Urgent, please help!

[4Taylor20]

My Syrian Neville has this really icky wound that I don't know how to treat. I don't know how he got it, there is nothing pokey in his cage. I just want to know how to help him. It doesn't seem to be hurting him because I accidentally poked it while trying to get a pic and he didn't cry. I can't take him to the vet because there isn't one near me that will look at a ham. Please help...

[cypher]

It looks like a clean wound from what I can see so it may heal on it's own, you can bath it with saline solution if it does need cleaning but if it doesn't heal or gets infected then he may need antibiotics which only a vet can prescribe so keep a close eye on him & try to find a vet just in case you do need one.

[oranges123]

You need to get him some where ASAP that wound could get infected and harm or kill your ham. Looks pretty nasty and not caused by hurting him self more like a iterated spot that got scratched

[racinghamster]

Sometimes when a wound bursts or looks dry and is not irritated, it`s best to leave it alone. This looks like a wound from a burst cyst or wound and his own body/immune system could heal it over, although as cypher suggested, you can mix up some saline to gently clean the wound with a clean cotton pad.

Saline: Boil the kettle. Add a teaspoonful of salt to a sterile/clean cup or jug. Add one pint of boiled water to the salt and allow the salt to dissolve. Let the water cool right down. Saline can be kept in the fridge or made fresh when necessary.

It`s always a good idea to have a vet you know you can contact in emergencies though so I would start looking for one just in case. x

[BrainGirl]

Is he a longhaired hamster? I had one that got cysts similar to that and took him to my vet. She said that some LH hams are prone to them and that they're just like acne in us.

I think if you keep his environment clean he'll be OK.

[4Taylor20]

He is a long haired ham, should i take out the bedding and replace it with fleece for the time being? Or should he be fine? Its on the back of his neck so he cant pick at it easily which makes me very happy.

[BrainGirl]

He'll probably be fine, as long as it's not dusty bedding. But it shouldn't be dusty anyway

[4Taylor20]

Alright, thanks everyone for the help. Ill keep you posted