We have a two year old dwarf!
I first noticed our hamster’s right eye was stuck shut after he got out of bed four days ago — this had happened a few times before but he had groomed it open, so I figured it was the same thing. During the winter, he’s very inactive and is only really out and about in the dead of night (like 2am-5am), so he went back to bed without grooming and I figured I’d let it be.
The next evening, the eye was still shut (or maybe it opened and shut again). I cleaned it with a tissue & saline and it opened slightly, but he ran off before I could get it all the way open.
I didn’t see him for the past two nights, which is pretty typical in the winter (but he’s been eating).
I figured this might just be sticky eye because of his advanced age, but then this morning I caught a glimpse of him and the fur on his right side was stained a sort of reddish-brown! I’m worried about this, obviously, and I’m not sure if it’s blood — the eye has not been actively bleeding (at least not that I could see), and I gave the eye a quick wipe to see if there would be anything and the cloth came away clean.
I only have pictures of the eye that I took a few days ago; didn’t get a chance to take a picture of the stained fur, but I circled the area that was stained. What’s weird is that it’s not directly around or close to the eye, but it is on the same side.
IMG_8021.HEIC - Google Drive
IMG_8022.HEIC - Google Drive
Only two vets in the area see hamsters and they aren’t letting owners into the building because of COVID protocols. I will of course take him if he needs it but he’s already a very easily stressed hamster, so given his age I’m a little nervous about a big vet trip. I also have no idea how these vets are (there are no Yelp reviews), and don’t know how comfortable I’d be about letting them take him inside without me being there to watch and monitor what they’re doing!
Is this likely an eye infection, or something else? I can make the recommended eye wash — but given his sleep schedule, should I be waking him up a few times a day to administer it? I’m also meant to clean his cage this week (it’s been 6 weeks) — should I hold off on that given stress?
Thanks in advance!
eye infection?
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