
This page is about some illnesses that hamster can get.
I am not a vet
Wet tail
Symptoms:
Smell/ foul odor
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Excess sleeping
Walking with a hunched back
Folded ears
Unusual temper (biting or nipping)
Hunched posture (Please remember these symptoms maybe because of another issue and doesn't necessary mean they have wet tail so, i always recommend getting advice from a vet- this advice isn't for self-diagnoses and if your hamster is unwell in any way so, must book a vet appointment for a diagnoses)
Wet tail is caused by a bacteria and is more common in younger hamsters, wet tail is known as a stress related illness but doesn't necessary cause wet tail as, straining on your hamsters stomach isn't necessary wet tail as, glands on there stomach cause straining due to stress.
Wet is caused from stress which creates a bacteria build up in a hamster intestine track as stress causes a hamster to have a lowed immune system so, they struggle to fight injections.
Wet tail cannot be treated at home and your must get treatment from a vet. While your hamster is unwell your could separate them from any other hamsters included being in the same room. After treatment you should start to see an improvement after 24 to 48 hours. If your hamster isn't drinking you can you a syringe to give water and if there not eating you can hand feed oats. After you can clean the underneath them but using a q-tip (cotton bud). @victoriaraechel has a great video explain wet tail on her YouTube channel
Abscesses
Its a infection which forms from breaks in the skin its a pocket of pus under the skin which locks like lump under the skin. This lump maybe soft or hard. The pus is due to the hamster's immune system producing it to fight the infection. This can also, form in the hamsters cheek pouches- if the pouches if a hamster continually looks like it has food its in cheek pouch get it check my a vet.
If you hamster has a abscess it is painful and it is important to see your vet.
If you see a lump forming your need to speak to your vet and if its is Abscess it may drain on its own or the vet may need to drain and flush the area and treat with antibiotic- but the vet with explain the best course of action to take.
Head tilt
This isn't a very common illness, but i have had a previous hamster who had this illness. If any followed since my Instagram page started you may remember Jake who i adopted as, his owned wasn't able to pay his vet bills to get him treatment for his head tilt.
Head tilt is caused from a another illness. It can be caused from your hamster having a stroke, but can also, be from a internal ear infection or a respiratory infection. The most common cause is from a infection.
This illness display as your hamster head is always tilted to neither the left or right side.
Jake my previous hamster it was believed to be caused from a stroke as, after treatment is behaviour was unusual like he had a brain injury as, he had no sense of direction and would fall over as, even thou he had finished treatment he still had a slight tilt.
This is normally treated with antibiotics.
Mites
This is a skin parasite but hamster don't normally show symptoms unless hamster are weakened by the parasite.
They can't be seen are they burrow deep in the skin.
Hamsters skin is normally itchy, flaky and have hair loss. In serve case they can have scabs and scores from intense scratching .
With mites you need to speak to your vet for cream medication- treatment continue for 6 to 8 weeks. With mites you going to need to clean your hamster cage fully weekly.
Seizures
have had some experience with this illness. As when i had two robo brothers and after a fight one of my robo boys had a few seizures but he sadly died below i got to take him to a vet. As Gonziles would have seizure while sleeping and one had he just didn't wake up.
Seizures can be as mild as walking with head tilt or walking around in circles a hamster that has trouble walking or standing or fall could be having a seizure.
Seizures can have many different causes of diabetes, brain injury, brain defects, poisoning, stroke or inner ear infections. The inner ear helps control the hamster's balance. It is more common with dwarfs as they do have more different brain defects.
Treatments for seizures comes from the vets but treatment options do depend on the cause of the seizures
Coughs and colds
Hamsters can catch colds like us, and these illnesses can even be passed from human to hamster. If you’re not very well, or if a member of your household isn’t very well, then it’s a good idea to keep you (or them) away from your pet for a little while until the illness has passed. It also may be best to keep the ill pet away from any other hamsters you have for a little while. This limits the risks of infections.
Symptoms of coughs and colds are similar to those that you’d expect with a human: difficulty breathing, sneezing, coughing, and a wet nose. We advise that you take them to a vet . This symptoms can also be a sign of an infection so, its important to take your hamster to a vet. Another symptoms is your hamster having an increase in the amount he or she drinks.
Teeths
Hamster's have continually growing teeth so, it is important for them to be constantly warn down. Hamster have to eat hard foods and have access to chew to help this.
But hamster's can damage there teeth as, they can be become broken and your may not notice blood around the teeth area. Another sign of dental issue can be your hamster stop eating. If this does happen it is important to speak to your vet. If you hamster has lost his or her tooth/teeth it can be very problematic causing damage . Damage teeth area can have many different but one cause is bar biting.
Alopecia hair loss
Alopecia hair loss normally occurs in older hamsters and is normally caused by a lack of protein or iron in their diet. The symptoms do include patches of hair loss on their back. This illness can be also, caused by diseases such as sarcoptic mange, demodex mites, ringworm or disease such as kidney or Cushing’s disease..
For treatment speak to your vet. If it caused by poor diet then you will need to add more protein into your hamster diet, which can be done by changing the seed mix, adding chicken to the diet, adding millet , adding mealworm and their are lots of herbs you can add which contain protein.
If the cause is by an disease it is very important you speak to your vet for treatment.
Scent glands
Sometimes a hamster’s scent glands, which are located over the hips in Syrian hamsters and in the mid-belly area of dwarfs, look greasy or discolored, but this may be their normal appearance. The scent glands can develop tumors, however, so if you think their appearance has changed, it’s a good idea to take the hamster to a veterinarian.
With syrian you can see there scent glands on the hips of there back.
Allergies
Like humans hamsters can also suffer from allergies, there are many different types of allergies and symptoms can displace in many different ways. For me i currently have a hamster who has an allergy, My Syrian hamster Barney suffers with an hay allergy. When we found out about his allergy it didn't displace until a week after he had been introduced to hay. Barney allergy displaced in the form of wheezing.
Once we found out about Barney's allergy we had to complete clean and disinfecting his cage, this meant he couldn't keep any of his substrate that had his scent on it. This is one of the times you can completely removes the substrate but, he must be done with advice from the vets as, this can be very stressful for your little furry. Also, due to his cage for two weeks i had to clean his cage out twice a week to ensure no hay scent was left in the cage, but again this should only be done if advised by your vet.
Allergies in hamsters can also, present with continually scratching no stop, breathing difficulties, and runny eyes, but there are many other symptoms. In there anything wrong with your hamster out of the ordinary then you should always see your vet.
Paralyses
Paralyses can occurs in hamsters who owners don't do research or are given incorrect advice about caring for hamsters.
Paralysis is a illness which can be avoided, this is often caused by a lack of exercise, hamster spending time in hunched position and unable to raise their head(this is normally when a hamster the incorrect size wheel),
This illness can be provented by providing a roomy cage, an exercise wheel or correct size.
However, it is also, important to understand paralyses can be caused from a spinal injury or a vitamin d deficiency. The first signs of paralysis are stiffness of the paws, leading to loss of movements in the front paws, which could then lead to death. Feed your hamster plenty of wheat germ and wheat germ oil.
If you hamster has any symptoms please speak to your vet.
Yeast infection
Its normally common among hamsters in Singapore due to the hot weather and humid climate the live in, this is due to it promoting the rapid growth of fungi. Thankfully, the illness is not lethal, and given the right care, can be cured in as little as two weeks. However, please note that it is contagious, so prevention is always better than cure! Therefore, do not house in others animals and always wash your hands after touching your infected hamster
Symptoms
Circular patches of hair loss
Dry, scaly skin
Skin that illuminates under a Wood's lamp