Health question?

[BiffyTheHamster]

Hi guys,
I came in this evening to see Biffy, and noticed he had just one eye closed? I looked closer and it looked like dried crust or something (I tried to take a photo but he wouldn’t stop moving lol).

He is out playing in his pen and seems to be quite lively hopefully, and his eye is slightly more open, but I was just wondering if this was a worry?

Thanks so much )))

 

[Daisy]

How old if Biffy?

Sometimes as they get older they can get crusty eyes. Usually they open on their own after an hour or so, but if not you can wipe the eye with a slightly damp cloth and it should open.

If there's a lot of discharge and/or it smells bad or the hamster is rubbing the eye, there might be an infection which would need antibiotics from a vet but most of the time it's just crusty eyes from sleep and not a major concern.

 

[Maz]

I'm thinking Biffy is quite young isn't he? I'm aware you only got him recently - was that as a baby? It's unusual for a crusty eye in a younger hamster - if he is young then he might have an eye infection causing gunge. But see if it improves on its own. And if not you can bathe it, as Daisy says - being careful not to get the hamster wet I use the damp corner of a microfibre cloth and dab it a bit.

 

[BiffyTheHamster]

How old if Biffy?

Sometimes as they get older they can get crusty eyes. Usually they open on their own after an hour or so, but if not you can wipe the eye with a slightly damp cloth and it should open.

If there's a lot of discharge and/or it smells bad or the hamster is rubbing the eye, there might be an infection which would need antibiotics from a vet but most of the time it's just crusty eyes from sleep and not a major concern.

Thank you so much! He is only young and it’s basically completely open right now, so I will keep a check on it for infection

 

[BiffyTheHamster]

I'm thinking Biffy is quite young isn't he? I'm aware you only got him recently - was that as a baby? It's unusual for a crusty eye in a younger hamster - if he is young then he might have an eye infection causing gunge. But see if it improves on its own. And if not you can bathe it, as Daisy says - being careful not to get the hamster wet I use the damp corner of a microfibre cloth and dab it a bit.

It’s mostly improved for now! I’ll keep an eye on it and dab it a bit if it seems like he needs it- thanks for the help

 

[Maz]

That's good news Maybe just a blip and he woke up with something in his eye Good it's righted itself.