Dwarf hamster breath smell

[Vierville]

I'm trying to figure out if a normal, healthy dwarf hamster's breath is completely odourless or if a slight odour is ok?

My vet has told me in the past that bad breath is a sign of infection in the mouth and I've had hamsters with a mouth abscess and an impacted cheek pouch, both of whom had bad breath when examined by the vet. The vet kind of indicated that the odour associated with infection is REALLY foul, not just a bit pongy.

Last night I was checking Baldrick's teeth using a Q-tip which I put across his mouth (like a horse bit) and noticed a little bit of a bad breath odour on the shaft of the Q-tip. Not foul but a bit pongy, not odourless.

He wriggled so much and I couldn't check his teeth properly and he was getting stressed so I decided to put him back in his cage and try again later. 20mins later I tried again and there was absolutely no odour present.

I'd just like to ask what everybody's understanding is about breath odour given the above?

Thanks!

[Pebbles82]

I have not been aware of breath odour but I wouldn’t worry about it. Dogs and humans can sometimes have terrible bad breath for no particular reason! Time of day makes a difference - or waking up with an empty stomach. With older hamsters they could have a bit of tooth decay at the back but they live with it fine until they need softened food.

[Vierville]

Thank you Serendipity7000. Your answer makes perfect sense.

Anyone who checks their hamster's teeth regularly, do you ever get a similar odour?

This was Baldrick last night during his 'runaround on the couch' time.
IMG-20200517-WA0001_resize_43.jpg

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by Vierville

Anyone who checks their hamster's teeth regularly, do you ever get a similar odour?

I've never noticed it with my dwarfs but I'm wondering, since you mention that it was there one minute and then absent 20 minutes later, if he could have had a small amount of food in his cheek puch that was causing the odour?

I'd keep an eye on what's going on with his mouth just in case there's something brewing.

[Ria P]

Off topic but i just want to mention what an expressive little face Baldrick has. He looks so aloof and way above us humble humans. So amusing.

[Vierville]

Thanks Fluffagrams, I am concerned it may be a cheek pouch impaction. He doesn't eat anything that a dwarf should not eat and I can't feel anything in his cheeks but I had a similar thing with Monty, another dwarf I had.

I checked his mouth and breath again this evening and there was absolutely no odour at all.

I'll keep an eye on it and on him and will take him to the vet if he continues to lose weight or his breath shows signs of bad odour again.

[Vierville]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Off topic but i just want to mention what an expressive little face Baldrick has. He looks so aloof and way above us humble humans. So amusing.

He's an extremely expressive and engaging little chap.