Hamsters have an excellent sense of hearing, which helps them to hear predators more easily when they attack them and to survive.
Hamsters do not have good eyesight, so their sense of hearing together with their sense of smell is too important for their life.
But sometimes you may find yourself in a strange situation when you buy a hamster and notice that it does not respond to sounds from you or the environment.
How do I know that my hamster is deaf?
When the hamster is deaf, it does not react to sounds in its environment, it does not get scared, and does not run away if you clap your hands, nor does it turn towards the place where the sound comes from.
Deaf hamsters sleep a lot more and this is another sign that they are not listening.
In today’s article, you will find out what are the signs when hamsters are deaf, what to do in such moments, and why hamsters lose their hearing.
How do I know that my hamster is deaf?
To recognize if your hamster is deaf, it is enough to observe it and notice that it does not respond to any sounds.
When hamsters are deaf, they will not react at all to the noise around them, which is not typical for these small pets.
When your hamster is deaf, if you try to yell into his ears, he won’t respond at all.
Another sign that hamsters are deaf is that they sleep more because they can’t hear, they won’t wake up normally like other hamsters.
Unfortunately, when a hamster is deaf, it is not good at all and it is very sad for both the hamsters and the owners.
But we must mention that even deaf hamsters can live a completely normal life as long as you give them enough attention and care.
What are the signs of deafness in hamsters?
There are several recognizable signs that indicate that the hamster is unfortunately deaf, so let’s read about all of them together, so that you can more easily know about the condition of your pet.
It does not react to noise
Hamsters have an excellent sense of hearing because it helps them survive in nature and escape from predators.
They react to noise immediately, and if they are in a cage they will immediately react to see what is happening around them.
If your hamster doesn’t respond to noise at all after you’ve tried several times to scare it with loud noises, music, or anything else, then unfortunately it is deaf.
They are not looking in the direction of the sound
When hamsters hear they immediately turn to the direction of the incoming sound, or to the sound of predators.
They do this so that they can analyze the sound that is coming, to recognize if it is a threat to their life.
If they do not turn at all in the direction of the incoming sound, then the hamster is obviously deaf and therefore does not show any reaction.
They are very calm
When hamsters are deaf, they are very calm and peaceful, which immediately shows us that something is wrong with them.
While hamsters that hear normally are constantly active, restless, and all the time playing and running in and out of the cage.
If you notice that your pet is too calm, take it to the vet to examine it and check if the hamster is deaf.
They don’t bend their ears
Whenever hamsters are exposed to loud noises they react with their ears and bend them.
When hamsters exposed to loud sounds, noise, etc. do not bend their ears and do not show any signs of fear, then they are deaf.
They do not react to the touch of the cage wires
Hamsters every time you touch the wires of the cage react immediately.
Sometimes they may just turn to see who is coming and touch the wires, or they may get scared and hide in the tunnels or other places in the cage.
When the hamster does not react at all when you touch the wires of the cage several times, does not move, and does not run away, then it is definitely deaf.
They show no reaction when you call them
Although it is thought that hamsters do not react when you call them, this is not exactly true, they still show a reaction.
If you call them by their names and they show no reaction at all, remain indifferent, then again your pet is deaf and therefore not showing a reaction.
They don’t respond to clapping your hands
Deaf hamsters will not react at all if you clap your hands behind them.
If the hamster hears it will immediately run away or get scared when you clap your hands, it cannot be avoided, so this is another sure sign that the hamster is deaf.
What should I do if my hamster is deaf?
Unfortunately, if the hamster is deaf, not much can be done to restore its hearing.
Of course, you should take him to a veterinarian who will check if your hamster is really deaf, if he has a current hearing problem, or if he is permanently deaf.
Most hearing loss in hamsters is permanent and nothing can be done to improve the situation.
In any case, if the hamster is deaf, the vet will help you with advice on how to continue to care for and how to keep your pet in the future so that it can continue to live a normal life.
Why do hamsters lose their hearing?
Hearing loss in hamsters is one of the most difficult situations your pet can face.
