Hamster Breath

Vonni911 · 01-06-2014, 05:50 AM

I have a little question that I haven't seen addressed anywhere... Is it common for hamsters' breath to be stinky? All of the girls have downright foul breath; but Simon The Syrian's breath didn't seem as stinky. You have to actually get really close to their mouths to smell it; but i took a sniff one day out of curiosity and discovered that they have horrible breath!
Has anyone else observed this or am I just in possession of three hammies with halitosis?!

Clairealex · 01-06-2014, 12:15 PM

Hmmm that's quite odd that they all have odd breath!

When they have smelly breath it can be a sign of a pouch problem - usually absess or impacted with food rotting away in there. But if they all have it and you haven't noticed anything going on with the pouches (puffy, always full, fussing at it) , could it maybe be something in their diet? I've not been able to get close enough to sniff my Chinese's breath but my little hybrid doesn't have bad breath, but he did have a very slight whiff when he had an impacted pouch a few months ago.

Vonni911 · 01-06-2014, 05:07 PM

It is definitely odd. All of my little fur babies have had smelly breath. There are no other symptoms, so I know they aren't sick. I was thinking that it may have had something to do with their food, as well. I can't change their food, so I will just have to live with sweet, stinky, little kisses! LOL

Clairealex · 01-07-2014, 03:35 AM

Haha better stinky kisses than no kisses

Vonni911 · 01-07-2014, 02:40 PM

I totally agree! I just can't help but to give them plenty of smooches when I have them out. They are just irresistible!

**DrKMcK** · 01-07-2014, 06:43 PM

Now, dog breath I understand. LOL. But hamster breath??? Now I have to check out my crew!

Although, to be honest, I'll only be able to check Patches and Ted E. Bear. Toffee & Almond would bite me if I got that close to their mouths...little devils

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Scrubby · 01-07-2014, 07:00 PM

The other day, my Scrub was running about inside my jumper and she started stuffing the label in her cheek, I pulled it back out and she carried on running about. When I went to wash the jumper later I could smell something that wasn't too nice. Turned out to be that the label on the jumper stank of a stinky breath smell.
Although i've never smelt a hamsters breath, their cheek pouches smell, so it would make sense for them to have smelly breath

Vonni911 · 01-07-2014, 11:49 PM

It wasn't too hard to get a whiff; I just pulled back her lips and took a sniff, WHEW DAWGIE!!! LOL I suppose it makes sense abpout their pouches being a source of the nastiness. They aren't infected and nor are the girls sick. I am just thinking it is just a hamster thing. I can deal with it; i just wanted to know if there were any others out there with the same experience.

Vonni911 · 01-07-2014, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrKMcK

Now, dog breath I understand. LOL. But hamster breath??? Now I have to check out my crew!

Although, to be honest, I'll only be able to check Patches and Ted E. Bear. Toffee & Almond would bite me if I got that close to their mouths...little devils

.

DrMck, please let us know after you investigate! I am eager to find tha t other hamsters have halitosis!!! I don't want to be unique in this! LOL