Do you know what to do if your hamster is bleeding?
This can be a concerning sight as soon as you take a look at the hamster cage and your beloved pet is wounded.
However, instead of panicking, you have to rush into action and get started on the treatment as soon as possible. Any delays during this part of the process will only worsen the hamster’s condition leading to a long list of consequences.
To learn more about what to do if your hamster is bleeding, read through this detailed guide and gain a better understanding of what works and what has to be avoided.
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The Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Wound and Skin Care spray is a must in your first aid kit as a hamster owner. It’s versatile, effective, and easy to use on all wounds. Cleaning a hamster’s blood wound is going to be simple with this anti-microbial solution.
The spray is going to settle into the wound and help with the healing process. It’s highly recommended by vets and is one of the best treatment options for wounds in hamsters. Keep this at home to remain prepared.
What To Do If Your Hamster Is Bleeding
Use a Quality Wound Spray
The wound needs to be treated promptly.
This means taking out a high-quality wound spray and starting to work on the wound. This often requires 3-4 applications before the wound is allowed to heal. However, you have to follow the directions as listed on the bottle.
What if you don’t have a good wound spray for hamster wounds at home?
This is a common concern and the best course of action is to wash the wound with water. This is going to allow the wound to settle and you can begin to work on the dressing. Remember, you have to be gentle during this process to avoid adding to the hamster’s pain.
In some cases, you can use alcohol on the wound but this is going to depend on the size of the wound and how quickly the blood is gushing out. In general, you will want to use some form of disinfectant to make sure the wound is cleaned before being wrapped.
This is a call you will have to make and if you are in doubt, please take the time to consult with a qualified vet!
Apply Pressure with a Clean Gauze
As you figure out what to do if your hamster is bleeding, it’s time to apply a clean gauze on top of the wound.
This gauze is going to be directly pressed against the bleeding area of the hamster’s body. You will have to make sure the gauze doesn’t slip and the blood isn’t allowed to flow out. This is going to make the clotting process slower and that will only add to the hamster’s agony.
Please remember, you have to make sure the gauze is clean and hasn’t been used previously.
After 5-10 minutes, you are going to start to see a change in the wound. This is natural and is going to come as a result of the pressure you’re putting on the wound.
If possible, it’s highly recommended to keep swapping between cloths or gauzes during the process. This is going to make sure the wound is allowed to recover without getting infected. In general, you are going to require at least 2-3 swaps before the blood starts to clot and can be bandaged.
This is something you are going to have to keep an eye out for.
Focus on the wound, how well it’s clotting, and whether or not additional pressure needs to be applied. This is often a judgement call but the goal has to remain on easing the hamster’s pain. This is why waiting a minute or two longer isn’t going to hurt and will go a long way in keeping the hamster healthy.
Wait for the Blood to Clot
The premise behind applying pressure on the wound is to get the blood to clot.
This is a natural biological reaction in most living organisms including hamsters. The body is going to kickstart into high gear as soon as the inflamed area sends distress signals to the brain.
However, the clotting process isn’t going to happen within a minute or two. It’s going to take a while depending on how large the wound is, which means you will have to maintain the pressure for a while. It’s always smarter to wait as much as you can until the clotting process begins.
If you feel like the blood isn’t clotting then it’s time to visit a vet. You should always have the vet as an option because there are wounds that will require additional treatment and possible surgery. This is going to vary from situation to situation.
If the gash is deep, you will have to make an educated decision and apply pressure before heading to the local vet.
Elevate the Wound
Let’s assume the blood has started to clot and now it’s time to ensure the wound remains clean and out of harm’s way.
To do this, you are going to have to reposition the wounded area.
A good example of this would be a gash on the hamster’s leg. If that is the case, you are going to have that part of the hamster’s body raised or elevated slightly. By doing this, you are going to ensure extra blood isn’t lost and the body is allowed to heal.
Elevation is just as important as any other step in the healing process for hamsters.
You will want to continually assess the wound, change dressings, and make sure everything looks healthy. This is essential when it comes to a deeper wound that has led to a significant amount of blood loss.
Keeping the wound elevated will make it easier to regulate how it feels and how well it continues to heal.
Make the change and continue to monitor how the hamster is doing after getting injured. If you believe additional care is required, please call the local vet and book an appointment right away.
Wrap with Bandage
Investing in a high-quality bandage is the right way to go and this is something you should already have at home as a hamster owner.
Being prepared with a high-quality first aid kit for hamsters is a must!
If you don’t have a quality bandage (such as the PG-One Pet Medical Bandage) then move forward with a clean cloth to wrap around the wound. You will eventually have to change it with something that’s well-designed and ideally made with pets in mind.
However, a DIY bandage is going to be okay for the first few hours as you try to find a better solution to wrap around the hamster’s wound.
During the initial few hours, you are going to have to regularly check on the hamster. This is done to see whether or not the dressing needs changing. If you leave the dressing on for too long, it is only going to worsen in condition and that may lead to unwanted infections.
Set a schedule, continue to monitor the hamster, and make quick dressing changes. It’s always better to change the dressing more than necessary.
Final Thoughts
As you learn what to do if your hamster is bleeding, the most important step is to act fast.
There are several things that can go wrong including internal bleeding and excessive blood loss. If your hamster is already in a state of panic and/or discomfort, it’s essential to take action and begin working on the wound.
If not, the hamster is going to start seeing its condition deteriorate rapidly until it passes out.
By investing in a high-quality would spray or using the steps mentioned above, hamster owners can take control of the situation before it worsens.
Just like buying comfortable hamster bedding, a wonderful silent hamster wheel, a safe water bottle for hamsters, or quality chew treats for hamsters, you need to be prepared. There is nothing worse than being unprepared and realizing your hamster’s condition is worsening rapidly.
If you want to understand more on what to do if your hamster is bleeding, continue to apply pressure and see how your hamster responds. This can be a great way to gauge whether this emergency can be treated at home or has to be managed by a qualified vet.