We took our hamster to the vet because one eye is almost closed. The vet gave us oral antibiotics (the cherry kind) and she seems be eating most of it when mixed with baby food. The other eye seems to be getting half closed now too. He said that he felt a hard material near her pouch and can cut out the pouch if were want and have it tested, but if it's a growth there is a possibility it is in other places too. Our hamster is 3 -4 years old. She still eats and plays, but her eyes don't look good. Do you think that it can be an eye related problem and she needs eye drops?
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
Posts: 28,198
Re: Hamster's eye is closed almost
I'm sorry to hear your hammy is ill.
With a hamster this age it is going to be hard to recover from an operation particularly one on the pouch. It is hard to stop them pouching food and it becomes infected and hard to heal. The eye issue is likely to be either due to the tumour in the pouch or due to her feeling generally unwell. Unwell hamsters often get sticky eyes but this can also be due to old age. It may be worth trying actual eye drops like maxitrol in case it is an eye infection.
Only you can decide if you want to go ahead with an op. Have you tried bathing the eyes with just cooled boiled water and a cotton ball? If she can't open them don't push it though.
Personally our choice would be to keep such an old hammy comfy until we felt they were no longer enjoying life and doing hamstery thing then give them rest. It is a gift to see when that time has come.
Only you can decide though as you know her best. I hope she stays comfy for a while longer x
Our hamster is 30 months old and is experiencing the same thing. We bathe his eyes in warm water to get them open. Foodwise he has whatever he wants now obviously making sure he doesn't eat the wrong things. He has some kind of cyst that fills with water but it doesn't seem to bother him.
Hamster's eye is closed almost
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