Hamster Dental Problems
Hamsters and their teeth
Hamsters do not have dental issues very often, but if they do, they need the care of a veterinarian. Prevention is often the best way to handle dental issues with your pet.
Malocclusion is a condition when a hamster’s incisor teeth are overgrown or are misaligned, resulting in having teeth that do not meet or align properly. This condition can be hereditary, or it can be the result of trauma, infection or an improper diet. (Feeding a hamster a steady diet of soft foods will result in this condition – he needs foods hard enough to wear his teeth down.) It is difficult to detect this condition in young hamsters, so even with a visual inspection before you purchase a hamster, the condition could manifest later in life. The teeth can appear normal when young, then become misaligned as the hamster matures.
Hamsters with this condition are, eventually, not able to eat. They suffer weight loss and die of starvation if not treated. Aside from weight loss, look for threads of saliva around the mouth (sometimes wiped with the front paws) – a symptom usually referred to as slobbers. If you notice these symptoms, you can check the teeth by pulling back the lips.
This condition is easily treated by a qualified veterinarian. There are two types of treatment generally used. The first is to clip the teeth while the hamster is awake. This procedure does not always produce favorable long-term results, and can also cause other problems to occur. An incisor can split or break, leaving jagged edges. If the break goes to the gum line, it will cause pain and possibly allow bacteria to enter, possibly resulting in a painful abscess. Jagged edges on the teeth can injure the hamster’s mouth and lips, possibly allowing bacteria to enter, and certainly causing discomfort and pain.
The second, and preferred, method is to use a high-speed drill. Using a drill leaves a smooth surface and avoids the issues sometimes caused with clipping. Most veterinarians currently use this method.
The best cure for dental issues is a healthy dose of prevention. Make sure your hamster has food that is appropriate for hamsters. This will include pellets that are hard enough to wear down the enamel of his teeth.
Chew toys (specially made for hamsters) can also be used. These are usually made of wood and other materials that are safe for hamsters to chew. (Do not use just any type of wood you find for your hamster. Certain types of wood can be bad for your hamsters health. Pieces of wood you find around the house or outside may contain chemicals, parasites, insects or nails, or they might splinter and possibly cause injury if ingested. Hamster toys are specifically made to avoid these issues.)
Periodic visual inspection of your hamster’s mouth can catch problems early and provide the best chance of successful treatment. If you have any concerns, it is best to err on the side of caution and consult your veterinarian.
Wet Tail in Hamsters
Wet tail is a common disease in hamsters, especially Syrian hamsters and hamsters who are weaning (from 4 to 7 weeks old). It is a serious, life-threatening condition and should be treated promptly. The disease can be fatal within 24 to 48 hours after symptoms first are shown.
Symptoms: Symptoms for wet tail include lethargy, hunched posture (or walking while hunching the back), irritability, diarrhea and wet, soiled fur around the anal area (which is where the disease gets its name).
Causes: Wet tail is primarily a disease caused by too much stress for your hamster.
Complications: If left untreated, wet tail can lead to rectal prolapse. This is a condition caused by prolonged diarrhea and occurs when the walls of the rectum start to protrude through the anus and become visible outside of the hamster’s body. If the condition is still left untreated, it can cause death.
Treatment: Your hamster’s veterinarian can prescribe medication for this condition. There are several over-the-counter products that are inexpensive and effective when used properly and quickly. These can be found at your local pet supply store and some chain retail stores.
Prevention: Prevention is truly the preferred way to handle wet tail. Making sure your pet does not get it in the first place is much easier on your pet. The key to remember is that stress is a huge factor in wet tail. Keeping your pet as stress-free as possible is the best way to keep wet tail from happening to your pet. With this in mind, follow these guidelines:
- When you are bringing home a new hamster, make sure you have the cage already set up for him. Have food, water and a nesting box in place, and be sure not to disturb your pet for a minimum of 2 or 3 days once you bring him home. Keep new hamsters quarantined for at least 2 weeks before introducing them to the hamsters you already have. Keep a new hamster away from excessive noise and activity. (This means not to put him in the busiest room of the house.)
- Make changes in diet or environment gradual and keep them to a minimum. Avoid them completely if at all possible.
- Keep your hamster’s cage clean. Dirty cages are very stressful for hamsters. Make sure you clean the cage at least once a week and wash it out and disinfect it at least once per month.
- Keep a close watch on your hamster when it has a stressful event happen, such as the death of a house mate or when he is removed from his mother. Try to make transitions as easy as possible.
- Visually inspect your hamster once a day, if possible. This does not have to be a thorough inspection, but at least check long enough to note any possible symptoms. This is especially important if he has just gone through a stressful event
Tyzzer's Disease
Tyzzer’s Disease is a disease that affects many strains of rodents, including hamsters. Most strains are unique to the species and are not transmitted from species to species (although gerbils can sometimes be infected from strains found in other rodents).
This disease is highly contagious and can be passed easily from hamster to hamster. The disease is usually fatal and can be fatal in as little as 48 hours after symptoms appear.
Symptoms include a lack of activity, scruffy coat, diarrhea, and dehydration (although there may not be any symptoms present, and the only realization that something is wrong is the sudden death of the hamster).
If you suspect your hamster might have this disease, immediately separate him or her from any other hamsters you have and carry him or her to the veterinarian in a covered cage (to keep the disease from spreading). If your vet thinks that your pet has Tyzzer’s Disease, he or she will prescribe antibiotics for your hamster (and the other hamsters, if you have more than one). (The only way to be absolutely sure of a diagnosis of Tyzzer’s Disease is a vet’s examination of a dead hamster, unfortunately.)
Even though there are not any records of humans having any symptoms of Tyzzer’s Disease, tests of humans have shown that there has been an active infection that has not been noticed prior to testing. As a precaution, you should always wash and dry hands thoroughly before and after handling your pet, even when he is well.
There are 3 things you can do to help prevent this disease:
First, make sure you keep your hamster’s living area clean. Remove and replace all bedding at least once per week. Do not wait until you notice an odour to change the bedding, because by then it is too dirty. Wash and disinfect the cage once per month. Use a bleach solution (one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water) in order to disinfect it.
Second, keep stress levels for your hamster low. Do not wake him up to play. Keep him away from loud noises and too much activity. Do not let children mistreat or mishandle him. Be aware of the clues from your hamster and respect his wishes to be left alone if he acts like he is not interested in being held or handled.
Finally, make sure you keep any new hamsters quarantined for at least 2 weeks before allowing them to come into contact with your current pets. Even if a new hamster looks healthy, there might be an underlying condition that the stress of moving to a new home could expose. Although it might be expensive to have an extra housing facility, in the long run it will be worth it.
The good news is that this disease is rare in animals that are well-cared-for and not subject to a lot of stress, so do not be too worried about your hamster catching this disease – but do be observant.
