My hamster's eye crusts shut after sleep. What should I do?

The eye does look a bit irritated. You can clean the spot with a washcloth to help keep the eye open and clear, and to allow you to inspect it for any wounds or additional irritation. If it doesn't clear up on its own after a day or so, seems to worsen, or the crusting continues or worsens, it would be best to have it examined by a vet in person to rule out any injuries or infections in the eye that could be causing it.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The crusting and discharge you describe can be normal, but accumulate if Churro is not grooming as much as he should be. Decreased grooming can be caused by many conditions and is a pretty vague indicator of overall health. A viral infection or conjunctivitis can also be to blame. I recommend having Churro seen by a vet, especially if he is not eating as much as usual or is less active.

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!

It is common for hamsters to get eye infections or scratched on the surface of their eyes so this may be what is going on with your little guy. However, since he is so young it may be a congenital problem instead. I would recommend taking your hamster in to your vet to be examined. He may need some eye drops or antibiotics to help clear up whatever is going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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.

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!

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.