Cold and runny nose in a hamster: causes and treatment at home

Under good conditions, a runny nose in a hamster is a rarity. But situations are different, and the owner must know what to do if the hamster catches a cold. The animal does not always need treatment, but sometimes a cold develops into more serious health problems – bronchitis or pneumonia.

A cold in a hamster is an acute respiratory disease. Not scientific, but common name. Most often, the disease is caused by a virus, and only then a bacterial infection is superimposed. To understand how to treat a hamster for a cold, you need to find the cause of the problem.

Causes

Subcooling

At low temperatures in the room or when transporting a hamster down the street in the cold season, you need to take care of warming. Although the Syrian hamster can be very fluffy, and the jungaric fur looks warm, these animals are not adapted to the cold.

Drafts are dangerous at home. In order not to think about how to treat a runny nose in a hamster, you should not put the cage on the window, balcony, under the window.

Bathing

If the hamster has been in the water, the risk of catching a cold is very high. Due to wet wool, the animal is very cold, and the immune system is further weakened by the stress.

Virus infection

Few people think about whether a hamster can catch a cold from a person. If a sick person takes the animal in his arms, sneezes next to the cage, the pet will also get sick. Consider which ones arise withcold symptoms:

Rhinitis

In the Djungarian hamster, you may not notice transparent discharge from the nose. There are indirect signs: the animal scratches its nose, sneezes and snorts. With a severe runny nose, the hamster has difficulty breathing, wheezing and whistling are heard.

Conjunctivitis

Tearing is one of the signs of an infection. The eyes may even stick together from the discharge.

Decreased appetite

The hamster does not smell food, and is also forced to breathe through his mouth, so he eats little and reluctantly. The animal loses weight, becomes lethargic and inactive.

Symptoms can be expressed in varying degrees. It depends on what to do when the hamster caught a cold. If the rodent rubs its current nose with its paws, but remains active and eats willingly, recovery will occur in a few days.

If the transparent discharge has changed to purulent, the pet refuses to eat, you need to contact the veterinary clinic.

Not for the doctor to tell you how to treat a hamster for a cold, but to rule out pneumonia and start antibiotic therapy.

Treatment

Conditions of detention

The cage is placed in a warm room without drafts, the bedding is replaced with paper towels (they put a lot). The house is kept clean, the food is varied, only allowed products.

Vitamins

Too much succulent food is bad for digestion. It is optimal to use liquid supplements for rodents, the dose during illness is 2-3 times higher than daily:

• Беафар «Vital vitamins»;
• 8 in 1 «Hamster & Gerbil Vita-Sol».

Phytotherapy

Echinacea decoction is used to boost immunity. Infusion of coltsfoot and nettle leaves have a good effect on the condition of the lungs and bronchi. Solutions are gradually poured out of a syringe or poured into a drinking bowl instead of water.

Процедуры

To make it easier for the animal to breathe, the nose is cleaned of secretions with a damp cotton swab (water or furacilin solution). Clears watery eyes. With conjunctivitis, antibiotic eye drops are used (Floxal, Tobrex). Drops will also enter the nose through the nasolacrimal duct, which will be useful if you have a runny nose.

Conclusion

How to treat a hamster who has a cold is generally clear – do not aggravate and wait until the body copes with the infection. Antibiotics are not needed for a viral infection, but are better consult a doctornot to confuse pneumonia and the common cold.