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My dwarf hamster's eye is squinted. What can I do to help at home?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Other | Unknown - Other | Male | 1lb

I have a dwarf hamster and he recently, his left eye has been squinted and we aren't sure why. Is there anything we can do at home that will help him?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on November 17th, 2017

Hello and thank you for using Pet Coach concerning Hershey. I would recommend to flush his eye out with sterile saline. Thus will flush out any bedding or anything stuck in there. If he continues to squint the eye, then I would recommend to take him to the vet to get his eye stained to look for a scratch. Bacterial infections are also possible and treatment is antibacterial eye drops. I hope this helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on March 8th, 2017
It sounds as if Teddy may have a pretty severe infection, illness or neurologic issue. Since he is having trouble balancing and his eyes are swollen shut it is best to seek veterinary care immediately for an exam and treatment as these are very concerning symptoms.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 27th, 2019
If the eye is bulging and he can't close it then you should have him examined by your vet. I cannot offer you any home treatments for eye problems - those always need to be seen by a vet. Eyes are very delicate organs and can go from bad to worse very quickly.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on December 8th, 2017
the swollen cheek is usually just food in his food pouch but the crusty eye and ear are both something to worry about, you will need to take him to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked and treated, if it's an infection he will need antibiotics.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My hamster's eye is bulging. What can I do at home to help her?

I am concerned that Donut has either an eye infection, has had some type of trauma to his eye, or has what is called a retrobulbar abscess (a pocket of infection behind the eye). At home you can try flushing the eye with some eyewash or saline solution. It is also important to make sure Donut is still eating. Unfortunately there's not much else you can do at home. Just monitor him closely to look for any changes. The best thing to do would be to have him to your vet to be checked out as soon as you can. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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My dwarf hamster has a sticky eye and seems sniffly. What can I do?

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It looks like little Aurora has a proptosed eye. This may be entirely due to the swelling from the scratch or could have popped out from trauma. These type of injuries need treatment right away in order to save the eye. If left like this, it can cause significant damage to the outside of the eyeball and can swell or pop out even more. I recommend taking her to a veterinarian as soon as you can. For now, the best this you can do is try to keep the outside of the eye moist. If you have any antibiotic eye ointment in the house, then it would be best to put this over the eye. Otherwise, you can ask your local pharmacy for lubricating eye ointment. This will help protect the eye, while she is awaiting the vet appointment. Before applying the ointment, it would be best if you can flush the eye with saline for 30 seconds. This can also be found in the pharmacy. I hope that helps and Aurora gets better soon.

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My hamster's eye is infected and keeps filling with mucus. What to do?

That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

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

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!

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Can I use Gentamicin for my dwarf hamster's red eye or see a vet?

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. I understand this may be stressful for your Dwarf hamster but it would be quite important to confirm this clinical suspicion. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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Hamster's red, infected eye: What to do when she keeps scratching?

Thanks for reaching out about Snoboll. Trying to irrigate or rinse with a saline solution for eyes, might help to dislodge some foreign particles. Additional care such as ophthalmic antibiotics or analgesia needs to be prescribed by a veterinarian. A veterinary visit is recommended as ocular lesions can progress quickly to infected corneas or possible loss of vision. Good luck.

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