dark eye circles

Question
QUESTION: I just got a hamster ( have no clue what breed she is )about two weeks ago and i just noticed something different she has DARK eye cirles around both eyes and the got a little bit bigger this morning i have no clue what is wrong or what to do so please help me

ANSWER: Hi Katie

Is this just skin coloring, or does it look like blood?  How are her eyes? Do they look clear and shiny?  Some hamsters have dark circles around their eyes, but this is their natural fur colouring.  How big are these circles - do they just go around the edge of the eye, or are they much larger?

How is she in herself?  Is she eating/drinking/playing as usual?  Is she sitting hunched up, dull, not wanting to eat?  Is there any pus or discharge coming from her eyes?

It would help to have a few more details.
Regards

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ok i just found out she is a syrian and the circles were not there when i got her and then all of a sudden she stopped running on her wheel and slept more and started to only eat sunflower seeds and yes she sits hunched up in the corner of her cage .the circles are around the edge but are wide and they do look a little like blood but she started sneezing last night.
ANSWER: Hi Katie

This sounds like a very sick hamster.  She really needs to get to a vet for treatment.  If hamsters sit hunched up, not wanting to move, or just wanting to sleep a lot, then there is a very good chance she is in pain.  Also, if she is sneezing, she will need to be treated urgently.  Can you find a local vet who will see her and get an appointment as soon as possible?

Please let me know how you get on.
Regards

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks i started crying when i read that because my mom does not have the money to take her to the vet so somehow i am going to try to earn it and i love her alot her color is cinnamon with a stripe down her back she is very pretty and her name is caramel.i dont know what i did wrong though i was feeding her right and checking on her all the time and playing with her and everything and i made sure she had water everyday and food i take better care of my hamster than my brother does and they are both like this.my brotherd hamster started biting so hard i would bleed all i did was put food in his bowl cause my brother doesnt.could you tell me what i had to have done wrong for this to happen. : '( by the way this is my first hamster

Answer
Hi Katie

Hamsters can have a condition called 'bleeding eyes'.  They have glands behind the eyeballs and these can produce a reddish material that can look like blood - even though it is not.  This should be wiped away with warm water.  Whilst this in itself isn't an illness, sometimes this is a sign that a hamster is unwell.  The fact that your hamster is sitting hunched up and only wants to eat sunflower seeds, would indicate that there is a problem -hence the reason why I suggested you get her checked out.

The sneezing could either be an allergic reaction to something in her environment (pine bedding can cause problems - so can any type of air freshener/perfume etc), or a cold.

As you only recently got this hamster, I would suggest you go back to the pet store and talk to them about her and see if they can get her checked out.  Someone in the pet shop might be able to look at her and see if she is ill as they will probably have a lot of experience with hamsters.  Without seeing her it is difficult to know exactly what is going on, as I am having to base my opinion on what you've told me, however, if you can find an experienced hamster owner they may take one look and decide she's fine.  If the pet shop cannot help you - do you have a local animal rescue that you could contact?  Or perhaps there's an animal charity who would look at her for free.

I'm sure you've done nothing wrong with the way you've kept her - so don't blame yourself if she is ill.

Please let me know how you get on.

Regards