What to do if the hamster lies and does not move, but breathes

Hamsters are fairly hardy pets, but they are so small that if injured or sick, things can quickly become serious.

It is useful to know the most common signs of the disease in order to solve the problem as quickly as possible. It is often possible to treat an illness or injury before it becomes life-threatening.

The most common signs of illness or injury in hamsters

Hamsters usually exhibit one or more of these signs when coping with illness or injury.

loss of appetite inactivity huddling in a corner a disheveled or unkempt coat sneezing, wheezing and/or discharge from the nose or eyes wetness around the tail diarrhea hair loss (often a sign of parasites or allergies)

If your hamster is sick or injured, keep him warm and have him take some food or water (using a dropper if necessary) until the veterinarian arrives.

Main diseases and their causes

Hamsters are susceptible not only to specific diseases that are characteristic of this particular type of rodent, for example, inflammation of the cheek pouch, but can also be infected with viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It is worth noting that most diseases of Syrian and Djungarian hamsters most often occur due to the fault of the owners. Thus, drafts can provoke colds, and an unbalanced diet leads to the development of hypo- and vitamin deficiencies, and can cause disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine pathologies. Deficiency of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and poor-quality feed weaken the animals’ immune potential and resistance.

Predisposing factors that can cause diseases in hamsters include:

• poor-quality diet with poor nutritional ratios;
• poor living conditions (cramped, dirty cage);
• unsuitable indoor microclimate;
• frequent stress, fear, emotional stress;
• improper care of pets.

Hamsters are susceptible to injury and often suffer from metabolic disorders and digestive processes in the body. Dzungarians and Syrians suffer from viral, bacterial, parasitic diseases, as well as non-communicable diseases. Tumors, neoplasms, and allergic manifestations (dermatitis, dermatoses) are often detected in hamsters.

Hypovitaminosis

Important! An improperly equipped cage can lead to injury to a small pet, causing dislocations, sprains, and torn ligaments. When two or more hamsters are kept in one cage, the rodents will fight for territory in real hamster fights. Moreover, such battles can often cause the death of babies or weaker individuals.

Common diseases of Djungarian and Syrian hamsters:

• obesity, diabetes;
• inflammation of the cheek pouch;
• abscesses on the paws;
• mechanical injuries (dislocations, fractures, sprains);
• ophthalmological diseases (keratitis, conjunctivitis);
• respiratory diseases of various etiopathogenesis;
• viral-bacteriological, invasive diseases;
• dermatophytosis;
• dermatitis, dermatoses, mycoses;
• colibacillosis;
• helminthic infestations;
• tularemia;
• false rabies (Aujeszky's disease);
• lymphocytic choriomeningitis;
• dental diseases.

Note that some viral, bacterial infections, parasitic diseases of dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters are dangerous for people. A person can become infected with rabies, salmonellosis, tularemia, dermatomycosis, campylobacteriosis, and plague from a rodent.

Inflammation of the cheek pouches in a hamster

If you purchase hamsters in pet stores, from trusted breeders, create optimal living conditions for the pet, and do not neglect the rules of hygiene, many of the diseases that hamsters suffer from can be avoided.

Hamster abscesses

Abscesses are pockets of infection that can form due to minor breaks in the skin. Pus accumulates under the skin, sometimes forming a large lump that sometimes begins to drain on its own.

Abscesses can form from cuts or scrapes in the skin or in the cheek pouches if an abrasive food material causes scratches on the lining of the mouth.

If your hamster constantly looks like he has food in his cheek pouches, this may indicate an abscess or damaged cheek pouch. Abscesses require the attention of a veterinarian for drainage, irrigation, and treatment with antibiotics.

Oral and dental diseases

Hamsters, like any rodents, grow their incisors throughout their lives, so owners should pay special attention to oral hygiene and the animals' teeth. If the pet does not grind down its teeth, this will lead to injury, damage to the oral mucosa, the development of acute inflammation, the formation of abscesses, and abscesses.

Pathologies and dental diseases in Djungarians and Syrians are manifested by redness of the mucous membranes, hypersalivation, decreased appetite, weight loss, abnormal growth, deformation of the incisors, and inflammation of the cheek pouches.

Inflammation of the cheek pouches is one of the most commonly diagnosed pathologies. It is characterized by inflammation, prolapse (prolapse), and the appearance of pathological formations. The disease develops due to injury to the oral mucosa. With this pathology, the animals behave restlessly, rubbing their cheeks and muzzle with their paws. Appetite decreases. Saliva flows from the mouth. As a rule, the pathological process affects the inner surface of the cheeks.

Long incisors provoke dental diseases in hamsters

To relieve inflammation, you need to rinse your pet’s mouth with an antiseptic solution or chamomile decoction. To normalize digestion, give your hamster probiotics and enzymes.

