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Old 02-01-2020, 04:44 PM   #1
Vierville
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Default Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

Hello. My one dwarf hamster, Norman, keeps grazing his nose. He has an identical cage and layout to our one other hamster Baldrick so I really doubt it is the cage or they'd both be doing this.

I noticed nis nose was very pink and missing fur the day after I gave him a seed bell. I took it away and took him to the vet who confirmed it wasn't mites or any skin illness but rather a consequence of rubbing and gave me some cream to put on it.

I usually give my hamsters a Burgess Excel chewing stick each week and this week I saw that his stick had been significantly gnawed on and yesterday his nose was again raw and missing fur.

Has anybody else experienced this with their hamsters?

I replaced the gnawed stick which was quite thick with the thinnest one in the packet as I don't want him to be without a chewing stick since he clearly loves chewing. I also give him a Whimzee XS toothbrush stick every other week. He doesn't bar chew at all from what I've seen.

I'm really interested to see of others have had similar experiences with hamsters grazing their moses on chewing items?
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Old 02-01-2020, 05:23 PM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

I have noticed a bald patch on Percy's nose the other day but he lives in a bin cage. Does his graze look similar to Norman's? I'm a bit puzzled by it too. The fur has grown back and it could have been caused by his diabetes i guess.



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Old 02-01-2020, 05:32 PM   #3
Vierville
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

First things first, that is an absolutely lovely picture of Percy! What a handsome little lad he is!

Yes, Norman's grazed nose looks quite similar to Percy's except his is right in front, between his nose and his upper lip. It's been exactly in that spot both when he got his seed bell and when I noticed he'd been very actively chewing his stick.

I'm wondering if he just has a funny angle that he's approaching things that he chews from? It puzxles me as the others don't have any problem like this.

I tried to get a photo of it but he just wouldn't stay still.
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Old 02-01-2020, 05:44 PM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

Thanks. My OH sent me this photo of Percy in his taxi while i was at work and that's how i noticed the patch. Like Norman he never sits still either.
I also think that Norman must be chewing at an awkward angle and like Percy gets carried away once they get their teeth stuck into something....little devils.
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Old 02-02-2020, 09:50 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

It does sound as though he may be chewing in a an odd way or position that's causing this to happen, I had a Chinese ham who was always trying to get her nose anywhere it shouldn't be & it ended up being permanently red! It never became a problem or bothered her so in the end I gave up worrying about it but if you are concerned then maybe either switch to a different kind of chew treat or limit the time it's in the cage.
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Old 02-06-2020, 06:36 PM   #6
Vierville
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

Thanks Cypher. I've taken the thicker sticks out of his cage and replaced them with the thinnest ones in the packet. He loves his gnawing sticks so I didnt want to take them away completely. It's been a few days now and his nose seems to be healing up well so it seems it was his gnawing sticks.

He has his Whimzee as well.

Thanks for the advice!
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Old 02-08-2020, 03:01 PM   #7
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Default Re: Dwarf hamster constantly grazing his nose

looks like its been rubbing against something. I take it is isn't due to dry skin and your ham not over grooming the area because its itchy? My Lilith nose is the same. I moved her to a zoozone to cut out bars and shelves. yet shes still found a way to rub her nose. theres tiny notches for what I assume would be for the hay rack which she keeps sticking her nose in. where theres a will theres a way I guess.
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