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Sometimes people ask “how soon should my hamster see a vet?” or “do you think they can wait until day X?” Here I thought I'd list some ailments I've come across and how soon they should ideally be seen by the vet. This isn't a complete list nor is it to replace medical care. This is just a guide. If you are worried in any way, please contact your vet!
Now (Emergency appointment)
- serious breathing difficulties, this is a sign of respiratory distress
- seizures or loss of consciousness
- bloat - if your hamster has stopped eating and their abdomen has suddenly become very swollen and large
- excessive bleeding - from any area
- collapse, paralysis or loss of the use of limbs
- excessive diarrhoea
- eye trauma, any severe injury to the eye
- head tilt
- any severe wounds or injuries
- a penis which cannot retract and looks swollen or blue
- bloody or pus from the vagina
- inability to pass urine at all
Within 24 hours (Urgent Appointment)
- blood in the urine or difficulty urinating.
- ‘the sniffles’ or cold symptoms including rasping sounds with breathing
- lameness where your hamster is limping and not making any improvement by next day
- sore skin from scratching and fur loss (possibly fungal or mite infection)
- cloudiness of the eye or redness
- sudden drop in bodyweight (check their teeth first as if their teeth are overgrown they may not be able to eat)
- small wounds which are not actively bleeding or gaping in anyway
- torn nails with swelling or bleeding
- drooling from the mouth
- a lump which has appeared suddenly
Within 2-3 days
- hair loss and excessive itching
- a slow decline in bodyweight (again check their teeth as if they're overgrown they may not be able to eat)
- any skin complaint
- less active than normal
- not eating much or off food
- lumps which appear
- ear irritation/scratching until it's sore (it's normal for hamsters to scratch their ears otherwise)
- minor bite wounds/scratches - you can clean them with tepid saline (salt water) in the meantime. A teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a pint of boiling water and left to cool. Use a q tip or corner of a soft cloth but wrung out well so it's just damp. So as not to get the hamster wet - getting wet isn't good for hamsters and they can catch a chill
Now (Emergency appointment)
- serious breathing difficulties, this is a sign of respiratory distress
- seizures or loss of consciousness
- bloat - if your hamster has stopped eating and their abdomen has suddenly become very swollen and large
- excessive bleeding - from any area
- collapse, paralysis or loss of the use of limbs
- excessive diarrhoea
- eye trauma, any severe injury to the eye
- head tilt
- any severe wounds or injuries
- a penis which cannot retract and looks swollen or blue
- bloody or pus from the vagina
- inability to pass urine at all
Within 24 hours (Urgent Appointment)
- blood in the urine or difficulty urinating.
- ‘the sniffles’ or cold symptoms including rasping sounds with breathing
- lameness where your hamster is limping and not making any improvement by next day
- sore skin from scratching and fur loss (possibly fungal or mite infection)
- cloudiness of the eye or redness
- sudden drop in bodyweight (check their teeth first as if their teeth are overgrown they may not be able to eat)
- small wounds which are not actively bleeding or gaping in anyway
- torn nails with swelling or bleeding
- drooling from the mouth
- a lump which has appeared suddenly
Within 2-3 days
- hair loss and excessive itching
- a slow decline in bodyweight (again check their teeth as if they're overgrown they may not be able to eat)
- any skin complaint
- less active than normal
- not eating much or off food
- lumps which appear
- ear irritation/scratching until it's sore (it's normal for hamsters to scratch their ears otherwise)
- minor bite wounds/scratches - you can clean them with tepid saline (salt water) in the meantime. A teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a pint of boiling water and left to cool. Use a q tip or corner of a soft cloth but wrung out well so it's just damp. So as not to get the hamster wet - getting wet isn't good for hamsters and they can catch a chill
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