Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

Hamster sick: eyes, legs, not eating after new bedding. What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Small Animal | Hamster | Female | unspayed | 3 years old

My hamster developed an infection in her private area, and in her eyes. She is having trouble using her back legs, and wont eat. She was just fine 2 days ago, before i used a new bedding. What can i do?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on November 22nd, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like she is having a lot of issues right now that need veterinary evaluation and treatment. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to take a look at all these abnormalities you described so that therapy can be recommended accordingly. Good luck!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 10th, 2017

    Poor coco. There are several reasons why hamsters may stop eating including teeth problems, respiratory problems, eye infections, cancer and much more. With her eyes being bulgy I would recommend to contact your vet for an exam. Make sure she is continuing to eat and drink as these little guys can get dehydrated really quick.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
female hamster Chewie is about 18 mos & fell down tubing, walking in circles & into wall, gunky nose, eye not glossy other closed. Breathing erratically with grunting sound. Was fine yesterday. Is she dying? Did I make her sick w/ a/c on? Never blown
Chewie sounds very sick, and I am so sorry that this is happening. From what you are describing, she needs to see a veterinarian immediately. She can then be evaluated to see if there are any possible treatments for her, and if there are not, they can assist with euthanasia if that is needed or desired by you to ease her suffering. 18 months is an older age for a hamster, so that may be related to why she is getting sick. The material around her nose may be making it hard for her to breathe as well - if she tolerates it, you can clean the material off with a warm, wet cloth, but be careful so that she doesn't panic or struggle when you do it since she is already having a hard time breathing. The veterinarian can also clean this off for you as well. I am so sorry again - it is never easy to have a pet get sick.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My hamsters eye is swollen popping out and he’s not eating
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question your hamster and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. This is a medical emergency, and you absolutely have to take him into a vet immediately. This is known as proptosis, and it is is extremely painful. This will be why he's not eating. You cannot leave him in pain and leaving this untreated can lead to vision loss. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I had 2 white dwarf hamsters. One died recently unexpectedly. The other hamster sits in its play house. It is unactive with its eyes always shut. What do I do? Is it sick?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could certainly be a sign of sickness. Also, I would be concerned that the other hamster could have died secondary to something infectious and contagious and perhaps Sunflower could be affected by it. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for any possible issue so that it can be addressed on time. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I got my new hamster 5 days ago. The first 2 days she was running on her wheel, eating & drinking. I took her back to school with me and ever since she has not touched her food or water, and isn’t exercising. I noticed she was awake this morning and
This sounds like Peanut may be very ill or in distress. I would bring her to your vet as soon as possible. Until you can get to a vet, keeping her in a quiet, warm, darkened area with plenty of food and water may help her to relax enough to settle some.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
My hamster is 2 and a half, he is not eating hard food just soft, his heart is beating fast, he is asleep most of the time and come out 3-4 times to wee n stuff his pouches with the bedding. He hasn't been drinking since last night and his poo is fin
Hi there and thank you for using Boop by Petco to address your concern. There could be many possible causes of these symptoms. I worry about a systemic infection or illness. I would recommend taking Dave in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I just found my hamster stuck between my wall and dresser after a couple days. She can't walk her arms look weird and her eyes are closed. I don't know how to help her or what to do. Any suggestions?
She may be painful and dehydrated and undernourished. An immediate check up at your local vet is required to have a better clinical picture and treat appropriately. Pain relief meds and eventually antibiotics (if there is any sign of infection) are possibly required. 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a male Syrian hamster who is almost 3 years old.he has yellow and sticky poop.he is very inactive( he was inactive even before he had this problem,might be due to aging).he still eats on his own but has reduced appetite. his poop gets stuck to
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This may be due to a gastrointestinal issue such as gastroenteritis, colitis, parasites, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! My syrian hamster is suddenly looking ill and walking wobbly. Her eyes are almost shut, but there's no sticky eyes. Can't feel any lump. Don't think it's dehydration (she drinks often and eats a lot of cucumber). She's only 3 months old. What can
Poor Diana! If this behavior continues, you should have her checked out by a vet. I am worried that she may have a tooth issue like malocclusion or be a working on the start of an upper respiratory infection that could lead to pneumonia. Both of these conditions are common in hamsters and could explain her symptoms. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
Just got a hamster a few hours ago and when we got home it looked like she was sleeping and when we took her out she was walking weird. I put her in the cage and she fell asleep and didn't move. I assumed she was sleeping so i had her in my stomach w
Your hamster is likely suffering from Wet Tail . Wet tail, or Proliferative Ileitis, is an extremely serious gastrointestinal disease and Hamsters can die from it very quickly. It is caused by a bacterium called Lawsonia intracellularis and hamsters get infected when contaminated feces get on their food and they then ingest the fecally contaminated food. If the hamster is stressed it exacerbates the condition. In this case she came to a new home, which is always stress. Since this is an emergency you will need to have your hamster seen by a vet immediately. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications and subcutaneous and oral fluids to combat dehydration. In addition to that you need to thoroughly sanitize her cage to prevent re-infection and make sure your hamster is kept clean and warm. If you have just bought this hamster you need to contact the shop and see if you can give her back as they sold you a sick animal.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My little sister has a old hamester and she has sores and losing furr abd drinking alot of water and she shakes...and she does some strange things like drops of her floors in her cage abd she does this continious as is trying to commit suicide.....do
Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I think you should take the hamster to a vet for an exam. They will be able to give you the best idea as to what is going on. This may be a very treatable problem like skin parasites. Mites (mange) would be my best guess at this stage. The mites can be can be so irritating that they drop on the floor as you described. She looks pretty healthy from what I can tell in the photos. I think you should consider taking her for an exam before electing euthanasia. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored