The small rodents usually have a strong immune system, but they can also become ill.
The following article provides information on general hamster disease symptoms, the most important hamster diseases and how to prevent them.
General disease symptoms in hamsters
One task of hamster keepers is that they Keep an eye on the health of your pet.
If the animal is unwell, owners can tell by the following behavioral and physical symptoms:
- The hamster will not eat and/or will lose weight
- The hamster shows aggression and/or apathy
- The fur becomes shaggy
- The hamster hides
The main diseases of hamsters
Owners must have knowledge of hamster diseases and the symptoms. This knowledge is relevant in order to be able to quickly identify, classify and treat symptoms.
Most hamster diseases require prompt veterinary treatment to prevent spread of the disease or even death of the animal.
Hamster owners should be aware of the following diseases in hamsters: diarrhea, wet tail disease, infestations with a parasite or a fungus, stuffed cheek pouches, conjunctivitis, dental problems and lip scabs.
Diarrhea
When the hamster has diarrhea, its droppings will be runny, soft, or bloody. The bottom of the animal is usually always clean, as hamsters are very clean. In the case of diarrhea, it is usually the soft droppings on the animal’s rear end.
As a result, owners have to remove the sticky droppings from their animal. This can be done with damp cotton pads, for example. Owners should be careful and loving with their animal and react understandingly if it shows fear or pain.
In addition, feeding fresh food should be stopped immediately in the event of diarrhea. Since this symptom can cause the animals to dry out in the worst case, it is also advisable to go to the vet advised. Hamsters can die from diarrhea!
Veterinarians usually prescribe medication for animals with diarrhea that rebuilds the intestinal flora. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, antibiotics or wormers are also administered.
Causes of diarrhea can be an infection with bacteria, incorrect feeding, yeast in the intestines, worm infestation, stress, the ingestion of toxic components or wet tail disease.
wet tail disease
Wet tail disease is characterized by watery and bloody diarrhea. The general condition of hamsters with the disease is poor, which is manifested, among other things, by the fact that the animal quickly loses weight and becomes apathetic.
Hamsters with wet tail disease also consume little food and water.
In the case of the disease, rapid action is required by detecting the diseased condition of the hamster at an early stage and presenting it to the vet immediately. Wet tail disease is one Emergency! Due to the rapid decrease and loss of fluids, this disease leads quickly (ie within one to two days) to Death. Even with rapid treatment, the animals can die from secondary diseases (peritonitis, intestinal obstruction).
At the vet, the treatment is carried out with antibiotics, an infusion solution and supplements for the intestines.
The disease is triggered by bacterial infection, poor hygiene and stress. Young animals that have been separated from their mothers too early are often affected by the disease. In general, wet tail disease is more likely to occur in young animals less than eight weeks old than in adult animals.
During wet tail disease, feeding hamsters with green fodder should be interrupted and switched to a special poplar food. Greasy food should also be avoided until the hamster is healthy again.
After recovery it should entire enclosure disinfected to avoid re-infection.
Infestation with parasites or a fungus
If hamsters scratch themselves severely and/or their fur falls out, the cause is often an infestation with parasites (bitter lice, mites, fleas) or a fungus. Other indicators of this condition include reddening of the skin, crusty patches, and a dull, scaly case.
An infestation with parasites or a fungus can be triggered by a weakened immune system or mistakes in hamster husbandry. Typical mistakes in husbandry are poor hygiene, stress, incorrect feeding, poor air circulation in the enclosure and the use of plastic items, since there is often a humid climate in these, which is ideal breeding ground for parasites.
To treat the condition, the vet will prescribe special solutions/liquids (called «spot-ons») for hamsters that are dripped onto the skin and kill parasites. These drugs are similar to anti-flo drugs for dogs and cats.
Important:: Owners should only use medications prescribed by their veterinarian and dose with the veterinarian. Incorrect handling can be ineffective or, in the case of an overdose, can lead to serious side effects.
During and after the successful completion of the treatment, the hamster enclosure must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected so that any parasite eggs in the cage are killed.
Green fodder and fresh fodder should only be picked where there are no wild rabbits to avoid infection with parasites and other diseases.
