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Jaz31146 · 01-11-2018, 10:05 AM

Hello all!

I got a new hamster on Tuesday (her name is Snowball, she's the sweetest thing!) I noticed Wednesday morning that her breathing was quite snuffly and a little bit squeaky. Since then it hasn't gotten worse, but also hasn't gotten better.

When she's relaxed or sleeping her breathing is quiet but I can hear the snuffly sound if I listen very carefully, it seems to be only when she's sniffing around the cage or when she's digging that's it's very pronounced. It also doesn't seem very bad when she's using her wheel. It's quite a dry sounds, almost like a wheeze.

Here a link to a youtube video of it during a period when she was very active and sniffing around the cage - normally her breathing is much quieter (although still audible).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZvwpOoPLKo

Her eyes are clear, and there's no discharge from her nose, her breathing isn't laboured and she isn't breathing from her stomach. She's active, curious, and eating/drinking ok.

She's on Pets at home woodshavings at the moment - I suspect it's this causing an allergy. The bag has been left open in a cupboard for ~4 months since my last hamster died from heart failure. She was on woodshavings at the pet shop, but she didn't have a very deep layer of it in her cage

I'm going to get some carefresh tonight to swap out, but wanted some opinions from people about whether it seems like an allergy or respiratory infection! and if there's any other product or something in the air likely to cause an allergic reaction! Thanks!

01-11-2018, 10:05 AM
Jaz31146 Newborn Pup Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 5	New hamster with squeaky breathing? Hello all! I got a new hamster on Tuesday (her name is Snowball, she's the sweetest thing!) I noticed Wednesday morning that her breathing was quite snuffly and a little bit squeaky. Since then it hasn't gotten worse, but also hasn't gotten better. When she's relaxed or sleeping her breathing is quiet but I can hear the snuffly sound if I listen very carefully, it seems to be only when she's sniffing around the cage or when she's digging that's it's very pronounced. It also doesn't seem very bad when she's using her wheel. It's quite a dry sounds, almost like a wheeze. Here a link to a youtube video of it during a period when she was very active and sniffing around the cage - normally her breathing is much quieter (although still audible). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZvwpOoPLKo Her eyes are clear, and there's no discharge from her nose, her breathing isn't laboured and she isn't breathing from her stomach. She's active, curious, and eating/drinking ok. She's on Pets at home woodshavings at the moment - I suspect it's this causing an allergy. The bag has been left open in a cupboard for ~4 months since my last hamster died from heart failure. She was on woodshavings at the pet shop, but she didn't have a very deep layer of it in her cage I'm going to get some carefresh tonight to swap out, but wanted some opinions from people about whether it seems like an allergy or respiratory infection! and if there's any other product or something in the air likely to cause an allergic reaction! Thanks!