In some breeds of hamsters, red eye color is normal and does not indicate the presence of diseases or genetic abnormalities. However, if the tint of the cornea in black-eyed pets changes to red, this indicates pathology.
We will find out what diseases are manifested by such symptoms and analyze the plan of action in such cases.
Breed characteristics
You need to start with one simple fact: red eyes in hamsters do not in all cases indicate an illness in the animals.
Moreover, many breeds of rodents have such eyes initially (more precisely, this is a consequence of selection work). In these cases, “redness” is just breed characteristics:
- Campbell's hamsters. Not all of them, but only some color varieties (light, including sandy and amber).
- Many other hamsters with gray, brown, white coloring, as well as in the “ivory” variants, have red eyes.
There are exceptions too. For example, among “jungarians” this coloring of the cornea is not found at all, with the exception of albinos. However, it is impossible to describe all possible breed variations within one article. If there are doubts related to the coat color and eye color of the animal, consultation with an experienced breeder is necessary.
In particular, there is a classic situation when the same Campbell hamsters are passed off as Djungarian hamsters. So, if in the first case animals have red eyes and this is allowed by breed standards, then in principle Djungarians cannot have red eyes.
Non-communicable diseases
Non-contagious diseases of Djungarian and other breeds of hamsters primarily include injuries. They are injured mainly due to the fault of their owners. Rodents should not be allowed to walk on a table or other surface from which the homa could fall. When purchasing and installing a running wheel, it is necessary to exclude narrow (less than 0.5 cm) gaps so that the baby does not stick his paw in there and injure himself. If you have several dwarfs, place them in different cages. Otherwise, they will fight and may also injure each other.
Poor nutrition may be the cause
- dental diseases;
- inflammation of the cheek pouches;
- food poisoning;
- hemorrhoids (if blood drips from the anus, your pet may have a fissure there).
Non-communicable diseases also include complications of pregnancy and pathological childbirth in females. Sometimes blood under the female's tail appears as a result of a miscarriage.
Albino hamsters with red eyes
The “classics” are albino hamsters with red eyes. In their case, the red color of the cornea is absolutely normal and does not pose any danger to the health of the animal. This color is due to the fact that blood vessels are visible through the pigment-less cornea.
It is generally accepted that animals with red eyes are necessarily blind from birth, but this is not at all true. In most cases, “red eyes” do not have problems with vision. Moreover, blindness is weakly associated with eye color.
If blind animals regularly appear in the litter of animals, then such producers should be excluded from the reproduction process due to the presence of some defective genes.
Tumors and neoplasms
Tumors (malignant, benign), pathological growths on the body, legs. ears is a fairly commonly diagnosed pathology in rodents, which can develop for a variety of reasons. Bumps can appear due to injuries, severe bruises, or falls from a height. To begin treatment, you need to establish a diagnosis, so take your pet to a veterinarian.
For benign and malignant tumors, surgical treatment will be prescribed. If the cancer is localized in a hard-to-reach area (oral cavity), the tumor has metastasized, veterinarians recommend euthanizing the patient.
Red eye diseases in hamsters
Any diseases or pathologies associated with red eyes in hamsters are fraught with the development of blindness, and a blind pet will have a significantly reduced level and life expectancy.
Blindness
Blindness is not a disease, but a consequence of a disease. For example, blindness accompanied by severe redness of the eyes is often the result of blows that burst blood vessels.
Due to the “blood filling” of the cornea, light cannot reach the lens, causing the animal to lose vision. If the mechanical impact was not strong, then this may be a temporary phenomenon. Otherwise, the hamster may lose not only its vision, but also the eye itself.
Hemorrhages and the appearance of a red color can be accompanied by many parasitic diseases and inflammations of infectious origin. Getting caustic and toxic substances into the eyes leads to the same results. Because of this, when a hamster roams freely in an apartment, it is necessary to carefully isolate household chemicals and other potentially dangerous reagents from the animal’s possible access.
In all these cases, the following symptoms quickly develop:
- The hamster begins to behave strangely, constantly bumping into objects around him.
- For the first few days, the animal constantly squeaks and shows other signs of anxiety.
- The eyes become red and cloudy.
- If you look closely, you can see how often the animal began to sniff and generally rely solely on its sense of smell.
