My sons hamsters eye is swollen and looks like it has infection what can I do? I dont have the money for a vet

Question

My sons keeps the hamster in his room and we noticed that there was a draft then her eye was looking funny.... We moved her about a week ago and her eye has seemed to get worse. There doesnt seem to be any leakage but it doesnt look good. PLEASE HELP my husband is in Iraq and my son cant take loosing his hamster at christmas time. She is only 1.5 years old.

Answer 1

Posted from link below. If you serch the link they have a lot of good information on natural remadies, You still should take her to the vet when you have some money but this should help otherwise.

http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10605&st=0&p=92580&#entry92580

"Symptoms: One or both eyes remaining shut even when hamster is awake. Matted or messy fur near eye as a result of watery eye. 'Crusty eyes' - Visible foreign deposits on slit of eyelids. Related problems: Conjunctivtis (Reddish or pinkish colour on eye not present previously), Respiratory problem (Refer to [R] Respiratory/Breathing).

Causes: Infection or irritation caused by dirty environment (for example, dirty cage or bedding). Ensure pine or cedar bedding is not used. Closed or swollen eye sometimes comes together with respiratory infection.
Remedy: Obtain Bausch and Lomb soothing eye wash (obtainable from local pharmacy) and let 1 or 2 drops fall directly on the eye using the spout. Let your hamster rub it in himself (he will!). Repeat twice daily. Alternatively, wash the hamster's eye with this home-made remedy: Add one teaspoon of boric acid to half a cup of boiled and cooled down water. Using an eye dropper, bathe the eye 2 or 3 times a day with it.

Listed ingredients in the Bausch and Lomb soothing eye wash are:
boric acid, sodium borate and sodium chloride; preserved with sorbic acid (0.1%) and edetate disodium (0.025%) with the boric acid being the active ingredient.

If the eye does not show any signs of recovery in 2-3 days, consult a vet as a more serious health issue could be present. Sometimes an impacted cheekpouch can cause watering/closed eyes, as can overgrown teeth.

If your hamster's eye is swollen but not watering or sticky, there have been corneal ulcers, and ingrown eyelashes (called "entropion") reported in this site. These conditions can easily be mis-diagnosed as a simple infection by a vet."

Answer 2

Hamster Eye Infection

Answer 3

this happened to my daughter's hamster we put warm cloth on it. It helped but unfortunatly the hamster lost the eye but the hamster is still going strong and running around having fun hold the hamster and put a warm cloth on it that should help. We never took it to a vet either

Answer 4

Same thing with our hamster, and her cage is cleaned weekly. The vet said sometimes food gets stuck in their cheek pockets and can cause an infection. Our vet removed rotted food from one of her cheeks. Or a bad tooth will cause their face to puff and eyes to swell. She is on a liquid antibiotic and has ointment prescription for her eye. We're keeping our fingers crossed. She also is about 2yrs. old. I think their average life span is 3? Also, it was hard to find a vet that will treat pocket pets, and the vet bill with prescriptions was about $75 for us. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Put neosporin on it. I know they say not to put it in the eye, but I've used it before with no problem. It might also help to supplement her diet with cod liver oil. Rodents love it, and it's a great health tonic.
You could also go to a pet store and get an antibiotic specifically for rodents.
1.5 years is fairly old for a hamster, you need to prepare your son with the idea that she's getting older and will die some day. I know this is hard, but it's a fact of life that we all need to deal with now and then.

Answer 6

Well you can get a wet cloth and gently rub it in her eye. And if that doesnt work I dont know what else to do for a hamster... But if the worse of the worse comes then.. since shes only 1 almost two you can buy a new hamster.. That sound harse but its better then tellin her its dead... =?D hope i helped♥♣♥

Answer 7

I think this site will help you with what you're looking for http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/hamster_eye_problems.htm

You may also want to check for vet clinics in your area. They're like human health clinics except for animals..

Best of luck and hope she gets better.

Answer 8

i hope it gets better i dont really kno im not an emergent maybe try telophoning a vet to get some home remedies hope all goes well for your son loosing apet can be tough if it dies tell him it will be ok because it will be in hammie heaven eating plenty of delicious treats and playing with the other hammies
i send you my condolences!

Answer 9

OK sorry it sounds like upper respiratory i don't no much about that but get a wet cloth Rub his eye gently thin Chang the bedding don't use pine i use care fresh that is all i know what to do and good luck fore your husband

Answer 10

If your son is 1.5 when the hamster dies tell him he is sleeping, then when he is not in or asleep or something go out and get one that looks the same....
This may seem snide but it is the right thing to do if you don`t want your son to be upset for Christmas.

Answer 11

An animal needs medical help? Wow, that's a shocker. Bet you didn't think about that when you BOUGHT it!

How much sense do you really need?
Try your hardest to scrounge up some money for a vet visit, explain to them your situation, maybe they'll help you out. Please do something quick, your hamster is in pain! Treat it as you would treat your own child. It needs help.