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Old 08-12-2019, 11:24 AM   #1
jsp
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 108
Default New hamster making snuffy noise, also funny eye

Hi,

I wondered if I could ask for a little bit of advice about our new hamster?

I have just bought a 9 week old tricolour syrian hamster as a pet for my 9 year old son. She is in a big Little Friends Plaza Tall Rat and Hamster Cage with Back to Nature non-allergenic paper and also shredded paper bedding, and we have been leaving her alone for the 4 or 5 days since we bought her, except for looking at her once a day at 7pm to check that she is okay.

When we do open the cage and look at her she comes out to sit on my son's hand and take seeds, with a bit of encouragement. However, she makes a lot of snuffying noises, as though she has a tickly nose or has been taking old fashioned snuff, which is making her sneeze.

Today she was doing it a lot more than usual and also it took a long time for her left eye to open. He eyes were already a bit bulgy in the shop, and one looked a bit funny as though it was watery, but I think she might just look like that normally.

This is a video of her:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjYb...ature=youtu.be
The snuffing sounds are two quiet to hear, but her eye shows.

I wondered if I could ask if this is normal for a hamster? I had two as a teenager and I don't remember either of them doing this snuffing noise.

She came from a hobby breeder and was only in the shop for half an hour before we collected her and took her home. The journey was about 10 minutes by car.

Thanks!
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Old 08-13-2019, 08:16 PM   #2
10Minutes
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 187
Default Re: New hamster making snuffy noise, also funny eye

I love that she comes out to sit on your son's hand with some encouragement, such an adorable little sweetie. Not sure about this, but she seems like she could be having an allergic reaction.

1. Could her bedding be too dusty?

2. Are the paper edges too sharp and could they possibly have poked her in the eye?

3. What are her toys and hides made of? If the hide is made from inappropriate wood, it is possible that she has been sleeping/ spending long hours in it surrounded by toxic fumes.

4. I found a link to the cage you mentioned: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Frie.../dp/B005CAYZ4A

Is this the one? If so, I strongly discourage setting up the top two floors, because it is too high up and they look very dangerous to me. She could fall off them and hurt herself.

5. The cage size is 78cm x 48cm, so it's a bit on the small side for a Syrian. Maybe you can consider upgrading her cage? With hamsters, it's the floor space that counts, not the height. Heights can be dangerous, as even without the two floors, she might start climbing the bars upwards and fall off.

6. What have you been feeding her? Someone suggested to me before that my hamster might have had a food allergy, so that's good to consider too.

I'd recommend you take her to an exotic vet if you are able too, the eye doesn't look good to me, but I'm just a beginner too so I can't really tell. Hopefully others can comment further.
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Old 08-14-2019, 10:32 PM   #3
jsp
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 108
Default Re: New hamster making snuffy noise, also funny eye

Hi,

Thanks for these comments. We are planning to make new floors that cover the whole area of the cage, with just a ladder hole so she can't fall. I'd be interested to know what the best material is to make them from.

I'd also be glad to hear from an experienced person on my question, rather than from a beginner. I've had two hamsters myself before so am not a beginner, but this behaviour is new to me.

Thanks!
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Old 08-14-2019, 11:04 PM   #4
jsp
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 108
Default Re: New hamster making snuffy noise, also funny eye

Reading around, I'm wondering if the snuffing noise is just her scolding us for waking her up. (oops)
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