My hamster is sick! Please Help!!?

Question

My hamster, Lucky, is a short tailed hamster. She is about 1 and a half years old. Her right eye is swollen it looks like. Kinda like a cold in her eye. She has been sneezing alot and my parents think its just a cold. But they know shes sick and dont know what to do. I've noticed that Lucky has sometimes been dosing off on her little ledge at the top of her ramp she has in her cage. When I try to get her to come down it seems like she is scared to come down. She never used to be this way. I will say that she still is very active and has been eating and drinking regulary. I dont know what to do. What does she have and how do I help?

Answer 1

my hamsters recently were sneezing and acting the same way.they were coming down with pneumonia.they had 10 days of antibiotics and fully recovered.in hamsters,colds often go into pneumonia,which is rapidly fatal.the vet will listen for crackling,wheezing noises in their lungs-yes,u can use a stethoscope on a hamster!good luck.never handle a hamster if u have a cold,unlike many pets,hamsters can and do catch colds from humans.

Answer 2

Sounds like she's settling down into her age.

Just give her a lot of attention and a few extra treats.

Answer 3

The best thing you can do for it is take it to the vet. If you can't do that, give it vitamins, make sure the bedding isn't dusty (to keep it out of the eye), and give your hamster the best time it's ever had before it's too late.

Answer 4

call the vet and get their opion but if they say its just a cold you can put a little cod liver oil on a piece of bread and give it to her it helps build their immune system to fight it off.  if she isn't getting better take her to the vet immediatly.

Answer 5

Take her to a vet rightaway! She could be having a respiratory infection and unless she is treated immediately it can complicate.

Also you talked about a swelling in her eye. Maybe she has damaged her eye causing a swelling or it could be a cancerous growth (very common in old hamsters), hence only a vet can diagnose correctly as to what her condition is now.

Remember, the lifespan of a hamster is 1.5 to 2 years, so your hamster is pretty old and very susceptible to sicknesses, so take good care of her, feed her healthy food and have a good time with her during the time she would be with you.