If you are thinking of adopting this rodent, it is very important that you know the most common diseases of hamsters so that you can prevent them in time any problem that may affect your pet.
Since they are creatures of the night, many of the first symptoms of their most common illnesses can go unnoticed, so we recommend that you give your pets a weekly physical exam, in order to detect possible conditions as soon as possible.
In addition to proper nutrition and hygiene of the hamster cage, you must provide your animal with care and prevention against the most common diseases that we present below.
Abscesses and infections
Abscesses are subcutaneous lumps of pus, usually red, raised, and painful, which can form anywhere on the body, due to a reaction of the hamster's immune system. They are distinguished from tumors because in abscesses there are usually remains of the wounds that formed them.
These lumps are usually due to bacterial or parasitic infections, or poorly healed cuts and bites Treatment depends on the severity of the infection or abscess, but normally it is enough to open it, clean the infected area well and treat the wound with some ointment. If this is not enough, the vet may recommend taking antibiotics, if necessary, to clear up the infections.
Mites and fungi
Another of the most common diseases in hamsters are mites and fungi. These parasites are usually already in our pets but can be aggravated in situations of stress, weakened immune system, bacterial or skin infections, poor diet or poor hygiene of the cage. They can also be caused by contagion with other animals infected by parasites.
Symptoms caused by mites or fungi in hamsters include excessive itching, bald or irritated skin, formation of eczema or scabbing, and more movement and restlessness in the cage than normal.
The treatment depends on the type of mites or fungi that our pet has contracted, but in general it is enough to disinfect the animal (and its cage) with specific products -always provided by a veterinarian-, keep proper feeding and hygiene of its cage and, in the event that the infestation is caused by mange on the skin, it is necessary to take the hamster urgently to the vet, although This disease can be distinguished from milder conditions because it also produces blisters on the extremities, ears and snout.
Colds, bronchitis and pneumonia
Colds are one of the most common illnesses in hamsters that can lead to bronchitis and/or pneumonia if we don't They heal well. This condition usually occurs when the animal is affected by sudden changes in temperature or by being exposed to frequent drafts.
Symptoms range from shortness of breath, loss of appetite, sneezing, watery eyes, slouching or trembling, to a runny nose. But if the cold does not heal well and these symptoms continue along with cough, recurrent nasal discharge, redness of the snout and wheezing, it is very possible that the hamster has caught bronchitis or even pneumonia.
The treatment in these cases is very similar to that of humans. Thus, we will provide a warm and dry place for our pet, plenty of rest, a nutritious meal, and we will take him to the veterinarian in case he needs antibiotics or other medications..
Wet tail
Wet tail or Proliferative ileitis is one of the most famous and contagious diseases in hamsters. It is a condition very similar to diarrhea and many times they are confused but they are not the same.
Wet tail disease usually affects younger hamsters (3-10 weeks old), especially those that have just been weaned, due to stress or overpopulation, or due to a poor feeding or hygiene of the cage. It is caused by bacteria that are inherent in the intestines of these animals called colibacteria, but it can be activated by any of these previous causes. The incubation period is 7 days and the most obvious symptoms are profuse and watery diarrhea, very dirty and wet-looking tail and anal region, loss of appetite and consequent dehydration, and hunching of the animal.
The treatment for this condition is very similar to that for gastroenteritis or diarrhea. The animal must be rehydrated and well nourished, Isolate it from its other companions so that it does not spread the disease, take it to the veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics and completely disinfect the cage and all its components so that it does not affect other animals.
Diarrhea or constipation
Diarrhea and constipation are two common diseases in hamsters that have completely opposite symptoms and therefore can be differentiated well.
In the case of diarrhoea, the animal shows some pasty or liquid excrements,loss of appetite and lack of activity, and the anal region very dirty (which is why it is often confused with wet tail disease). Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial infections, overfeeding with many fresh products, lack of hygiene in the cage and its components, sudden changes in temperature, etc… In this case, the treatment should consist of hydrating the hamster with plenty of water, eliminating food fresh from his diet (fruits and vegetables that lax, give him astringent foods such as cooked rice, clean the anal region to avoid infections, and go to the vet for the prescription of antibiotics if necessary.
On the other hand, in the case of constipation, there is a lack or decrease in droppings, which will be small and hard, the hamster's anus will be swollen and slightly moist, and it may show signs of pain, loss of appetite, and swelling in the abdomen. It is usually caused by a poor or unbalanced diet and the treatment consists of giving the animal a lot of water and laxative fruits and vegetables
Wounds or occlusion of the pockets
Pockets are the pouches or sacs that many monkeys or rodents have in their cheeks that are used to store food, and can sometimes become clogged or affected by wounds and/or sores. Unlike humans, the cheek bags of these animals are dry and not wet, and that is why wounds or abscesses can sometimes occur if they have eaten spoiled or sticky food, which prevents them from emptying their cheeks. If our pet suffers from this condition, we will notice it by the inflammation of his cheeks
In this case, we can treat the hamster by taking it to the vet to have the pouches carefully cleaned and emptied, extracting all the food that has remained inside and making the appropriate cures.
Bites, cuts or injuries
On many occasions, hamsters are in contact with others of their species and in some of their fights, confrontations or even playing, they can bite or injure their bodies.
Normally, affected hamsters will clean minor wounds on their own and these will heal within a few days. But if we see that he has any serious wound or bleeding, we have to treat it by treating it as best as possible, cutting the hair from the affected area, cleaning the wound and applying an antibiotic ointment so it doesn't get infected. In case of infection, it is advisable to go to a veterinarian.
Irritation or eye infection
Irritations or infections in the eyes of hamsters are also other of the most common diseases of these animals. Whether it's a fight with another hamster, something like dust, dirt, a blade of hay or a splinter of wood, or a bacterial infection, our pets' eyes can be injured in a variety of ways.
The symptoms that occur are excess tears, bulging, closed and/or infected eyes and excess weeping. In this case, if the eye injury is mild, we can clean the affected eye with a cloth moistened with warm water until the animal opens its eye, and once it is open, apply a saline solution such as drops or eye drops In the event that the eye injury is serious, we must go to a veterinarian to prescribe the relevant medications such as antibiotic ointments, for example.
Tumors or cancer
Tumors are some internal or external lumps that hamsters develop, like other species, due to an increase in the cells that compose them, which can be benign or malignant. If the tumor is malignant, and has the capacity to invade and metastasize to places distant from the original tumor, it is called cancer.
These lumps can be distinguished from other conditions such as fat lumps or cysts, because when you touch them, they do not move, and they usually appear due to multiple factors, but the most common is due to the aging of the animal. The most notable symptoms are both external and internal lumps (although the latter are much more difficult to detect and are usually not caught in time), a generally ill appearance with poor appetite, little activity, and weight and hair loss.
External tumors can be removed by the operation performed by a qualified veterinarian, although there is no guarantee that they will not come back. And internal tumors too are operable but are much more difficult to detect and remove, mainly because of the size of the hamster. The treatment will depend on the age and condition of the animal's lumps.