For neoplasms, surgical treatment, restorative, and symptomatic medications are prescribed.

If your hamster has inflamed cheek pouches, treatment should be carried out by a veterinarian. The specialist will carefully turn out the cheeks and clean them of food debris. Inflammation will be relieved by bactericidal drugs, antiseptics, and medications for local and general treatment. After therapy, the hamster must be kept on a fasting diet for 12–14 hours.

Respiratory infections in hamsters

Hamsters can get respiratory infections that can lead to pneumonia. Signs of a respiratory infection include sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Occasional sneezing is not too concerning, but if there is loss of appetite, decreased activity, wheezing or difficulty breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Warning

Drafts and sudden changes in temperature can put your hamster at risk of developing a respiratory infection, and some types of bedding (such as cedar and pine) can irritate the respiratory tract, which can also lead to infection.

Viral diseases

Hamsters, like many other mammals, are susceptible to viral attacks. It is harder for tiny creatures to fight viruses, because their immunity is extremely fragile.

Common viral illnesses are:

1. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis. It can be transmitted from a sick hamster to its cubs. Expressed in weakness of the body, sudden weight loss. Choriomeningitis can be treated in the early stages, and it is necessary to treat the animal, because its disease can be transmitted to its owners!
2. False rabies (Aujeszky's disease). The nervous system suffers. The behavior of a sick animal is characterized by increased restlessness; it twitches and constantly tries to scratch itself. In order for the pet to recover, a special serum is injected into it. In advanced cases, paralysis and death occur.
3. Respiratory infections. Few people know that hamsters can develop acute respiratory infections, but this is true. Viruses actively attack the fluffy’s weak body, and as a result, the homa may die. There are no specific antiviral drugs for hamsters, so you should take care of their immunity by giving enough fresh vegetables and herbs. If your pet has a cold, he must cope with the disease himself, without medication.
4. Tumors. There are types of viruses that can provoke the development of neoplasms. It is impossible to cure such illnesses.

Viral infections are difficult to fight, so prevention is important. You should think over the diet of rodents and give them food containing vitamins.

Wet tail in hamsters

Wet tail, also called proliferative ileitis and regional enteritis, is a highly contagious disease and most often occurs in recently weaned hamsters. The cause is unclear, but a bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni may be involved, and in some cases the disease is associated with stress, overcrowding and changes in diet.

Affected hamsters can die very quickly, showing signs such as diarrhea (causing wetness around the tail), lethargy, loss of appetite and ruffled fur. Not all hamsters with diarrhea have a wet tail, but if your hamster has any of these symptoms, you should seek help from your veterinarian.

Diseases caused by stress

Many factors contribute to stress for furbabies. Among them are sharp sounds, persecution by the cat, poor care, poor nutrition, inattention or intrusiveness of the owners. All this disrupts the hamster’s mental balance and causes serious illnesses. Their treatment should first of all be aimed at eliminating stress factors, and then at eliminating symptoms.

What do hamsters get sick with when they are stressed?

1. Eczema. In autumn, the skin becomes sensitive, it peels off, wounds and sores appear, the fur seems to fade before our eyes, becomes dry and hard.
2. Baldness. The wool falls out in large clumps. A specific area may become bald, or there may be islands of skin devoid of hair. Most often it occurs due to the lack of the required amount of vitamins and microelements. However, it can also be caused by simply experiencing severe stress. Therefore, at the first suspicion, make sure your pet is comfortable and eating the right diet. Externally, the problem is similar to lichen, but the skin is smooth and does not have any defects. At first, the two ailments are absolutely identical, so at the first sign, run to the doctor and find out the root cause. In this situation, you cannot rely on chance or traditional methods; it is better to take the necessary tests and get an accurate diagnosis. After all, both diseases are dangerous for the animal.
3. Paralysis and heart attack. A strong sudden fright may well cause cardiac arrest, partial or complete paralysis of the furry.

Many people don’t know what to do to stop their hamster getting sick. First of all, you should think: what doesn’t your pet like? Why is he uncomfortable? We suggest you study the tips on this issue:

• do not yell at your pet or hit it under any circumstances;
• do not allow other pets near the cage;
• Do taming only a few days after acquiring the furry;
• do not force the animal to play or eat;
• monitor your hamster's diet;
• place the cage in places where there are no drafts;
• remove noisy devices from the cage;
• Clean your hamster's house more often.

As you can see, the recommendations are the simplest. But they will provide the animal with peace of mind and will not allow it to get sick from stress.

As you can see, most hamster diseases are the result of unsanitary conditions, improper care and feeding. You have the power to make the life of a funny animal interesting and comfortable, and this will increase its chances of a long and happy life without disease.

Diarrhea in hamsters

A number of infections can cause diarrhea, including but not limited to wet tail, dietary changes, intestinal parasites, and antibiotic treatment. Overfeeding vegetables and other fresh foods is a common cause of diarrhea, but there is usually no loss of appetite or decreased activity.

Dehydration is a serious problem any time your hamster has diarrhea, so make sure he is still drinking water if this happens.

If you have diarrhea, avoid eating fresh foods for a few days and only resume offering them once the diarrhea has completely resolved. Then slowly reintroduce fresh foods so your hamster can slowly adjust to the changes in diet.

If lethargy or lack of water occurs along with diarrhea, you should seek help from your veterinarian.

Temperature-related disorders

If a previously healthy animal suddenly falls into a coma, it is possible that it is hibernating. Breathing will be very rare, and the pet will be cold to the touch. In nature, dwarfs hibernate in winter, waiting out cold, hunger and short daylight hours.

Low room temperature

If the heating was turned off in the apartment, or you did not feed the hamster for several days while going on vacation, this could provoke torpor. The body will be cold, the heartbeat will be extremely rare (1 beat every 15 seconds). A sleeping hamster can barely breathe; due to its small size, it is difficult to understand whether there is breathing at all. But if the body remains soft, the rodent has not died. To awaken the animal, the cage is placed in a warm room (more than 20 C), the feeder and drinking bowl are filled. The hamster should wake up in 2-3 days.

Heat

The Djungarian hamster lives in the steppes, and the Syrian even in semi-deserts, but both species are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and direct sunlight. Tiny nocturnal rodents with dense fur have no protection from overheating - they do not sweat or breathe through their mouths like dogs. Heat stroke is deadly for them.

Signs of hyperthermia:

• the hamster does not move and is breathing heavily;
• weakness;
• convulsions;
• impaired coordination of movements.

In case of acute overheating, heart failure leads to the death of the pet. Death may not occur immediately, but within a couple of days due to the failure of all organs, if the temperature has risen so much that proteins have coagulated in the blood and organs (at 44 C).

Situations in which there is a risk of heat stroke:

• transportation in a car;
• a cage on a windowsill or balcony, outside (sun);
• near heating devices;
• in a stuffy room with high humidity.

It can be difficult to understand why a hamster is lying on its side and breathing heavily if by the time the owner returns the sun has already gone and does not illuminate the cage.

Treatment for heat or sunstroke

Transporting a pet to a clinic in case of heat or sunstroke is not the best solution; time for first aid will be missed. What can you do without the help of a veterinarian to help your pet:

Reduce temperature

First aid is to cool the body, but not too sharply: applying ice or immersing the hamster in water is prohibited! The animal is placed on a tile or ceramic dish, or on a damp towel. Gently wet ears and paws with cool water.

Fighting dehydration

Heat stroke very often occurs when there is no access to fresh drinking water. When the animal is unconscious, it can no longer use the drinking bowl. However, it is also dangerous to drink a hamster from a syringe: it will not swallow, and the liquid will enter the lungs, making breathing difficult and causing pneumonia.

The liquid (sterile Ringer's solution or sodium chloride) is injected subcutaneously into 4-8 ml of Syrian and 2 ml of Djungarian hamsters.

Antishock therapy

Although all potent medications are best used as prescribed by a doctor, in a situation with acute overheating, the hamster may not survive to take the ratologist. If you feel like you have nothing to lose, you should inject prednisolone 30 mg/ml intramuscularly (in the hind leg) with an insulin syringe. The dose for a Dzhungarik is 0.05 ml, for a Syrian - 0.1 ml.

The prognosis is unfavorable: the pet may die

Whether your pet survives may depend on how long it was exposed to the high temperature. If the hamster does not die immediately, on the first day after overheating the owner often notices that the hamster falls over on its side and can barely walk. Neurological disorders are associated with swelling of the brain, and if the pet survives, coordination of movements will gradually be restored.

Skin diseases in hamsters

Hamsters can be infested with a variety of skin and fur mites, which can be diagnosed by a skin scraping performed by a veterinarian. Ringworm, fungal infection, allergic dermatitis and skin infections can also occur on the skin and require treatment by a veterinarian.

Hair loss is not unusual and may be seasonal or occur in older hamsters. But if the skin develops flaking, redness or any lesions, or if your hamster itches more than usual, you should contact your veterinarian.

Hamsters do have scent glands on their sides, which can be dark and sometimes alarming to owners. They occur on both sides of the body and should not cause irritation or bother the hamster. Cedar bedding can also cause skin irritation and should be avoided.

Classification of diseases

Hamster diseases can be classified according to various indicators. For example, depending on where the pain occurs, it can be gastrointestinal, skin, associated with the respiratory system, limb injuries, etc. There are also congenital (genetic) and acquired ailments. But most often the classification is based on the factor that causes the disease.

The following causes of hamster diseases are identified:

1. Bacteria. They cause skin lesions, inflammation, gastrointestinal problems, and eye diseases.
2. Viruses. They provoke the development of tumors and pathologies of the nervous system.
3. Microscopic fungi. Affects the skin.
4. Metabolic disease. The most striking example is diabetes mellitus in Djungarian hamsters.
5. Stress factors. They affect not only the emotional state of the animals, but also the skin and condition of the fur.

When keeping animals at home, dislocations, fractures, and bruises caused by falls sometimes occur. They are characterized by severe pain and swelling.

What to do if your hamster dies

The death of hamsters is most difficult for children. It is important to correctly explain to the child that the animal has died and to support him. You shouldn’t hide what happened or over-romanticize death. To bury the body, you can use the cremation service at a veterinary clinic or bury the animal in your country house or garden. You should not take it to the park, as dogs often tear up such burials. It would be more correct to bury him in the forest at a sufficient depth.

The death of hamsters is inevitable, but with proper care you can significantly extend their life.

What else should you expect?

At first, your hamster will be lethargic. He will likely be lying on his stomach with his limbs extended. The more he wakes up, the more active his movements will be. The first sign of waking up is twitching of the eyes and whiskers. Then he will be able to raise his head, but not for long.

Then, when the hamster can hold his head up, he will make an attempt to sit down and begin to walk, slowly, swaying from side to side until he eventually gains control of his body. He will shiver a little for a while, but this is quite normal as his body temperature rises to normal and his muscle tissue begins to contract.

It may take more than three hours for your hamster to wake up, and during this time continue to warm, rub, water and feed him. You don't have to worry, the hamster will soon come to his senses and be the same as before. If within the first hour you do not find any improvement in your hamster’s condition, immediately contact an emergency veterinary service.

Parasitic, fungal, dermatological diseases and symptoms

Hamsters, regardless of breed, often suffer from parasitic and fungal diseases. Djungarians are diagnosed with lichen, dermatophytosis, and trichomoniasis. The main manifestations of mycoses are severe itching, restlessness, deterioration of the coat, the appearance of rashes on the body, scratching, wounds, and long-term non-healing ulcers. With dermatophytosis, the skin acquires a yellowish tint and is very flaky. If treatment is not started, pathogenic flora penetrates into wounds and scratches, which provokes inflammation in various structures of the dermis.

Wet eczema in a hamster

Important! If a hamster is sick with a parasitic or fungal disease and is kept in the same cage with other rodents, immediately isolate the sick animal and disinfect the pet’s home.

Hamsters are susceptible to dermatitis, dermatoses of various etiologies, as well as allergies. Deterioration in the condition of the coat, partial or complete baldness is provoked by frequent stress, deficiency of vitamins, minerals, external parasites, fungi, and substances of a toxic nature.

Your veterinarian will tell you how to treat mycoses. The pet will be prescribed fungicidal, antibacterial agents, solutions (Miramistin, Chlorhexidine), as well as antiparasitic shampoos.

Endocrine pathologies, gastrointestinal diseases

Endocrine disorders, metabolic failures, hormonal imbalances, and disruptions in the digestive tract in most cases are provoked by improper feeding of a small pet. Metabolic disorders can also be hereditary.

Among the most common endocrine pathologies in hamsters are:

• diabetes;
• obesity;
• vascular diseases;
• stone disease;
• polycystic ovary syndrome (in females).

Hormonal imbalances in females most often cause frequent childbirth and an unbalanced diet. Hamsters become lethargic or, on the contrary, irritable. The pet's tummy is swollen and the frequency of bowel movements is disrupted. Treatment is surgical.

Gastrointestinal diseases (poisoning, enteritis, food allergies) develop due to a violation of the feeding regime, if the hamster has a poor-quality, meager diet or due to exposure to various toxins on the body. The diseases are accompanied by unstable stools, rumbling in the stomach, decreased appetite, and lethargy. A veterinarian will tell you how to cure a hamster and what to do if the digestive processes are disrupted, having established an accurate diagnosis and cause.

Obesity in a hamster

Eye diseases and their treatment

Small animals often suffer from ophthalmological diseases. Allergic, serous, purulent conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, and uveitis are noted in hamsters. In these diseases, blepharospasm, lacrimation, swelling, swelling, and sticking of the eyelids are observed.

Treatment should begin immediately as soon as you notice the first symptoms. Do not forget that eye diseases can provoke not only a deterioration in visual function, but also cause complete or partial blindness.

Conjunctivitis

In medical therapy, the choice of methods depends on the stage, nature of the disease, and the root cause. Solutions for washing the eyes and ophthalmic drops may be prescribed.