Most common injuries to dwarf hamsters are usually just plain carelessness by the pet owner. By neglecting their hamsters needs, by not supplying the proper food and water supply, proper bedding, toys, or cages. Also not paying attention to signs where there may be something wrong with your pet. One way to prevent that is to do a lot of research before you purchase your dwarf hamster.
Another injury caused by pet owners is not holding your hamster properly or dropping them. Also leaving your hamster running free on the floor or in his ball without supervision can cause injuries like someone could accidentally step on the dwarf hamster, kick them, or if in the ball it could fall down some stairs.
Broken bones are usually a result of a fall. If you think your dwarf hamster has a broken limb get a hold of your veterinarian, he or she will not be able to splint it but they can make sure it is not inflamed and give you the best advice on the care of your dwarf hamster. Your hamsters injuries probably will not heal straight but this will not affect their active life after the injury heals. The dwarf hamster should be removed from their cage to another one if there is more than one sharing a cage. Make sure all toys and the wheel are taken out during the healing process so that the injured limb can heal naturally.
A dwarf hamster may get what is called an impacted cheek pouch. This is caused by not being able to extract what is in the hamsters pouch. Certain items can cause this like, fluffy bedding, some sharp seeds, sharp pieces of wood toys, and sticky foods. Anything you give the dwarf hamster will probably end up in their pouch. An impacted pouch will have a lump that does not go away and it could cause the eyes to close. You must see the veterinarian this is not something you can take care of the vet needs to empty and rinse the pouch out. So be careful with what you give your dwarf hamsters.
Some dwarf hamster injuries cause an irritated eye when one hamster gets into a fight with another hamster. Another cause for this injury is dirt, a wood chip, or dust in the eye.
If the eye looks red or matted shut you should use a warm wash cloth to soak the eye. Once the eye is opened then add some sterilized saline solution, if this does not help then consult your veterinarian.
Cuts and bites are an injury that dwarf hamsters receive usually in a fight with another hamster or improper toys, and cages. For minor cuts and bites just place your dwarf hamster in a separate cage and the hamster will lick and clean their wounds on their own, which the injury will heal most of the time on its own. For more serious injuries cut the fur around the injury and clean with peroxide and put an antibiotic ointment on the injuries. See your veterinarian if the injury gets infected or does not heal.
Abscesses are an injury caused from cuts and bites that have not been cleaned properly. This will require a trip to the vet. An abscess will have a bump with fluid in it and it will have to be lanced and drained by your veterinarian. He or she will than prescribe an antibiotic for your dwarf hamsters injuries while it heals.
Hope this information will be helpful for you and your lovable pet dwarf hamster. Give your pet a healthy, happy home and this may give them a better chance at a longer life span.
Dawn Morris
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