Treatment depends directly on the underlying cause of blindness. Anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antifungal drugs can be prescribed; specialists resort to washing the conjunctival cavity with antiseptic compounds, etc.
Infections
A very common cause of red eyes is infection. As a rule, redness and swelling are a 100% sign of conjunctivitis. The causes of inflammation in this case can be extremely varied:
- The conjunctival cavity becomes very red and swollen , the hamster becomes “narrow-eyed”, acquiring a thoughtful squint. • Very often, discharges appear from the eyes, the nature of which is associated with the type of inflammatory process (pus - with purulent, serous fluid - with serous, etc.).
- A characteristic sign of conjunctivitis in many cases is redness of the eye with the simultaneous development of photophobia (photophobia). The hamster squints at the sight of any light, and if you shine a flashlight on it, it tends to run away into the house. This is due to severe irritation and soreness of the mucous membranes.
- If the inflammation is severe, the animal feels unwell , eats little or refuses food altogether, quickly loses weight and may well die due to severe exhaustion.
Diseases caused by stress
Stress factors for a small rodent can include loud screams, the operation of various electrical appliances, other pets and much more. Diseases that develop as a result of stress in Syrian and other breeds of hamsters:
- eczema (ulcers and peeling of the skin, hair loss);
- heart attack, cardiac arrest;
- complete or partial paralysis (can occur if the animal is very frightened).
To avoid such troubles, never yell at your baby or punish him for any pranks. Do not place the cage near a TV or speakers. Isolate the rodent from cats and dogs if they live in your home. If you just acquired a furry puppy, give him a few days to get used to his new place of residence, do not immediately start playing with him or raising him.
Causes of red spots around the eyes
Sometimes it happens that it is not the eyes themselves that become red and swollen, but only the skin around them. What are the causes of red spots around the eyes? In many ways, predisposing factors are in one way or another associated with other ophthalmological diseases:
- Very often, redness of the skin is explained by the irritating effect of the inflammatory exudate that flows from the eyes during conjunctivitis.
- In addition, many eye pathologies are characterized by severe itching and other unpleasant sensations, due to which the animal constantly rubs its eyelids and the skin around them with its paws. Simply put, redness is a consequence of rubbing and scratching.
What to fear?
It happens that an ordinary non-albino hamster, with black eyes and not white fur, suddenly develops redness in or around the eyes, which has never been observed before. Here you cannot do without consultation and a thorough examination of the baby by a veterinarian.
Most likely, treatment will be needed, since hamsters, like other representatives of the fauna, are often susceptible to diseases. In a number of ailments, the eye may be directly affected, or redness will only be a symptom of a disease in another organ. The vigilance of the owner and a thorough examination of the animal by a specialist are the most important factors for timely and effective treatment.
The easiest way is to recognize blindness on your own. Whether congenital or acquired as a result of injury, such troubles can happen. When purchasing, in the process of observing the hamster, it will immediately become clear that he does not see. The animal mainly lies down and moves little; communication with comrades will also be significantly limited. The eyes may fester or have slight swelling. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, at an early stage, the baby’s vision can be saved.
In addition to blindness, other diseases are possible. The protrusion of the eyes allows infection to easily enter them. Dust may get in after long walks around the room, conjunctivitis will not take long to occur. It may also be the fault of the owner, who did not bother to change the bedding and clean up the cage in a timely manner.
- discharge from the eyes,
- wet, sticky and swollen eyelids,
- redness,
- inactivity and drowsiness of the animal.
Self-treatment can do more harm to the animal than alleviate its condition. Until the hamster can be shown to the veterinarian, it is important to isolate it, clean the cage with antiseptics or potassium permanganate solution, and carefully treat all parts of the cage interior. Purchase eye drops that are safe for hamsters and apply up to five times a day, depending on the severity of the infection. The diet will also help the animal recover faster and come to its senses. Natural cereal diet and chicken meat.
This is what it is - a breed of hamsters with red eyes. Be more attentive to your pets, because they, just like people, need care and love. And if you previously walked past these amazing white lumps, perhaps now you should take a closer look at them? They will definitely reciprocate your feelings.
Eye care for hamsters
Proper eye care for hamsters can help prevent or solve many problems:
- The pet should be examined regularly. If you notice signs of something wrong, it is better to immediately contact a veterinarian.
