Swollen lip! Please help!

[magicmouse]

Hi everyone!

My adult syrian female has had her bottom lip swollen and red a couple days from now. This all started after a busy night where she chewed off sticks from a wooden stick house I put in her bin. Both sets of her front teeth seemed quite long since I got her a week ago, and I suspect it's the first time she had so much to chew on.
Is it irritation or a wound? Maybe an allergy?
I really don't know how to treat them other than taking her to the vet.
I haven't noticed any behavior or appetite changes so far, and she still seems energetic.


Some background: About a week ago I adopted her, my first hamster ever, a female syrian that seemed to be an adult, probably fully grown (about 8-10cm long). Her owner said she didn't have time for her anymore, and put up pictures of her living conditions, which were so poor I felt I had to do something, and seeing she lived very close to my house, and I got her.

She came in a critter keeper-kinda container, about 10x15cm big...just a little bit bigger than a regular toilet paper. She could barely move in it, and her unkown-wood (im suspecting pine) shavings+dust bedding was absolutely filthy, reeking of ammonia so badly it made me cough when i got her out. She only had two plastic containers for food and water that looked chewed on, and her diet consisted of (once a week) scattered commercial mix.

I was very surprised to see her in good health, no signs at all of wet tail, when it was uncertain how long had she lived like that.

Because of the suddenness of the situation, I improvised her a bin cage with only toilet paper bedding (Would this be ok to continue, or should I absolutely change it asap?), some cardboard tubes and a wooden stick house for her to hide in. She seems to be very comfortable and happy, arranging her house, stashing food, having quite an appetite, etc.

Sorry for the long rambling....I hope you can help me and thanks in advance!!

[racinghamster]

Hi magicmouse, good on you for giving her a better home. The cage (if you can call it a cage?) sounded awful. So well done. Paper based substrate/bedding is fine. Ripped up toilet paper (never kitchen towel as these don`t break down the same if ingested) is simple and easy and absorbent. So yes, you can keep ripping the sheets up and put a good handful in for her to take into her nest. If you leave some by the nest door, it`s likely to disappear! Just use cheap white, unscented toilet paper.

Substrate/flooring....well depending on where you live, in the UK, there are a few good products on the market that are paper based. Fitch is one. Wood shavings can be okay if she`s lived on those for a while and hasn`t shown any reactions like watery eyes, sneezing a lot, itchy skin etc... but wood shavings do need aired in an open bin and given a good old shake around before using them. This helps release any new aroma that can smell strong to such a small animal. The best brands are Chipsi-Classic and Pets At Home own label, but never use anything scented. Only spot clean her cage too as doing full cage cleans ca tress a hamster. Just wipe things down with wet kitchen towel and replace a few handfuls of fresh. No need for any cleaning sprays as these can give off strong smells. These should really only be useful when a hamster has a diagnoses illness like wet tail. Hot water and kitchen towel are your best friends.

The red, swollen lip? It`s difficult to say if she`s hurt it on something or the redness will go away over the next few days, but keep a close eye on it. Is she eating properly? If she`s picking up food and nibbling it okay while you watch, then she shouldn`t have any tooth issues, but because she`s been rehomed from someone, you won`t know her true history unless this person was, `getting rid` because they didn`t want the vet bills.

Chances are she`s nipped the lip or gum by chewing on the wood, but you can always pop her along to a vet for a check up of her teeth if you are worried about it. Main thing is that she`s eating and happy now

[Drago]

I would assume the lip swelling could be due to an injury or cut on the lip and should clear up with time, keep an eye on it to make sure everything's going fine and remove any chewed wood that has sharp bits. Toilet paper is fine for temporary purposes, but definitely switch to something like fitch or matter clean and cozy whenever possible that was very kind of you to rescue this poor ham and give her another shot at life! Enjoy your new little one and I hope her lip feels better soom