Clogged cheek pouches
Adult animals can stuff up to 20 grams of food into their cheek plugs. This behavior is normal at first and a normal instinct.
It becomes problematic when the hamster can no longer empty the cheek pouches independently and these are blocked.
There are many symptoms of clogged cheek pouches:
- The hamster no longer eats
- The hamster is losing body weight
- The hamster keeps rubbing his paws over his cheek pouches
- An unpleasant smell comes from the hamster’s mouth
- The hamster stops foraging and gathering food
- The cheek pockets are very heavily filled with lining
As with any disease Posture and feeding errors the cause of clogged cheek pouches. Poor posture is, for example, when the hamster feels a lot of stress. This can be the case when there are no options available to store their supplies or when they are repeatedly removed by humans. The use of hamster cotton or wool can also lead to clogged cheek pouches and should be avoided at all costs.
Feeding mistakes are giving too large pieces of food or sticky food. This clumps in the cheeks.
If the houses in the enclosure have an entrance that is too small and the hamster has to squeeze through it with its stuffed cheeks, the cheek pouches can be injured by the narrow entrance. For this reason, only houses with entrances of at least seven centimeters in diameter should be used.
Clogged cheek pouches can also result from or lead to inflammation and abscesses in the cheek pouches.
In the case of inflammation and abscesses, an unpleasant bad breath from the animal or pus in the mouth is also noticeable.
Clogged cheek pouches, inflammation and abscesses are a case for the Vet!. This will gently drain clogged cheek pouches with tweezers. Inflammation and abscesses must be treated with an antibiotic. Owners can support their animals and their recovery with poppy pap and camomile tea.
conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is common in hamsters and can result from a Infection with bacteria or poor posture result.
The enclosure should never be in a draught, but in a place that is protected from the wind and sun. The litter must not be dusty. There must be no objects in the hamster enclosure that could injure the cornea and eyes or get into them as foreign bodies (e.g. straw).
Symptoms of conjunctivitis include discharge from the eye, crusting, adhesions, swollen eyes, red eye rims and wet or bald fur. Hamsters often close their eyes too.
Diseases of the eyes are always a Emergency and must dem vet to be introduced. This usually prescribes eye ointments and eye drops that are antibiotics and must be administered by the owner.
Danger: Clogged cheek pouches can also lead to eye problems and inflammation.
A cold
If the hamster sneezes frequently, makes noisy breathing, has discharge from the nose or eyes, and acts in a strained-looking posture, these are all signs that the animal has a cold. Other symptoms include rapid weight loss, refusal to eat or restlessness, and the hamster’s increased need for sleep.
Colds must be taken seriously and dem vet to be introduced. For the owner, a cold is indistinguishable from pneumonia. In addition, from colds pneumonia quickly become.
The treatment at the vet takes place with an antibiotic and an appropriate cure for the development of the intestinal flora.
Keepers should provide their animals with poplar food during the cold and build a heat lamp in their enclosure. Sick hamsters need a lot of warmth, but this should not be more than lukewarm.
There are many causes of a cold and pneumonia in hamsters. The animals can get infected by their owners if they have a cold. For this reason, sick hamster owners should clean and disinfect their hands before handling them in the enclosure. Smoking keepers can also be to blame for respiratory problems in their animals.
Other causes are stress and bad posture. The hamster’s enclosure must never be in a draft. At the same time, good air circulation is important in the enclosure. Plastic furnishings should not be used, as they provide an excellent climate for the growth of germs, viruses and bacteria.
dental problems
If the hamster’s teeth are too long, the owner can give it more twigs or wood to gnaw in the enclosure. Hamsters’ teeth grow throughout life, so the animals must have enough opportunities to wear them down.
Hamster teeth can also break off. If the animal can handle it well and eats its food normally, the owner does not have to do anything at first. As a rule, the tooth will regulate itself again over time and as a result of wear and tear.
If the hamster has problems eating through the teeth or has injuries in the mouth, it must be taken to the veterinarian.
By the way: Yellow to orange front teeth are normal in hamsters and nothing to worry about.
lip grind
If the hamster suffers from lip scabs, that means scabs on the mouth area…