My Hampster
By hgosinski
@hgosinski (153)
United States
September 16, 2007 1:26am CST
My son has a hampster, and he isn't even a year old...his name is Mr, Jingles. About two weeks ago, I noticed that both his eyes were 'gone'. Well, they appeared to be gone. The next day, I noticed pus coming from his yes. I went online and started researching, and asking for help, and I was told to start putting saline solution on a q tip and wipe his eyes. I did this repeatedly for over a week, and nothing, eyes still closed. And on top of that, when a hampster can't see at all, they don't eat or drink, so he was losing weight rapidly. I was told to give him a few drops of beer to make him eat, I did, and it actually worked. I He ate once. So for the next day or so,m I was giving himpedialyte mixed 50/50 with water, to keep him alive. He was so weak that he could barely alk. ASll the time, I am still wiping his eyes... Well, guess what??? Today both his eyes are finally open!! All my hard work paid off, and I couldn't be happier! I didn't want him to die, he is less then a year old, and his life should last AT LEAST another year. And it will, I think! He finally ate on his own for the first time today, (no beer needed!)and is drinking from his water bottle again! His eyes are all cleanedup. I am going to continue to wipe his eyes at least every few days, so this does not happen again. Has anyone else ever had this happen before?
4 people like this
8 responses
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
17 Sep 07
I've never heard of this happening before - good thing you found a solution. You must be a good hamster owner.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
17 Sep 07
Oh poor little guy. Im glad you were able to help him and make him better! I would make sure to change his bedding and wash his cage, toys, food bowl really well with HOT soapy water. It will get rid of any bacteria or germs in his cage which could cause this problem again!!
@hgosinski (153)
• United States
17 Sep 07
Tanks for the advice, great idea. I did change his bedding, but didn't think about washing the bowls, water bottle, etc...I will do that today!!
2 people like this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
16 Sep 07
Well I must admit I don't keep hamsters. I have 6 cats and I'm not sure they would get on very well. I don't think I could have done what you did though. First hint of trouble with my cats, and I am at the vets' surgery straightaway. I cannot bear to see them sick or suffering, and in pain, and I'm not medically trained, so would always make sure the best possible trained person was looking after them from the start. I'm glad things worked out for the best with Mr. Jingles though.
@hgosinski (153)
• United States
17 Sep 07
I know what you meen, I only have one cat, but have to make sure he doesn't get in my son's room. I hear you about running to the vet, but money is tight right now. I actually have insurance for my dogs and cat, so if something happends to them, I can take them to the vet immediatly...but they just don't make hamster insureance! I suppose because they only live for a couple years!n
1 person likes this
@Carrie26 (1587)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Oh I am so sorry.I am glad everything worked out.We have a total of 4 hamsters.dont ask.LOL.Two are one cage which we gave had them about 3 years and the other two are in seperate cages since they are boys and didnt get along when they were young.The other two are male and female.And they have never had babies.I dont know why.We had 2 hamsters that were male and female a long time ago that they never had babies either.But the one we had that was a female and a male we got from another pet shop well you guessed she did.Luckly we found homes.Well I am not getting anymore for a couple of years.I love hamsters but right now we have a stray cat we picked up and nourished back to health because he was so thin.Plus they are alot of work when you have two young kids and 3 cages to clean.If it was just one cage would probably be easier.But supriseing he doesnt appear interested in them.But I always watch the cat and at night he sleeps down in the basement away from the hamsters which he likes to sleep down thier.But anyways sorry to ramble.Are one female hamster she had that happe to her one eye.We tried wiping everything and it is closed and looks liek she lost her one eye.She is old though and I was reading up on sites about the eye condition and they said that if they have eye problems they could be diabetic,ect.So its hard to tell what happend to her eye.But she still manages to get around pretty good with just the one eye.
@hgosinski (153)
• United States
24 Sep 07
Sounds like the hamster you have with one eye had the same thing. It took me awhile to get mine's eyes to open back up...I started to think he was giing to die for a minute there. He is still doing well, has gained all his weight back too! I am so happy! He is walking altight again too!
@meiling (28)
• Malaysia
29 Feb 08
One of my hamster (Mickey) had this problem a year ago, and I noticed that he kept his eyes closed. There was pus coming out, but because he likes to bite, I dare not touch him too much. Its been a year now and he is getting on well with one eye. We love him more just as much.
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
17 Sep 07
That never happened to me. That is a great story. Glad it has a happy ending to it.
1 person likes this
@ashley530 (2)
• China
16 Oct 07
I'm glad that he get well again.I keep two hampsters for over a year,and that haven't to mine before.I was told that the damp enviroment may cause this situation,it's better to keep the cage dry and well ventilated.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
19 Feb 08
Now that's a dedicated pet owner!
How is the little guy?
