Illnesses
Keeping your hamster's cage clean and dry and picking up any uneaten food are some important things you can do to keep your hamster healthy.
   It is also very important to keep track of your hamster's health every day.
   If you currently are sick, don't feed or play with your hamster until you are well. Have someone else feed and play with them.

These illnesses are listed in alphabetical order.

Allergies/Respiratory Problems

Symptoms
* Skin Lesions
* Sneezing
* Hair Loss
* Eye Discharge
* Scaly Skin
* White Flakes around Ears and Eyes
* Hamster being very aggressive with the bedding
* Difficulty breathing

Treatments
* Usually the cause of allergies is bedding. Cedar bedding causes the most trouble with allergies, so don't use it in your hamster's cage. If pine bedding is causing your hamster to have these symptoms, replace it with shredded white paper. Replace beddings immediately.
* Food can also be a cause. If you think that it is the cause, try eliminating sunflower seeds, peanuts, and any food that's dyed. Then try adding more fresh fruits/vegetables, and maize.

Amyloidosis

Symptoms
* Swollen Abdomen
* Urinary Problems
* Dehydration
* Poor Appetite
* Rough Coat Hair

Treatments
* This is an old age (geriatric) disease that usually happens after the hamster is 1 year old. Amyloidosis is a condition where proteins produced by the body are deposited into various organs (primarily the liver and kidneys, others can be affected also). This condition usually results in liver or kidney failure.
* Take your hamster to the vet, and they can drain fluids from your hamster to make them more comfortable. Unfortunately, the fluids will most likely return, and the condition will be terminal.
* Treat your hamster with love and special care.


Aspergillis Fungus


Symptom
s
* Breathing Problems
* Wheezing
* Blood in Urine
* Inflamed Skin
* Diarrhea


Treatments

* Take your hamster to the vet immediately if you notice these symptoms. They will give your hamster an antibiotic and other medications.
* This fungus grows on the bedding in the potty area of your hamsters cage. It appears white and is hard to get off (try using white vinegar and scrubbing), and color changes to black when in an advance stage.
* You
can prevent this early on by removing wet bedding from your hamsters potty corner/area every other day (you could use a cat litter scoop). Try to keep the cage as clean as possible.
* This fungus can grow on fruits (never leave them in for more than a few hours) that have been sitting in the cage for a while.
* It is important to remove vegetables, if any remain, the day after you gave them to your hamster.


Colds and Pueumonia


Symptoms

* Coughing
* Diarrhea
* Runny Nose
* Restlessness/Can't Sleep
* Staying In One Spot
* Hard Breathing


Treatments

* Place your hamster in a warmer room (69-75 degrees) if it's room seems cold.
* Don't play or feed your hamster if you are sick, they can catch colds and get pueumonia from you if you are sick. Avoid the room they are in if possible.
* Take your hamster to a vet, who will prescribe antibiotics, or give a shot of antibiotics.
* Give your hamster vitamin drops in water. A vet may tell you to do so.


Diabetes


Symptoms

* Drinking a lot more than usual
* Going to the bathroom very often, resulting in the need to clean the cage more often.
* Decreased weight


Treatments

* Take hammy to the vet and talk to them about it.
* Remove all salty and sweet foods (treats and some fresh foods) from it's diet.
* Gradually change the diet to more cooked then cooled plain rice and potatoes, yet still include packaged foods.


Diarrhea


Symptoms

* Irregular droppings - very loose
* Droppings smelling rotten
* Discolored droppings


Treatments

* Take hamster to vet immediately
* Remove moist foods
* Provide more alfalfa and hay for roughage (it's a must)
* Medications are available in petstores, or online


Malocclusion


Symptoms

* Drooling
* Ulcers of the mouth
* Unusually long teeth
* Difficulty eating
* Change in eating habits (not really eating)
* Weight loss


Treatments

  Take your hamster to the vet to get their teeth inspected and possibly shortened. This is a bad thing because teeth are very important. It is very painful.


Skin Diseases


Symptoms

* Areas of hair loss
* Scaly Skin


Treatments

  As hamsters get older, hair loss as well as tumorlike growths can be seen. Although they are not usually common or serious, they can be. If you think your hamster may have a cancerous growth, take it to the vet and they can remove it if they think it's best.


Stomach Infections


Symptoms

* Swollen abdomen
* Diarrhea
* Hard stools
* Straining while going potty


Treatments

  Take your hamster to the vet immediately before serious internal damage occurs. There isn't
much you can do.

Wet Tail


Symptoms

* Hamster's tail, anal area, and even parts of belly are soiled in loose waste and excrement.


Treatments

* Take your hamster to the vet
immediately, they can use antibiotics in the form of shots, or prescribe some in powder for water, etc.
* Provide plenty of roughage such as alfalfa or hay. It helps digestion get back on track.

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If you think your hamster has any of the illnesses above, and some of the treatments don't seem to work take them to the vet immediately if not already suggested.

Make sure you ask your veterinarian any questions you have and they will try their best to help you and your hamster.


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