- Representatives of long-haired breeds need to trim the hair around the eyes to prevent hairs from getting into them.
- Do not use bedding material of questionable quality, since saving on bedding often even leads to the death of animals (including from poisoning and ingestion of foreign objects).
- If during a visual examination foreign bodies (sawdust or something similar) were found in the animal’s eyes, you can try to get rid of them yourself. This requires the smallest syringe and sterile, warm saline solution. With their help, carefully spreading the pet’s eyelids, they carefully wash away the debris.
Why the hamster...?
There are several reasons why rodents refuse to eat: 1. Clogged or inflamed cheek pouches, dental problems. 2. Poisoning. 3. Infectious diseases affecting intestinal function. Your actions: Examine the hamster yourself, pay attention to its droppings, change its diet, show it to a specialist. — Why does a hamster have yellow teeth? The tooth enamel of hamsters is not white, like that of humans, but yellowish. If the teeth are completely yellow, this may indicate that the animal is old or that the food the hamster eats contains dyes. — Why do the hamster have red eyes? This is a type of mutation that most often occurs in rodents with white and light fur. This is normal and does not require treatment.
Why the hamster...? Djungarian hamster Acrobatic. Vl. Krivosheev Alexander - Why does the hamster sleep all the time? Hamsters are nocturnal rodents, so they sleep almost all day. Sleep norm is 15-18 hours; if the hamster sleeps more, consult a doctor. — Why doesn’t the hamster drink water? If the hamster receives enough succulent food (fruits or vegetables), then it usually does not need water. But no matter what the hamster eats, there should always be fresh, clean water in the cage. — Why does a hamster squeak in its sleep? The squeaking may be from pain, or it may simply be uncontrollable sounds (not dangerous). Your actions: If the squeak is repeated constantly, then it is better to show the hamster to a doctor. — Why does a hamster eat its babies? There are several reasons for this: 1. Natural selection (cubs with various developmental defects, i.e. not viable offspring). 2. Lack of protein in the diet. 3. Young female (weak maternal instinct). 4. The mother and cubs are often disturbed (they pick up the cubs, look into the house, change the bedding ahead of time, etc.). Your actions: 1. Select a male more carefully (from another litter, not a close relative). 2. Increase the amount of protein in your diet. 3. Avoid getting pregnant too early. 4. Do not disturb the mother and her cubs. The bedding is changed on the 7-10th day of the cubs' life (you will have to endure the unpleasant smell). — Why do hamsters run in a wheel? Hamsters run on a wheel because they need movement and sometimes a cage alone is not enough for them. The wheel must be at least 18 cm in size and is intended specifically for hamsters. - Why do hamsters stink (smell)? An unpleasant odor can come from both the hamster and the bedding. If your hamster's urine starts to smell very strongly, then most likely he has kidney problems or a bacterial disease. An unpleasant odor can come from spoiled hamster food. Bad breath may be due to clogged or inflamed cheek pouches. Your actions: 1. Change the filler. 2. Change food. 3. In other situations, an examination by a specialist is necessary. - Why do hamsters fight? In nature, hamsters live alone. When two hamsters meet, a fight may occur, as the rodents defend their territory. If you introduce a newbie to a hamster, then a fight in such a situation is inevitable, because... the old-timer will defend his territory (cell) from the newcomer. If hamsters are left in a cage, sooner or later, the stronger one will bite the weaker one. Keeping several individuals (especially of the same sex) together in one cage is undesirable. — Why do hamsters bite? Hamsters can bite out of fear, as well as in defense. Imagine yourself in the place of a hamster. Without your consent, the giant roughly grabs you and begins to squeeze you. You'll like it? The same thing happens with a hamster. He squeaks and defends himself as best he can. Your actions: The hamster should be tamed gradually. Some individuals are not tamed immediately. Every animal has its own individual character. It may also be that your hamster will remain wild, no matter how hard they try to tame it. - Why can’t a hamster have cabbage? Hamsters should not be given cabbage due to the enzymes it contains. When cabbage is digested, an increased amount of gases is released in the intestines, which causes bloating and intestinal obstruction in the hamster. If bloated, give your hamster a couple of drops of dill water (sold in pharmacies for babies) or a decoction of dill seeds.
>Why do hamsters have red eyes?