The most common reasons for hearing loss in hamsters are:
- genetic problem
- loud noises
- ear infections
- traumas
- age
So let’s take a closer look at these few reasons why hamsters lose their hearing.
A genetic problem
A genetic problem is one of the possible reasons for hamsters to be deaf.
When they are born with a deaf gene, they do not hear anything from birth, although this will not be noticed until they are a few weeks old, that is, you will notice when they are separated from their mother.
At the beginning of their life, they are constantly with their mother who feeds them and takes care of them.
But when the moment of separation from the mother comes and they are put into cages for sale or breeding then it will be noticeable that they are actually deaf.
Deaf hamsters are immediately noticeable because they will not show the same reactions to sounds as hearing hamsters.
We should emphasize that hamsters that are born deaf are best not bred as their babies may be deaf as well.
Loud noises
Hamsters can lose their hearing, even though they previously heard and had normal hearing without problems.
This happens when hamsters are exposed to loud noises, especially blast-simulated noises, which cause changes in their DNA.
The sounds of an explosion are very strong and destructive, causing damage to the tympanic membrane, cartilage, ossicles, and middle ear muscles.
Such unwanted damage causes temporary or permanent hearing loss in hamsters and other rodents.
The sound of an explosion also damages the external fiber effects, which causes the destruction of the neuron cells in the inner ear and the hamsters will not be able to hear, that is, they will lose their hearing.
Ear infections
Ear infections in hamsters can cause severe hearing damage and temporary or permanent hearing loss.
Although the hamster may have excellent hearing, an ear infection can cause hearing loss.
First came sound transduction in the middle ear, but that could be the beginning of permanent hearing damage.
Signs of an ear infection in hamsters are:
- the ears turn red
- a black-brown or yellow-green discharge appears
- constant itching of the ear or shaking of the head
- swelling around the ears
That is why when hamsters have an ear infection you should take them to the vet immediately so that treatment can be started immediately to reduce the chances of permanent hearing loss.
Traumas
Trauma is a possible reason for hamsters to lose their hearing.
If the hamster falls from a great height and injures its head, it can cause hearing loss.
But in the event of trauma, temporary and not permanent hearing loss can occur, so in such unwanted situations, it should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
Read more: How To Treat Your Hamster Ear Infection At Home?
Old age
Hamsters, like humans, gradually lose their hearing as they age.
As hamsters age, degenerative changes occur that lead to a gradual loss of hearing, a process that is more pronounced in some hamsters and less pronounced in others.
They may begin to hear less and less until they lose their hearing completely. Hearing loss with age is not uncommon and occurs in many animals.
Read more: Why Are My Hamsters Ears Black? Let’s Discover
What is the hearing of hamsters?
When hamsters do not have hearing problems, then this sense allows them to hear better than humans. Hamsters can hear sounds with their hearing that we humans are unable to hear.
Hearing in hamsters is highly developed because they do not have good eyesight and constantly rely on hearing and smell.
When hamsters don’t have hearing problems, they can hear predators before they even get to them, which helps them to hide and save their lives.
That is why it is very sad when hamsters lose their hearing, it is one of the most important senses in their life.
FAQs
Are baby hamsters deaf?
Baby hamsters cannot hear or see anything for the first week after birth. They are then under the care of their mother.
Do hamsters need to be in a quiet room?
Hamsters should be in a quiet room because then they feel comfortable and safe. Hamsters do not like loud noises that can only cause them stress and fear.
Conclusion
To know if hamsters are deaf, it is enough to notice if they react to sounds around them at all, when they are deaf they will not react at all.
When hamsters are deaf, they sleep more than usual, do not run away from the noise, and loud sounds, and do not turn towards the relation where the sound comes from.
Hamsters can lose their hearing from ear infections, loud noises, or being born with a deafness gene.
When hamsters are deaf it is a difficult moment for every hamster and for their owners, but we must continue to care and keep them.
Hamsters can continue to live normally even when they are deaf, they just need more attention and care from their owners.
Read more: How To Handle and Relieve Stress in Hamsters? Let’s Discover
