Can an Abscess Kill a Hamster? | An Alarming Fact to Know

If you do a regular health check on your hamster, you might catch minor health issues before they become severe. A visual examination of the hamster’s body will reveal any wounds or abscesses. A hamster abscess is a life-threatening condition. So, can an abscess kill a hamster?

A hamster’s health can be severely affected by an Abscess. If you do not take care of your hamster well, it could die.

In most cases, abscesses can be cured and hamsters may return to full health if they are detected and treated early enough. A hamster’s outlook is grim if the illness has spread or entered its bloodstream. The hamster might die if antibiotics fail to stop the illness.

Can an abscess kill a hamster?

An abscess can kill a hamster if left untreated and spreads to the entire body and into the bloodstream. However, if detected on time, hamster abscess can be treated and your pet will furry friend will heal and make full recovery.

To understand why an abscess can kill a hamster, you first need to understand what the disease is all about.

The abscess is simply a wound caused by a bite or any other form of injury on your hamster. The wound then becomes infected by the pus-forming bacteria and swells up—causing a lump on the animal skin.

An abscess is, therefore, localized to a specific area on the animal’s body.

However, if the bacteria and infection manage to spread and enter the bloodstream, it can turn fatal and cause death to your furry friend.

The abscess will also cause your pet great pain and suffering and lead to life-threatening complications.

Luckily, if detected early enough, an abscess can be treated and cured by the administration of antibiotics by a vet.

If you suspect that your pet hamster has an abscess, we advise you to take him to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will examine your hamster and recommend the necessary treatment for the infection.

Your vet will most likely drain the abscess which requires surgery. Afterward, the vet may recommend antibiotics to prevent an infection from occurring after surgery.

Check the following video of a dwarf hamster having its abscess drained by a vet

In Which body parts a hamster gets abscess?

The cheeks and legs are the most common parts of the hamster body where abscesses occur. However, it can also occur in other parts of the body including the face, neck, and tail.

As we mentioned earlier, an abscess occurs due to injuries due to fighting with other pets or bites from fellow hamsters or scrapes caused by a sharp object in your hamster’s cage.

The injuries can happen on pretty much any part of the body, so an abscess would appear anywhere on your hamster’s body.

The key abscess symptoms to look for include a foul smell coming from the affected area, lack of appetite, lethargy, and the presence of blood and pus in the fur (this happens if the abscess ruptures).

Keep in mind though, that the hamster cheek abscess can be tricky to detect. This is because these critters have food pouches in their cheeks which makes them appear as if they’re swelling.

If the food is consumed or removed, and the swelling or lump is still there, then the master most likely has an abscess. Also, if the animal’s lymph nodes around its neck are swollen, it means there could be an infection in its cheek pouches.

Regardless of where the abscess occurs in your hamster’s body, you should take it to the vet for examination.

Also, if you’re unsure if your hamster has an abscess on its cheek, take it to your vet for a proper examination. Remember, an abscess is treatable if detected and treated early.

How long can a hamster live with an abscess?

The lifespan of a hamster with an abscess depends on the severity of the abscess as well as the effectiveness of the treatment given by the vet.

If your hamster is suffering from a minor abscess or if you detect the abscess early enough, then your pet has a higher chance of recovering with timely treatment and proper vet care.

But if the case is more severe or has been detected too late, it can lead to more serious health problems in your furry friend and even affect its lifespan.

Severe abscess also makes your hamster stop eating. Its body will lack essential nutrients, making it vulnerable to other hamster illnesses and further affecting its lifespan.

That said, we always advise you to take your hamster to the vet as soon as possible to have it diagnosed and treated on time and increase its recovery chances.

After your hamster undergoes surgery to get rid of the abscess, you should ensure it doesn’t groom the affected area as this may interfere with the healing process.

You should also follow the recommended dressing routine for the affected area.

Good care will ensure your animals recovers from this life-threatening health issue and lives a longer lifespan.

How to treat a hamster abscess at home?

We don’t recommend treating a hamster abscess at home. Remember, an abscess involves bacterial infection and requires proper diagnosis and treatment by a professional.

If your pet hamster has an abscess, take it to the vet for treatment. The vet will examine the swollen area of the skin to confirm if indeed there’s an abscess. In case of a hamster mouth abscess, the vet may sedate your hamster to enable him to look inside.

Once the abscess has been confirmed, the treatment process involves draining it and then administering antibiotics.

If the abscess has already burst, the vet will check if all its contents have drained and then proceed to flush the wound with antiseptic solution to kill any remaining bacteria (Source).

If the abscess hasn’t been raptured, it can be removed surgically removed, so your hamster may be anesthetized.

To ensure no infection occurs after the surgical procedure, the vet will then prescribe an antibiotic for your hamster. Be sure to follow the vet’s instructions on the antibiotics.

Don’t stop giving the antibiotic midway, as the remaining bacteria can become resistant to bacteria and make future treatments hard for your pet.

Hamster has a huge lump: Is it Abscess or Tumor?

You can tell if your hamster has an abscess or tumor by finding out what’s inside the lump. If pus comes out of the lump, then it’s definitely an abscess and not a tumor.

However, examining the contents of the lump is the surest way to reach an informed decision.

