My hamster's eye is swollen and she's scratching. What should I do?

Question

HELP!! My friends hamster is about 40 days old and we noticed today that her left eye lid is slightly swollen and that same eye is like ‘flat’ compared to the other eye and she seems to be trying to scratch at it with her paw. We thought it was getting better but we just looked at it and it seemed to have swelled up even more. Pet's info: Small Animal | Unknown - Small Animal | Female | unspayed

Rebeccah Wood · Accepted Answer

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 Maruko gets well soon!

My hamster's eye is swollen and she's scratching. What should I do?

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