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Old 03-19-2017, 03:10 AM   #1
snow pony
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Default How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

I recently got Tey, my RD hamster, and I'm not sure if he's able to hear or not. He doesn't seem to respond to noise (if I click my fingers behind him he doesn't react at all), and he mostly has his ears down. I was just wondering if there are any ways to tell if a hamster is deaf, and if he is, is there anything special I need to do in order to care for him?
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Old 03-19-2017, 04:35 AM   #2
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Is he tame yet?
If he's still a bit nervous making sounds like clicking your fingers could cause him to freeze & appear not to have heard anything, ears down is usually a sign of being nervous or afraid too, unless they are unwell when the ears might be down.
Does he react to you normally otherwise, if you hold a treat for him does he respond & are his ears up?
It can be very hard to tell for sure if a ham is deaf but if they are then you just have to take extra care not to startle them, they will still pick up vibrations so will sense you rustling substrate for example so you can do that, avoid approaching from above or behind where they can't see you coming.
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Old 03-19-2017, 04:39 AM   #3
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

I would just give it time and you will probably find out. I think sometimes they can be "selectively deaf" lol (ie ignore you). And as Cypher says if they feel scared they freeze.

If he mostly has his ears down then he is maybe quite scared and a bit nervous at the moment. It might be better to leave him alone for a few days, hide a couple of tasty treats in his cage to distract him and perk him up and then start with taming gradually.
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Old 03-19-2017, 04:45 AM   #4
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Edit - sorry just realised your hammy has just been to the vets and been diagnosed with mites. If you've just done a cage clean and put Invermectin on her she is probably quite unhappy and stressed rather than deaf. She may even be feeling unwell as Invermectin is quite strong and can have side effects. I am also surprised the vet didn't prescribe it. Sometimes they can even give an injection rather than applying something topically. Was it "spot on" that you bought because it isn't as good as the stuff the vets prescribe.

She needs a bit of time now I think to settle after the cage clean and treatment. Just give her lots of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper in a big mound so she can rebuild her nest and make it cosy and give a her a few days quiet maybe and a couple of tasty treats to cheer her up, in her cage near the house maybe.

Did the vet do a skin scraping to test for mites? If it's not an experienced vet it could be something else and then Invermectin wouldn't be appropriate. I'm not sure whereabouts in Suffolk you are, but this exotic vet practice specialises in rodents.

Suffolk Exotic Vet

It's a bit soon to take her to another vet as she needs to recover a bit, but if her ears are still down in 5 to 7 days time, maybe try and get an appointment with the exotic vet linked who can look at all possibilites and give some good advice.
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Old 03-19-2017, 05:13 AM   #5
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Oops! Apologies - it was your other hamster Ella with the mites. Tey maybe just needs some time to settle in, but if his ears are down all the time he might be unwell. See how he goes over the next few days. I don't think there is any special care if he is deaf other than to be aware of it and not startle him.
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Old 03-19-2017, 05:20 AM   #6
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Tey is tame as he has a respiratory problem and was treated for it in the shop before I bought him, so I am able to handle him a lot. He doesn't seem nervous, he's definitely less skitty than Ella and her ears are always up. He doesn't freeze if I make the noise (Ella does freeze at certain noises), but he just continues as if nothing has happened. I will keep an eye on him but he doesn't seem unwell currently. Also, thanks for the vet, I'll have a look.
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Old 03-19-2017, 05:24 AM   #7
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Also, forgot to say in response to cypher, he does take treats and things from me, but his ears are never up when he does so. Even running round his cage they are never up.
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Old 03-19-2017, 05:25 AM   #8
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

He also had his ears down in the shop when he was playing happily and others had their ears up.
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Old 03-19-2017, 06:09 AM   #9
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

Sounds a little odd that his ears are never up, do you have a photo of him?
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Old 03-19-2017, 06:26 AM   #10
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Default Re: How to tell if a hamster is deaf?

I do. It's not amazing but it's the best I've got of his ears. He did actually put them up yesterday as I put some Ivermectin on his neck as a precaution (as the vet said it was a good idea to), and I don't think he liked the feel so he put them away from his head and he looked completely different. I did the noise you do to get a cat's attention (pursing your lips together and breathing in), and he did respond to that, but responds to absolutely nothing else whether it's me making a noise or something else.

https://goo.gl/photos/CBHcNvPMEAzfty2B8
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