Is the red on my hamster's wheel blood, or just from his food?

Thanks for reaching out about Peko. Hamsters (and all other rodents) do not menstrate. Check the toes nails for bleeding. If you find a toe nail that is bleeding, and has not stopped on its own, a coagulant used for dog nails works well (such as Quik Stop). This should only be used for nail, not for any other lesions. If bleeding from some other place, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

When there is red material from around the rear end, it could be coming from the anus, the reproductive tract, or the urinary tract. Additionally, there could be some kind of trauma in the area as well. Seeing blood intermittently is not uncommon with any of these areas. I would recommend that you have Peanut evaluated by a veterinarian. Since she is eating and drinking normally, you likely don't need to rush in tonight, unless you have an emergency veterinarian who is comfortable with evaluating hamsters. If not, it may be better to wait until your regular veterinarian is available. However, if you see a change in Peanut's attitude or appetite, or if her feet start to look more pale in color than pink, I would recommend taking her in immediately. The pale color would be indicative of her losing a great deal of blood. When at the vet, they will clean the area and try to determine where the red material is coming from. There is a pigment that rodents produce, called porphyrins, that can look similar to blood. Your veterinarian can help to distinguish between the two. I hope that Peanut feels better soon!

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.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Bleeding can be from trauma or an internal cause such as a ruptured vessel or severe parasitic infection. It is a little difficult to determine the exact cause without a photo, but if there is a small amount of blood, some form but gentle pressure on the area will likely stop the bleeding. You should gently trim Puky’s nails to avoid further trauma. If the bleeding does not stop, I recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. I hope all is well!

Poor Flash! It is a little difficult to know where the blood came from without a photo. Flash may have scratched himself or caused some trauma to the inner ear. A small scratch should heal easily and you can carefully trim Flash’s nails to ensure he doesn’t cause any further trauma. If he develops a head tilt, or does not act like himself, it can be a sign of inner ear damage and he may require pain medication prescribed by a veterinarian. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!

Hi, it could be that she has been rubbing her face either for some discomfort cause by her teeth or by the cheek pouch. I would not recommend to do anything since it is not an open sore but have her checked over by your vet. Hope this helps, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !