teddy hamster with eye infection

Question
I have a two year old hamster with some kind of eye infection. I have called around to all the vets in my area and no one will help me because they don't deal with hamsters. His eye has been crusty and swollen for going on two months. I have tried rinsing his eye out with sterile water but don't want to use anything else because I don't want to hurt him. Be is eating well and drinking fine. He just looks so miserable is to the point where its sticking closed. I have tried to clean his eye and clean off the crust  but its a daily thing. I don't want him to suffer and he seems to be healthy otherwise. If you have any ideas please help. Also, I have never used wood chip bedding.

Answer
Hi Kaleigh

Thanks for your question. It is important that your hamster does open his eye daily so if you gently wipe with a damp cloth to help him.  Hamsters can get eye infections such as conjunctivitis.  It is difficult to know what is wrong without seeing him but it is possible to use an eye ointment called Fucithalmic (this is a dog medicine) and this helps treat/prevent infection. It might be worth seeing if you could get this or ask your vet to prescribe it. I am concerned about the swelling and am disappointed that your vet doesn't treat hamsters. Some eye complaints can be very painful so it is important to try and treat him. other treatments that are safe for a hamster depending on the diagnosis are: maxitroll drops which are corticosteroids, tiacil ophthalmic solution is an antibiotic - perhaps you could ask your vet to examine him to determine if this is an infection and mention that these treatments are safe for hamsters.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila