hamster needs help

[amybojamies]

My dwarf hamsters got into a fight, and now charleston is bleeding. I cant take him to the vet until my mom gets home. Ive separated them. But is there anything else i can do?

[megs]

Ew.. that sucks.. I don't have any experience with fighting or bleeding hamsters. I'm glad they're separated. If he's not bleeding really badly, I'd just wait until you can take him to the vet. If he's bleeding bad, maybe try to put light pressure on the wound(s) and hold him in a towel until then.

I'm sure DF can suggest something to clean up the wounds when he signs in.

[hamwolf89]

I suggested to use peroxide. You could soak guaz anything that could press against the wonds and soak it with peroxide. many ways you can do this

[Die Fledermaus]

Bactine is better than peroxide which can be toxic in large amounts, but it is OK in small amounts.

Dwarf squabbles may be noisy but they do not involve blood. Blood indeed means a serious fight.

Introducing dwarfs who do not know each other is NOT recommended as they usually fight. Keep them separate.

I do not know the extent of the injuries or if they need a vet and strong antibiotics such as Chlor Palm or Baytril. There are weaker over-the-counter antibiotics you could use (tetracycline/ornacycline) but I would not recommend them to someone without experience especially in dealing with a very small animal; you might do more harm than good.

Best wishes.

[amybojamies]

The vet gave him a shot to kill the bacteria he might have gotten from the bite. She saids oral injections can cause diarhea(sp?) . Any who. I have to put antibaterial on him every day until it heals. I will take pics tomorrow. I dont want to stress charleston anymore tonight.

[Die Fledermaus]

Never heard that about the diarrhea.

Never heard of a vet giving a tiny animal a shot - even small needles can be potential dangerous owing to the animal's size. Let me add that hamsters have loose skin, cheek pouches, where maybe a needle can be inserted safely. But needles inside that tiny body where the organs are is crazy. They are too big!

Usually antibiotics are given over long periods of time, ten days is common.

Well, I don't know everything, and so long as it works! Good luck.

[amybojamies]

she said she shot the medicine into a muscle

[Die Fledermaus]

Oh. I guess she knows what she is doing!

Best wishes.

I mentioned that as when I has a Syrian with Cushings Disease I was told by a vet that treatment was not realistic as monitoring the blood with a needle was too dangerous owing to the animal's small size, and dwarfs are even smaller.