Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 07:05 pm
It is common for hamsters to bleed from their nose; you are probably worried and wondering if it is dangerous for your pet.
Why do hamsters have nosebleeds?
Hamster nose bleeds due to injury, dry or cold weather, fight between two hamsters, allergy, tumor, and blood clotting problems.
However, all possible causes of nosebleeds in hamsters usually do not cause danger to their health and life.
In today’s article, we will learn in more detail about the causes of nosebleeds in hamsters and what to do in such moments.
What are the causes of nosebleeds in hamsters?
The nose of hamsters is one of the most sensitive places, and that’s why they hurt it very easily and often.
Nosebleeds in hamsters occur most often for the following reasons:
- injuries
- allergy with coughing and sneezing
- clotting or bleeding
- drying out their nasal membranes
- nose picking
The nose of hamsters bleeds very often because they have more nerve endings and blood vessels in the nose.
Blood vessels are located very close to the very surface of their skin.
What to do when a hamster’s nose bleeds?
Although nosebleeds in hamsters are a common occurrence, we still need to know what is the cause of such an occurrence before reacting and helping our pets.
Nosebleeds in hamsters occur most often in the following situations:
- When two hamsters live together, there will be a fight between them, and eventually, one of them will have a bloody nose.
- When the hamsters fall from a greater height, since they have poor vision and can hardly estimate the height, they fall unprepared and end up with a bloody nose.
- In case of any other injury or bumping the nose into a hard object when playing.
- Their nose bleeds also occur if the hamsters are cold or the area they live in is too dry.
- Nosebleeds also occur when hamsters are dehydrated.
Now that we know how often our pets get nosebleeds, it’s time to help them.
If you notice bleeding from their nose and a cut that doesn’t stop bleeding even after a few minutes, then take a clean tissue or soft cloth to stop the bleeding.
Just like with us humans, hold the tissue on the bleeding spot for about 5 minutes. Be gentle, and don’t put too much pressure on your pet because it won’t be very comfortable.
If the wound that caused the nosebleed is small, you can leave it to heal on its own, while more significant damage will not stop bleeding so easily.
You can also clean it with an antiseptic when it comes to a more significant cut. In the place where there is a wound and bleeding, it can be prevented with thyme tea and a gentle coating on the damaged area of the nose.
As we said, sometimes hamsters living together in a cage come into a conflict which can end in injury and bleeding of one or both hamsters.
Therefore, if you keep hamsters together, you should be very careful, especially for Syrian hamsters who require more space. It is best to keep them alone, while dwarf hamsters can live together in one cage and sometimes fight with their furry friends.
If hamsters become dehydrated, their nose may bleed, so they should always have fresh and clean drinking water available.
How often do hamsters have nosebleeds?
Nosebleeds in hamsters are common and should not worry you.
To avoid frequent nosebleeds in hamsters, they should consume food rich in vitamin K. Therefore, add foods such as spinach or parsley to your hamster’s diet so that your pet can have enough vitamin K.
With vitamin K, hamsters will get better protection from nosebleeds and help protect them from other problems such as strokes.
What to do if the nosebleeds of hamsters do not stop?
This situation happens very rarely, but it is also possible.
If their blood does not clot properly due to blood problems, then problems may occur, or the bleeding may not stop.
If something like this happens, you should not wait; you should immediately take your pet to the vet.
Nosebleeds in hamsters due to infection
Infection is one of the causes of their nose bleeding, so we need to protect our pets from infections such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus.
When hamsters have an infection, it can quickly appear on any part of their body, including their nose.
At the same time, abscesses form, which are painful for the hamsters, and at the same time, cause nosebleeds. It is best to take your hamster to the vet in such unwanted moments.
Tumor nosebleeds in hamsters
Nosebleeds in hamsters can also be caused by tumors.
Suppose you notice that in addition to bleeding, your hamster starts to lose weight, breathes harder, and generally looks terrible. In that case, these are symptoms of a tumor.
If you notice these symptoms in such situations, you should immediately take your hamster to the vet.
Read more: How To Empty Hamster Cheek Pouch? (Find Out Now)
Conclusion
Bleeding of the nose in hamsters is a common phenomenon, which usually passes without significant problems for their health.
Causes of nosebleeds can be injuries, fights with other hamsters, hitting a hard object, and other similar reasons.
When a hamster’s nose bleeds, you should help it with a tissue to stop the bleeding. Hamsters also need to eat foods rich in vitamin K to have good blood clotting.
In any case, bleeding from their nose happens often and usually passes quickly. Otherwise, if the bleeding does not stop, you should take your pet to the vet.
Read more: Why Is My Hamster Losing Weight? (Solutions And Advices)
