My dwarf hamster has a bulging, red eye. Vet meds aren't working. What now?

Although a picture of it would help to determine more specifically underlying cause, that is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. No need for any special treatment, any vet can do it (and they cannot refuse to take her).Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It looks like little Aurora has a proptosed eye. This may be entirely due to the swelling from the scratch or could have popped out from trauma. These type of injuries need treatment right away in order to save the eye. If left like this, it can cause significant damage to the outside of the eyeball and can swell or pop out even more. I recommend taking her to a veterinarian as soon as you can. For now, the best this you can do is try to keep the outside of the eye moist. If you have any antibiotic eye ointment in the house, then it would be best to put this over the eye. Otherwise, you can ask your local pharmacy for lubricating eye ointment. This will help protect the eye, while she is awaiting the vet appointment. Before applying the ointment, it would be best if you can flush the eye with saline for 30 seconds. This can also be found in the pharmacy. I hope that helps and Aurora gets better soon.

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a moderate to severe conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It sounds like you have done all the home treatment you can do. Since it has not worked your only option at this point is to get her to a vet for an exam. She probably needs an antibiotic ointment for the eye to get this to clear up. Best wishes!

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. I understand this may be stressful for your Dwarf hamster but it would be quite important to confirm this clinical suspicion. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It is difficult to say exactly what is causing Gordon's eye to be protruding without seeing him in person or a photo. This can be caused either by the eyeball itself being enlarged or something pushing the eyeball outwards from behind. The first case can be due to a very deep ulcer or a condition known as glaucoma, where excess fluid builds up in the eyeball. Something can be pushing the eye outwards, such as a mass or abscess (walled off infection). Gordon does need veterinary care to determine what is going on and begin the appropriate treatment. I recommend calling vet clinics in your area to see if they see hamsters. Some Petco stores may have a clinic associated with them. The red/brown staining you saw is likely porphyrin, which is a normal secretion from the tear glands, that is usually groomed off. The fact that it is present is an indication that Gordon is not grooming that side of his face as he should be. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Hello there! I'm sorry to hear about Maruko's eye. It certainly does look like it's a bit irritated. This could be a few different conditions - it could be an infection of the eyelids (called blepharitis), infection of the conjunctiva (pink eye), or an abrasion or scratch on the cornea. The treatment will depend on the condition, but only a vet will be able to prescribe medication that will help. In the meantime, keeping the eye clean with a soft cloth and some warm water will help prevent further irritation. Application of a protective eye ointment may also help with discomfort - artificial tears ointment is a good choice for this (you can find it at a drugstore or on Amazon). There are other, more serious conditions that Maruko could have (like glaucoma), but this is less likely considering her young age. I strongly suggest a vet visit if this condition doesn't clear up within the next day as continued eye irritation can cause permanent damage to her eye. Good luck, and I hope that M

She might be developing an hypersensitivity to the woodshavings, or maybe she needs a different antibiotic drops. try to switch her to a different bedding, if it doesn't help- take her to the vet to get treated.

If the eye is bulging and he can't close it then you should have him examined by your vet. I cannot offer you any home treatments for eye problems - those always need to be seen by a vet. Eyes are very delicate organs and can go from bad to worse very quickly.

Oh, wow, I looked at the picture and that looks really painful for your little Hammie. If he is swollen like that and having discharge, he really has to go to the vet and get some oral antibiotics and some special eye drops. He could lose his eye and really needs to have it looked at. You should not apply any human meds or any animal meds that are not prescribed for him. Certain ingredients could be toxic or they make the infection worse. In the meantime, you could try flushing it with a little bit of plain saline Eye Wash and using a cool compress or a wrung put cool wet washcloth to help with pain, swelling and reducing drainage.