dwarf hamsters

Question
my hamsters left eye is all red and she can barely open it when i wipe her eyes with a tissue red stuff goes on to the tissue is it blood? what should i do and is there anything i could do at my house

Answer
Hi Marisa

I'm sorry to hear that your hamster isn't very well.

How old is she?  apart from her eye, how is she in herself?  is she eating/drinking normally?  is she behaving normally in that she is active, not losing weight etc.?

Hamsters have glands around their eyes and these produce a fluid that helps lubricate them.  This fluid is reddish and sometimes can look like blood.  Whilst it is difficult to know if she has injured her eye and if this is actually blood that you are seeing, it could be this lubricating fluid.  They tend to produce more of it when they are under stress/immune system is being threatened.  It can cause their eyes to stay closed.

It is important that she opens her eyes daily so that pus doesn't collect.  Therefore if you use a dampened cloth (can soak it in cooled salt water) and gently wipe the area and this might help her open her eye).  I would be tempted to try this for a day or two and see if it makes any difference, however,if she is clearly unwell in herself and this eye problem is merely a side effect, or if her eye looks as though she has damaged it or it is causing her distress then I would strongly advise that you get her to a vet.  Because hamster's eyes are prominent they can injure them and develop eye infections and these would need treating with antibiotic eye drops/ointment and would need veterinary advice.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila