Hamster with a sticky eye.

Susannahmia

My hamster Cuddles left eye has been a little sticky lately. She has trouble opening it after she wakes up and today it looked watery.

I have tried giving it a gentle wipe with sterile saline water and a swab but it doesn't seem to be clearing up. It doesn't seem to bother her much. I heard that older hamsters often have sticky eyes but I am still a bit concerned. ( Shes about 2 -2.5 years old)

Should I take her to the vet? I'm really strapped for cash right now and none of the vets where I live are really experts in small animal medicine

She has always had aspen bedding, chinchilla sand for her toilet and shredded toilet roll for her bed and her eyes have always been clear and healthy..

steve_

sorry but this is the best title for a thread iv read in ages!!

get better cuddles!!

Cinnomen

All my hamsters have had this, When I read it I thought I wonder if its old and yeppers bless the little hammie she is.
I think its just something they have and its not necessarily meaning they are unhealthy, If I were you I would carry on bathing when it gets stuck up and keep an eye on it (no pun intended) Im sure its just old age bless her.
http://www.hammysworld.com/index.php?p=stickyeyes
http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/hamster_eye_problems.htm

Wondered if the above sites may help xxx

Chiaki

its not a sign of getting on in life but it kinda is! sometimes baytril will clear it up (antibiotics) but it comes back just as quick. it doesnt seem to put a damper on their daily routine otherthan some extra cleaning. my pet rat had it for 6 months before he passed away (rats have red fluid as opposed to clear, so it looked like he was crying blood all the time). your doing everything right it sounds, just watch out for crusties that can be sore for your hamster to clean by himself

Susannahmia

Hmm both of poor old Cuddles eyes look very sore now. They just seem to be getting worse and she doesn't seem pleased. The discharge no longer looks too clear and I've had to bathe them to help her open them three times today.

I think I will give the vet a ring tomorrow and try get something sorted.

Will I have to bring her in do you think or can they maybe prescribe me something without seeing her?

bionic.laura

Oh dear hope poor Cuddles is ok. My hamster Hampton had the same sort of thing. His eyes would run and crust over after he was asleep. I took him to the vet (a specialist in small animals) and she gave me normal eye drops to use on him. So I washed his eyes every day with a cotton bud soaked in the drops. It never did really go away.

One thing that did help was a suggestion from the vet, she said this time of year the heating in the room dries out the air and can cause it. So I put a bowl of water beside the radiator and I also made sure the little guy wasn't too near the radiator.

Interceptor

Ring the vet and ask if you can have a small quantity of Baytril antibiotic. Add some to the hamsters drinking water for a week at a go and keep some in case the problem comes back.

My vet sells me a small bottle of Baytril and I dose my rats and hamsters in very small quantities for minor ailments.

Keep the eyes clean and keep the cage out of draughts. Is Cuddles wheezy or sneezy? Changing the bedding may help too.

'cptr