Hamsters are very active little animals that love to run around and play. Unfortunately, their liveliness can cause injuries; moreover, even the specimens that do not get along with each other can fight and harm each other. If you notice that your little friend has a wound, take quick action to heal him and allow him to return to normal activities.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Assessing the Situation
Step 1. Observe the hamster's wounds
This animal can easily harm itself, because it has very small body and bones; Fortunately, not all injuries are severe enough to require veterinary care. Take a quick look at the pet to see if it is a minor injury (for example, minor scratches or cuts) or something more serious (such as a broken leg or heavy bleeding).
- Minor injuries can be treated at home, but more serious ones require surgery immediate of the veterinarian.
- If the little rodent is seriously injured, it will likely exhibit other symptoms, such as wheezing and gasps, excessive groans, and aggression when you pick it up.
- Keep in mind that it can very well hide the pain you feel.
Step 2. Contact your vet
If your hamster has major injuries, you should call your vet right away to describe the situation or to let him know that you are going to his clinic immediately for an emergency. Be aware that not all small animal veterinarians can treat specimens of this size (such as hamsters, guinea pigs, or gerbils); if your veterinarian is unable to treat this rodent, ask him if he knows other professionals you can contact.
During the phone call, your vet can show you some first aid procedures to put in place before taking your pet to their clinic
Step 3. Get the tools you need for the dressing
If you have assessed that these are minor injuries, start caring for your hamster at home. You need various accessories, such as clean towels, cotton buds, several 10cc syringes (without needle) and some sterile gauze measuring 5x5cm; in addition, you will need a pack of sterile saline, a disinfectant (such as Betadine) and an antibiotic ointment.
- You can find these products at the pharmacy.
- Your vet can advise you on the specific type of antibiotic ointment to use.
- Betadine is also known as povidone iodine.
- Hydrogen peroxide has long been commonly used as a disinfectant, but in reality it does not seem to offer all the benefits that were once attributed to it; the blisters that develop on contact with the wound can damage cells, thus causing more harm than good.
Part 2 of 3: Treating Minor Injuries
Step 1. Let your little friend heal on their own
It is a very hardy animal and can heal quickly from wounds. If you find that he has only minor cuts or scrapes, the best thing to do is to let them heal on their own. the hamster often licks and cleans wounds to heal them.
- However, if he does not take care of them and clean them, even minor wounds can become infected and turn into an abscess, which is a blister filled with purulent material.
- The abscess is serious, must first be treated by a veterinarian and, later, also requires home care, such as cleaning the wound and administering antibiotics.
Step 2. Hold the small rodent still
An alternative to the wait-and-see approach is to take care of minor injuries. Before starting to medicate them, wrap the pet in a small clean cloth to restrain it and prevent it from moving. The hamster gets very agitated when injured, so you need to protect yourself from the risk of bites.
- Wrap it in the towel so you can still access the wounds.
- In addition to cuts and scrapes, the animal may have sores as a result of the injury; these are open wounds that appear inflamed and can bleed. If you don't see a lot of blood, you can treat these ulcers at home.
- The hamster is unable to clean such sores on their own, so you have to do it yourself.
Step 3. Clean the wound
Fill a syringe with some sterile saline and gently spray it on the wound, then dab with a pair of gauze pads to dry it. Repeat this treatment several times to make sure you clean the cut completely and remove any dirt.
This scrubbing reduces the risk of an abscess developing by allowing you to see how clean the wound is
Step 4. Disinfect and treat the wound
Once dry, use another sterile syringe with a small amount of Betadine; spray it on the cut and dab with a few pieces of gauze to dry the area. Then apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment using a cotton swab.
- By disinfecting the wound, you kill microorganisms that could cause an infection.
- Povidone iodine can stain your skin, so wear gloves when applying.
Step 5. Return the hamster to the cage
Regardless of the type of injury, it is important that the animal can rest and recover comfortably in its home. Place bowls of food and water near the sleeping area, and place the cage somewhere warm and quiet in the house.
