Can Hamsters Get Roundworm?

Demecat · 12-22-2011, 12:19 PM

All day Jiang (cat) has been throwing up and half an hour ago, he threw up a live adult roundworm. Now this might just be because he ate an infested prey animal last night, but it could be an infestation.

As you know, I keep the cats away from the cages, but my cats go on my floor and bed. The hamsters go on there too. I know you cannot see the eggs with the naked eye and tend to come out in the cats' poo. But since a cat's anus is uncovered and it is that that comes into contact with the floor, I really need to know so I can watch my babies for signs.

Can hamsters get them and if so, apart from constipation/bloating, what are the signs?

((OOPS should have posted this in Health - it won't let me delete it so I can move it there))

StarlightSerenity · 12-22-2011, 01:08 PM

I admit I don't know much about worms but I thought I'd post a couple of links that might be helpful, although there's no actual mention of roundworm.

Hamsters Ringworm
Hamster Worms intestinal parasites

Demecat · 12-22-2011, 01:12 PM

Ringworm and roundworm are totally different. Ringworm is in fact, a fungus.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 12-22-2011, 01:30 PM

I don't know for sure, but I did a module on parasitology with my degree and frankly if I knew there was a parasite with an animal that shares things with mine I'd keep an eye out. Way too many of them can survive in the wrong species, and unfortunately they often cause more problems in the species they didn't want to infest than in the species they need to infest.

I don't know the signs at all, but I'd definetly keep a closer eye on the hamsters (and any other pets) for a while if you can.

Good luck with treating the cat too.

Demecat · 12-22-2011, 01:32 PM

Yes, I've done a similar module, I was just wandering if anyone had experience with it in hamsters

Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters · 12-22-2011, 01:47 PM

Arent humans suseptable to getting roundworm?
Id agree to keep an eye on the hams and if need be give your vet a ring to see if they know the answer.
Sorry I couldnt be more help :/

Demecat · 12-22-2011, 01:58 PM

Yes humans can get it. It is called toxoplasmosis when humans get it. The worm gets confused in human bodies and migrates to places like the eye or brain. In pregnant women, roundworm is dangerous to an unborn foetus and can cause the child to be born with birth defects, or worse. That is why pregnant women shouldn't handle litter trays.