What happened? Looks like blood or something around eyes?

ButterNut · 07-14-2012, 08:54 PM

Im so confused! I got really worried. I was holding my 10 week old hamster (yes, there pretty old now, I hope thats not too late to be together, Ive got homes for them soon :0)
And what looks like blood came out around her eyes! It was watery and dark reddish. I dont know if it was blood or maybe just her fur made it look red? But her eyes werent bulgy and all red like ive read. It completely and pretty quickly dried out to look normal again. At first it looked like reddish tear marks and then it was just around her eyes and then it dried compeltely. No blood stains, no anything. Looks compelely normal. Should I be worried? What is this?

ButterNut · 07-14-2012, 09:07 PM

By the way she is acting fine, eating food, energetic, cleaning as usual. She might have what this persons hamster has?
Eye Infection?
But a much less bad one? I dont know, this looks a lot worse, and hers is gone.

LoveMyHams · 07-14-2012, 10:52 PM

Take her to the vet. I can't help with what it is, but blood shouldn't be coming out of the eyes. Anything abnormal like that should be seen by a professional, just like you would a child.

racinghamster · 07-15-2012, 06:24 AM

It could be porphyrin and not blood but without a photo it`s not easy to say. This is a normal gland secretion from the eye and can sometimes be produced when an animal has slept too much or is feeling low. If you have any concerns, then see your vet, but if she has no obvious eyeball injuries or swelling, I would say it`s porphyrin staining. It occurs in rats a lot when they have a respiratory problem.

The white hamster in the link looks to have an infection in that eye as it`s eye is closed and you will norice the red stain around the eye?

ButterNut · 07-15-2012, 10:14 AM

Shes 100 % good as new so I dont think it was anything to worry about.

Thats just the only thread I could find thats slightly similar. Its not nearly as bad. I think I need to put more toys in her cage so she isnt feeling low or sleeping too much.

Also, wouldnt blood stain the fur not just leave?

racinghamster · 07-16-2012, 04:15 AM

That`s good that she`s active and the secretion you saw could have been due to the reasons I gave before, or perhaps an allergy to her substrate. If you use wood shavings and havn`t had any problems before, then it might not be that. But don`t rule it out completely.

Enriching her environment will help keep her occupied yes. But if the red staining reccurs more often, it might be worth looking at the underlying cause and what that could be.

ButterNut · 07-16-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

That`s good that she`s active and the secretion you saw could have been due to the reasons I gave before, or perhaps an allergy to her substrate. If you use wood shavings and havn`t had any problems before, then it might not be that. But don`t rule it out completely.

Enriching her environment will help keep her occupied yes. But if the red staining reccurs more often, it might be worth looking at the underlying cause and what that could be.

I use carefresh, not wood shavings.

Ill keep an eye on her.