Hamster fur?

Question

My hamster (the same one who loves biting me) seems to have brown dirt rings around her eyes. No matter how much I see her groom herself, it doesn't come off. She is a Russian Dwarf hamster and it is absoulutely not her fur color. Can someone tell me why she has those! I am worried that something happened to her.

-She is rather healthy

-She has had this for quite some time now ( I thought that it would come off with self grooming!)

Answer 1

my rat has a ring around his neck that looks like a light browncolor..maybe it is just dirt! idk sry!

Answer 2

This is what is known in veterinary books as "red tears". Rodents have harderian glands which are specialized glands located behind the eye.These glands secrete a substance called porphyrin which will look like red discharge in the eyes. It is very rare in hamsters and can be caused due to stress, allergy or any sickness.

There is no treatment for "red eyes" but it would help if you could observe the hamster for any other signs of sickness, stress or allergy due to bedding or high drafts in the cage. Once you rule out the reason, the discharge should decrease.

The main reason for allergy is bedding, try to shift to Carefresh or soft tissue bedding if you are using shavings and see it it becomes alright.