bloody nose

Question
hey, today i went to go visit my hamster and found out that she had a bloody nose, i dont know if its a cut or a bloody nose, how should i dress the wound??? someone recommended that i just left her alone. she has also been eating alfalfa everyday, is that healthy??? she looks very weak, but she is 2 years old. how do i know the syptoms of death???

Answer
Hi Lizette

Hamsters can get bloody noses for different reasons.  Sometimes it is purely because they have made them sore with burrowing or chewing bars etc.  In these cases, the blood is very superficial and often the nose scabs and heals on its own.

If the bleeding is coming from inside, then this is a more serious problem.  Any internal blood loss is something to be wary of.  

Hamsters live to around 2 - 21/2 years on average and around this time they can start to show signs of ill health.  They are very prone to getting tumors and these can sometimes cause bleeding to come out of either their nose or rear end.  Her bleeding could be absolutely nothing to worry about, or it could be an indication that something is very wrong with her, I'm afraid.

The usual signs of old age are that the hamster loses some body condition, their fur can look dry and flaky (often caused by mites/mange which is easily treatable with Ivermec), they can get a bit wobbly when walking around.  If there is a tumor, then they usually increase their water intake quite dramatically and often with abdominal tumors, their body shape changes so that they look a bit 'pear-shaped'.  

You say that she is weak - is she still eating?  It would be worth examining her - have a look at her for any obvious signs of something wrong - i.e. lumps.  What is her body condition like, what is her body shape like?  Have you checked her teeth?  Are they OK or overgrown/missing?  When she walks, is she walking normally, or is she trembling, wobbly, or falling over?

If there is nothing obviously wrong that you can see, I would be tempted to give her some human baby food (the powdered variety of creamy porridge oats is a favorite with hamsters).  Mix a little with water (not Milk) and give this in a dish daily.  This provides lots of nutrients.  In addition to the alfalfa I'm assuming she has her usual hamster dry mix and other vegetables too?  If not, don't introduce too many new things in one go as this could upset her digestion, but if would be worth giving a small piece of fresh vegetable daily (avoid lettuce as this can cause diarrhea), in addition to some nuts, seeds and dry mix.  Also, if you think she is dehydrating you could try giving her some water through a dropper.  

If she feels cold, doesn't want to open her eyes (it is important hamsters open their eyes daily otherwise pus can build up behind them.  It is quite common that they suffer from 'sticky eyes' now and again.  If her eyes won't open you can gently wipe with a damp cloth to help her. If a hamster is in pain they tend to close their eyes more), if there is any sign of any lumps in her, any sign of pus or blood coming from her rear end or if her nose continues to bleed, then I would advise getting her to a vet.  They may well advise euthanasia, but they will be able to assess her and advise you on the best option.

I hope you get on OK.

Regards