Hamster with possibly eye infection

Question
Hi there Sheila

Just wanted to get some advice re: our lovely syrian hamster.
He started waking up last week with his right eye stuck shut. After researching we did the advised bathing of his eye and trying to get some saline drops in there. He is only a few months old and is our first hammy.
We have been bathing the eye every day and his is as bright as usual. He still is very active, and still grooms, runs about. Once we've bathed it - it opens right up and he seems just fine. Its just every time he wakes up - there is it stuck again and crusty - its a little red under his eye lid.
He is actually WAY more sociable than ever before - he sits on us and lets us stroke him, and bathe the eye so I'm not worried that he is in pain - he's still a generally happy hammy.

Today he is blinking a lot more - we've bought a very mild eye wash that we're trying just because we don't know what else to do. We've tried getting him into a Vets but the ones we have found that take 'pocket pets' are generally very unhelpful! We both work long hours and all the vets that stay open late, have decided not to open this week - and are closing this weekend. Very frustrating.

Just wanted to know if you have any similar experience or advice. He honestly is a happy hammy except for this crusty and generally sore looking eye when he wakes up.

Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Debbie

Sticky eyes are quite common in hamsters.  The important thing is that a hamster opens both eyes daily otherwise pus can build up behind them and therefore if your hamster has one eye that is stuck gently wipe the area with a damp cloth to help him open it.

Hamsters do have glands that secrete a reddish fluid around the eyes and this is to help them stay moist as their eyes are so prominent.  However, the hamster can produce more of this fluid when they are unwell.  With older hamsters this is quite common and both eyes get stuck.  I've had loads of young hamsters who have had sticky eyes at some stage in their life and more often than not it does not appear to have any obvious medical reason.  Some just seem to sleep more than others and their eyes tend to get stuck.

Providing your hamster is behaving normally and it sounds as though he is, then this may be nothing to worry about.  However, hamsters can get eye infections - such as conjunctivitis.  This can be passed onto the other eye, and I believe onto humans so you do have to be careful.  this condition can make the eye sore and itchy and the eye tends to be red.  It might be worth gently bathing the area in warm salt water (boil  up some water, add salt, then cool until just slightly warm before applying).  If you do need an antibiotic eye ointment, the ones that vets tend to give is Fucithalmic ointment or Tiacil Ophthalmic Solution.

I'm not sure if you can buy these from a pet shop and I suspect you might need to see a vet to get them.  Providing your hamster is behaving normally apart from this I would be tempted just to bathe it for a couple of days and see if this helps, if it does not, or if the situation gets worse then definitely try and get a vet to see him and see if they will prescribe one of these treatments.

I hope this helps you.

regards
Sheila