The ideal would be to allow him to heal in a cage without bars, such as an aquarium, to prevent him from further injuring himself. If you do not have this type of enclosure and its purchase is too challenging, pay attention to the hamster as he moves around the cage
Step 6. Determine the cause of the injuries
To prevent them from harming themselves again (albeit slightly), you must first understand what the cause was. For example, the pet may have rubbed itself against a sharp-edged toy that caused it to be cut; there may be some loose bars in the cage that have scratched his skin.
- If they live with another specimen, they may not get along with each other by scratching and biting each other.
- He may also have too long fingernails and scratched himself.
- Whatever the cause, do your best to manage or eliminate it so that no more accidents occur; this could also mean separating the two hamsters.
Part 3 of 3: Treating Serious Injuries
Step 1. Give first aid
When the injuries are severe, must be treated immediately by the vet. First aid measures can stabilize the animal and increase the chances that it will survive before being able to take it to the doctor's office; such measures are especially useful if the hamster is bleeding.
- Grab a small towel or tissue, then apply gentle pressure to try to stop the bleeding.
- When it loses blood, this animal can die, since it doesn't have much of it in its body; don't waste precious time waiting for the bleeding to stop!
Step 2. Take the small rodent to the vet
He will be able to give him further care; during the trip, keep the animal wrapped in a cloth and put it in the carrier, so that it remains calm and quiet as you take it to the doctor's office.
Be prepared for the possibility that he may die. Some injuries are so severe that they could cause the hamster to die despite medical attention. If your little friend is very serious, the best thing to do is to euthanize him and make him sleep forever
Step 3. Treat the wound
The veterinarian can arrange to treat the most serious injuries; for example, if an abscess has developed from an infected wound, the doctor may cut it and drain the pus. If your hamster has become dehydrated because he hasn't been drinking enough after the accident, the vet can give him fluids under the skin to rehydrate him.
- It can also suture a severe cut.
- If the pet has broken a leg, know that there is not much the vet can do to stabilize it; if you put on a splint or a bandage, the hamster is likely to gnaw it off.
- Your vet may advise you to let the bone heal on its own; the paw may remain a little misshapen, but the animal will eventually recover. Your doctor may prescribe medications to manage pain.
- Treatment for a fractured paw is only recommended if your little friend is dragging it or if it looks inflamed; Keep in mind that if the small rodent is no longer able to use its hind legs, the doctor may recommend euthanasia.
Step 4. Take care of the pet at home
Once back from the clinic, you need to make sure that he feels comfortable during his recovery. In addition to pain relievers, your vet may advise you to apply cold packs to the wound to reduce inflammation. Since the hamster is so small, the whole body may get cold due to the compress.
- Wrap it in a cloth during and after applying cold therapy to keep the rodent warm.
- If the wound is infected, the vet prescribes a course of antibiotics that you must give him.
- Your little friend may be in so much pain that he refuses water and food; offer him the food with your hands, holding small morsels between your fingers and bringing them close to his mouth.
- Handle it as little as possible while recovering.
Step 5. Remove any hazards from the cage
This step is very important in the case of a broken leg; eliminate any toys or accessories that cause the pet to use its paws, such as ramps, stairs and the wheel. Remove the tubes as well, as the hamster may not resist the temptation to crawl inside them.
Leave only the bare essentials in the cage, such as a comfortable den, food and water bowls
Advice
- Typically, these small rodents are injured by falling, such as from a piece of furniture.
- These are very robust creatures that heal well from minor injuries.
- These animals love to gnaw on anything; unfortunately, they also do this with scabs covering a recent wound. If they overdo it, they could reopen the lesion exposing it to bacteria and therefore infection.
- Good nutrition helps the hamster recover; your vet may advise you to also give him some vitamin and mineral supplements.
- In the event of a fracture, your doctor may have your little friend X-rayed.
Warnings
- Very severe trauma may be impossible to cure; in that case, it is best to proceed with euthanasia.
- A bad fall usually generates severe internal injuries that only the vet can identify.
- These animals don't have much blood; take your hamster to the vet immediately in case of bleeding.
- If your hamster has an eye infection, take him to the vet immediately.