Unlike a tumor, an abscess in hamsters is usually painful and causes reddening of the affected area. Vets can tell if your little friend has an abscess or tumor by feeling it with their hands.

Tumors in hamsters are formed as a result of abnormal growth of cells. The growth can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). And just like abscesses, they can occur in just any part of the hamster’s body.

If a vet reaches the conclusion that your hamster is suffering from a tumor, then the treatment option will depend on the stage of the tumor and its location.

Tumors are usually easy to remove when small and in early stages compared to those that have grown large enough. (Source).

Unlike abscesses, tumors in hamsters are highly survivable as they don’t disrupt organ functions in any way.

However, malignant tumors tend to shorten the animal’s lifespan. They may easily spread and become enlarged, interfering with normal body activity with or without any treatment.

Symptoms of Abscess

Abscesses on the hamster’s head are common, but they may appear elsewhere on the body. To make matters worse, the swelling will be red and painful to touch if found behind the hair.

This happens when pressure is exerted on an abscessed area. In extreme cases, a hamster’s cheeks and lymph may swell. It is possible that pus may seep out of the abscess if it ruptures, contaminating nearby hair.

🐹 Read More: Can A Hamster Survive With A Tumor? | What Vets Say

Causes of Abscess

Bite wounds and other trauma areas may get infected, which can lead to abscesses. Abscesses and infections may result from cuts caused by sharp materials like wood shavings.

Diagnosis

Cysts and hematomas are frequent skin disorders, and a physical examination will be performed to distinguish between the two. During the examination, the abscess will be punctured and blood and/or pus sample will be taken to identify the microorganisms responsible for the illness.

Treatment of the Disease 

Determine Whether Your Hamster Has a Cheek Abscess

Before therapy, ascertain whether your hamster’s puffy cheeks are related to an abscess or food storage. Because hamster cheek pouches are so huge, they might swell from eating. If your hamster’s pouch empties and the swelling goes down, there is no abscess.

Your hamster most certainly has a cheek abscess if the swelling does not go away.

An abscess makes the hamster unwell. Your hamster may eat less and seem sick. Hamsters will not become sick from a food-filled cheek pouch.

Take Your Hamster to Your Vet

If your hamster develops an abscess, see a vet. Your vet will inspect the enlarged cheek pouches for abscesses. Veterinarians may sedate hamsters to examine their mouths.

Allow Your Vet to Treat the Abscess

Your veterinarian will open the abscess and allow it to drain in order to treat the infection. Since opening the abscess requires surgery, your vet will put your hamster to sleep. After putting your hamster to sleep, your vet will use a sharp surgical tool to open the abscess.

Give Your Hamster Antibiotics as Prescribed

Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic to avoid infection following surgery. Complete the antibiotic treatment as prescribed. If you cease antibiotic therapy early, the surviving bacteria may become antibiotic-resistant, complicating future treatment.

Living and Management

If your hamster has abscess surgery, follow your vet’s postoperative recommendations. Restrict the animal so it will not groom the wound and slow recovery. Consult your vet regarding abscess dressing changes.

Prevention the Disease

Have Your Vet Trim Your Hamster’s Teeth

Overgrown incisors may injure cheek pouches and create abscesses. Your vet will trim your hamster’s enlarged incisors using dental instruments. No self-trims! You might damage and sharpen your hamster’s teeth.

Feed Your Hamster Soft, Smooth Food While It Is Healing

Sharp food might scratch your hamster’s cheek pouches. As your hamster’s abscess heals, offer him porridge and rice. You may soften hamster pellets by adding water.

Make Sure Your Hamster Gets Enough Fiber. 

Hay or chewing toys will not induce another abscess in your hamster’s cheek. Without fiber and stuff to bite on, your hamster’s teeth may overgrow, increasing his risk of abscesses.

Consider Using Only Soft Bedding in Your Hamster’s Cage

After treating your hamster’s cheek abscess, avoid recurring infections. Using soft bedding prevents cheek pouches from being scratched. Shredded paper is hamster bedding. 

If you’re interested in learning more about hamster health and behavior, you might find our articles on whether guinea pigs or hamsters are better pets and how hamsters see the world helpful. Our article on whether guinea pigs or hamsters are better pets provides a comparison of the two popular pets, including their behavior, care, and personality traits. Meanwhile, our article on how hamsters see the world explores the vision of hamsters, including their eyesight, color perception, and visual preferences. Check out these articles to learn more about keeping your hamster healthy and happy, and to gain a better understanding of their behavior and senses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a Hamster Recover From an Abscess?

When detected and treated properly, hamster abscesses recover fast. If the infection spreads or enters the circulation, the prognosis is dismal. The hamster may easily die if antibiotics can not halt the illness.

2. What Do I Do if My Hamster Has an Abscess?

Treatment involves draining and antibiotics. Your vet will drain and cleanse ruptured abscesses. Unruptured abscesses may be removed surgically.

Last Words

Now you understand can an abscess kill a hamster or not. The hamster’s abscess is thoroughly covered in this blog post.

“Prevention is better than cure” is a well-known saying. Take your hamster to the vet once a week and keep an eye out for what they consume.

Because hamsters are so prone to death, you must be especially vigilant. In the event that you see any signs of an abscess, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.