My Syrian hamster sneezes and shakes! HELP PLEASE!!

Question

My Syrian hamster makes sneezing noises and shakes when she is looking at me. I don't play with her at all. Someone please help!! I don't want my hamster to be sick! I also leave the air conditioner on at night too. She lives in a glass cage and I've had her for more than a year. She cant be pregnant. Please don't answer this if you don't know.

Answer 1

Signs that a hamster has a respiratory infection are normally sneezing and runny nose. In more severe cases the hamster may have runny eyes, lethargy, weight loss, refusal to eat and drink or laboured breathing/wheeziness.

Infections can be caused due to improper bedding like pine or cedar shaving, so change your bedding to carefresh or plain ripped toilet paper and see if the infection goes away in a couple of days.

If the hamster exhibits signs of sneezing and running nose only and it continues to eat and drink and is active it should be kept in a warm room (not hot) of constant temperature and away from draughts. Some extra paper bedding should be placed in the cage and the hamster should recover within a couple of days. If the hamster does not recover after a couple of days or worsens veterinary advice should be sought as antibiotic treatment may be required.

If the hamster exhibits any signs of a severe cold (runny eyes, lethargy, weight loss, refusal to eat/drink or laboured breathing/wheeziness) veterinary advice should be sought immediately as antibiotic treatment is likely to be needed and failure to treat quickly could lead to bronchitis or pneumonia from which the hamster may have trouble recovering.

Answer 2

Try leaving the air conditioner lower and try playing with her for at least ten minutes each day. Sometimes class can get very cold when it's cold outside so its the same inside. It's probably just like a cold a human would get in the winter. Try these things if that doesnt work. Call a vet and ask for advice its free to do that. Dont get to scared and good luck hopes this helps!

Answer 3

hamsters come from the dessert never put it in air conditioning!  

Answer 4

you shouldnt allow her to be cold at night, turn the air conditioner on low or turn it off at night so she wont be cold and get sick, also you should play with her so she gets exercise and so she wont go untame ok. does she get enough air through the glass cage opening? If not then her blood presure can and will go bad, and she will have a more likely chance of getting sick. It is also a really great idea to purchase a little hideout for her to sleep in, you can get one a wal-mart or a pet store and they work great i got my little cheeks a t.v. hideout which looks like a t.v and it keeps her really warm when she sleeps...hope this helps:)