Georgia has a cold!

[DeweyTheHammy]

[I really think I post too much...]

Sorry about the ton of posting, but with getting the new ham and all, I just want to make sure she's healthy...

She has been sneezing a bit since I got her home. Not as badly as last night, but still some sneezing. When I came home half an hour ago, she looked up when I entered the room and her eyes were sorta stuck together. I figured it was because she was sleeping, but I dunno. I have moved her to a different room so she doesn't infect Dewey.

What can I do to help the cold go away quicker?

[littlepeanut]

I think you better get her checked over by a vet just to be on the safe side.

She has come from a petstore that (from what I've read) isn't to great, and from a tank full of hamsters, all of which could be poorly. The eyes sticking together could be an indication of an infection, so I'd seek advice from a vet if I were you

[souffle]

You need to see a vet with her as she does not sound well and baby hamsters can go downhill very quickly.
Does she have a discharge from her nose? It sounds as if she has a cold or chest infection which can be very bad in a baby hamster. The eyes stuck together should not be happening and is a sign of general illness in a hamster.
She will likely need antibiotics and careful nursing. For now you must keep her warm and very quiet. Make sure she is drinking and eating.
Hamsters can suffer from allergies to some beddings but it does sound like another problem like an infection. Poor Georgia, I do hope she gets seen soon and is better soon too.

[Iluvhamsters]

I agree, you need to take her to a vet. I hope she gets better soon.

[DeweyTheHammy]

I've just checked on her again.

The eye thing only happened once, I haven't noticed it again. I think it was just "sleepy eyes".

She's still sneezing though, but her nose ain't runny. I'm pretty sure she's warm.

The problem is, in Florida hamsters aren't that common. There are no small animal vets nearby, and my dad doesn't want to pay a vet bill for a 5 dollar animal. There must be something I can do without a vet??

[shazzy]

You need to tell your dad that an animal is an animal, whether it cost just $5 or $1000. When we purchase animals we have a duty of care to them which means we see to their needs, whatever they may be. If an animal is sick, then it needs treatment and a vet is really the only person who can help.

In the meantime, make sure she has plenty of bedding and is kept warm and away from drafts. But I think you do need to seek out a vet.

[h3rne]

Just a thought but is Georgia "sneezing" into corners or narrow gaps as she explores? If so it may just be part of hamster exploration behaviour (both are Syrians do this when ever they go into the corners of the stairs when we do supervised stair climbing).

If she's sneezing just going about her normal business in the cage then a vet really is the next stop and sooner rather than later (and I think Shazzy has it spot on about "duty of care").

[DeweyTheHammy]

Yeah she only does it when she's sitting in the corner of her bin.