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Old 07-11-2020, 02:07 AM   #11
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

It sounds like you are doing a very important job amd stressful
circumstances. I am sure nobody is thinking anything other than empathy and sympathy for Americans at the moment - the rest is politics and some governments have handled things better than others. These are very hard times and a bit crazy as well.

Yes toe nail clipping is not easy and I have only managed one nail so far. I remember doing it with our first hamster but he would sit still for ages. After watching a few videos myself I am going for the method of putting a heap of irresistible food in front of the hamster while out of the cage so they are so distracted in lapping it up that you can snip away and they don’t notice. Easier to do that method with tiny nail scissors. I found it very nerve wracking the first time but as long as you know to only take the very tip off so don’t cut the quick and the hamster is still it’s not too difficult. The first time I took our hamster to the vet to have it done - that was a bun fight! I had to hold him while she used special clippers and he definitely wasn’t still!

Anyway don’t worry about it now. Not all hamsters get overgrown nails. Out last Syrian didn’t but he was much more active. It’s why keeping a rough stone or terracotta plate eg under a water bottle or food dish is a good idea - it helps to keep their nails trim.

Chew sticks and their hard hamster mix help keep their teeth from growing too long but if they start to get toothache eg and and aren’t eating properly then softened food helps keep up the weight and nutrition. As they eat less hard food that is when their bottom teeth can get overgrown. These things don’t always happen but it’s something to keep an eye on as they get nearer 2.

He sounds to me doing fine. The way I knew Moo wasn’t eating properly was a fairly severe weight loss which happened quite quickly. First thing to try was softened food as he was healthy and active otherwise and that did the trick and he has his weight back on again now.

Newt was still very fit and active at 2 and no issues so it varies. They sleep a bit longer sometimes when they get older which may be why they get sleep in their eyes/sticky eyes
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Old 07-11-2020, 04:24 AM   #12
Teddy001
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

If his eye continues to be sticky, I’d advise vet check. He may have an eye infection.
Nail clipping, i wrap my hamsters in a soft towel, use regular nail clippers. Or scruff if you know how.
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Old 07-11-2020, 04:27 AM   #13
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

I meant to add solidarity as well (re the pandemic situation).
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Old 07-11-2020, 04:58 AM   #14
mikatelyn
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

Thank you both for the advice, and for the solidarity as well, Serendipity!
I just went to check on him and he's meerkatting in his cage, looking very alert, no eye crusties!

I have noticed after a little past age 1 he calmed down A LOT. He actually sits still for cuddles every few days, sometimes as long as half an hour if I catch him in the right stage of sleepiness. He does sleep more than he used to and uses his wheel much less often now. For a while he had his normal nest in the shoe box, then a secondary area where he would hang out and nap during his nornal active hours. We called that secondary nest his "living room", lol.
I've also been watching to make sure he still looks mobile and agile. His cage has a lot of levels, so at some point I will probably have to convert it to a single level "senior living" cage.
Thank you for the reassurances, Serendipity! I'm hoping Smokey will surpass all average hamster life expectancies and live many more years!
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Old 07-11-2020, 05:40 AM   #15
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

I think 1 is a very nice age - they are more confident and mature - have a lot of personality and still very active. 18 months is also nice - they might slow down a bit but are kind of "wise" hamsters Our first hamster lived to 2 years 8 months and still used his wheel right up to two weeks before he went. He would just stagger out, hop on it, run for 10 seconds and hop off again. I just made sure the entrance to the wheel was right down at substrate level so easy to get in and out. He did have very stiff back legs latterly and that's when he had to have one level - once he tried to climb onto something and didn't quite make it (he looked very surprised). But he still zoomed around on the flat until he was a great age - out of the cage as well. In fact that is often when they do need more out of cage exercise when they're a bit older and less mobile - helps stop them stiffening up.

I like them when they are older - they know you well and are more accepting and less stressed about things and they do give you kind of "grandpa" looks as if to say - stupid person I know best. Nice that he sits more for cuddles.
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Old 07-14-2020, 01:54 AM   #16
Fern and Sherbet
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Default Re: Eye is crusted shut

Hi, this has happened to my hamster as well. Nothing to worry about. It happened to my hamster when he went it I his sand bath. It cleared up in a few minutes tho!
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