My hamster's nose is bleeding and she can't breathe. What should I do?

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Any time we see any blood we worry. Bleeding noses are usually caused by trauma in our small fur friends. Your pet may have scraped it on bedding, toys, or even the cage itself. Less commonly of course are things like bacterial infections of the nasal cavity as well as neoplasia (types of cancers). If it persists or reoccurs please see your vet immediately-otherwise just keep an eye on it and make note if you pet has any changes in behavior etc which can make it more concerning. I hope this helps.

I can see that your hamster is hunched and her fur is raised. Her labored breathing is cause for concern. It can be caused by infections or masses, and requires veterinary attention right away. The blood you identified can be caused by bloody stool, or even a rectal prolapse, both of which are serious medical conditions. She should be seen by a vet as soon as possible, as she may require supportive care to be stabilized. I hope all is well!

I am not sure if hazel is alone in the cage or if she is with another hamster is with her. If two hamsters are together I am concerned about a fight and would recommend separating them. However if she is alone I would look through the cage for any sign of trauma or sharp edges. Also if she has itchy skin or bad teeth she could be scratching herself. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian to have the Lunda looked at and get more insight Hope she feels better soon.

Chewie sounds very sick, and I am so sorry that this is happening. From what you are describing, she needs to see a veterinarian immediately. She can then be evaluated to see if there are any possible treatments for her, and if there are not, they can assist with euthanasia if that is needed or desired by you to ease her suffering. 18 months is an older age for a hamster, so that may be related to why she is getting sick. The material around her nose may be making it hard for her to breathe as well - if she tolerates it, you can clean the material off with a warm, wet cloth, but be careful so that she doesn't panic or struggle when you do it since she is already having a hard time breathing. The veterinarian can also clean this off for you as well. I am so sorry again - it is never easy to have a pet get sick.

I am so sorry to hear that. If she hasn’t been breathing for several minutes then she is likely deceased. Hamsters lifespan is 2-3 years so she may have died of natural causes. Another common problem is respiratory infections which are difficult to see until they are almost too sick to treat. I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

That could be just an injury but it could also be the start of a tumor. Gerbils kept in a wire cage will often spend hours chewing on the cage bars, and this will rub off fur and irritate the nose. The simplest solution to do is keep your gerbil in an aquarium with glass sides. Glad you changed the bowl. I hope you got one that is ceramic or glass - that way she can't chew it. Do you have chew blocks for her? http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/our-products/hay/harvest-stacks-western-timothy-with-carrots https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/you-and-me-wood-chew-sticks-for-small-animals She may need a better diet. I don't know what you are feeding her but I suggest you use a premium diet like Oxbow. This may curb her chewing on other things. https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/food-treats-and-hay/food/oxbow-essentials-healthy-handfuls-hamster-and-gerbil-food-5173696.html I, of course, would recommend you take Yuki to a vet for an exam. If you don't want to do that just yet I suggest you just monitor the nose for now. Do not apply anything to the nose topically because Yuki will just lick it off and ingesting those topical medications would not be good for her. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Poor Rhino! If there is a visible wound, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding and keeping it clean and dry can help. If there is a lot of bleeding ongoing and not stopping, bleeding is from the mouth or anus, or you see other signs of illness, seeking out vet care right away is best to try and find the cause.