Hamsters often suffer from various diseases and health problems. One of those problems is when they have an ear infection because it gets filled with dirt and bacteria.
But what to do when the hamster has an ear infection, and at the moment you are not able to take your pet to the vet?
How to treat your hamster ear infection at home?
For the home treatment of a hamster ear infection, you should use canaural ear drops, and you can also use a solution of hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel.
In today’s article, you will learn how to treat a hamster with an ear infection, why an infection occurs, how to prevent it in the future, and similar questions related to the topic.
How to treat your hamster ear infection at home?
When the hamster has an ear infection, you should immediately take it to the vet, but if you can’t, then you can treat the infection yourself at home.
To treat a hamster ear infection at home you need a few things:
- saltwater
- hydrogen peroxide
- canaural ear drops
- witch hazel
When you have all these ingredients you can start treating your hamster, just be careful because an ear infection needs to be treated properly and carefully.
Consult a veterinarian
If you cannot take the hamster to the vet when it has an ear infection, then you can call him and consult with him about what and how to do it at home.
Veterinarians know best how to treat an ear infection and will help you so that you can best help your pet yourself.
If you forget any of their advice, feel free to call again so you don’t make a mistake when treating your ear infection.
Take salt water
Saltwater is a known disinfectant, so you should use it before treating your pet. Place one tablespoon of salt in a bowl of warm water and mix until the salt dissolves.
Then wash your hands in it, which will destroy any bacteria you may have on your hands.
This is very important because you will be touching the hamster’s ears with your hands, so they should be clean and disinfected.
Take the hamster in your hands
Once you have washed and disinfected your hands with salt water you are ready to start treating your hamster.
Gently take the hamster out of the cage and either place it on a clean towel or just hold it with your hands.
It is not bad if you have someone else to help you with the hamster so that you can more easily treat its ear.
Put canaural eardrops
Canaural ear drops are used for ear infections in hamsters, but you will have to be careful with the amount you put in.
You need to apply three drops twice a day to cure your pet’s infection.
When you put ear drops it is best to find someone else to help you hold the hamster, because hamsters do not like to be still in one place.
Repeat this canaural ear infection treatment until your pet is completely healed.
An alternative to ear drops is hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel
If you can’t find canaural ear drops, then you can use hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel as an alternative.
Mix equal parts of the two ingredients and your pet’s ear infection treatment is ready to use.
This mixture is used by putting just one drop and massaging the hamster’s ear twice a week until the infection is gone.
After each application of the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel, you can give your pet a little of your favorite food as a reward.
Olive oil for treating ear infections in hamsters
You can also use a little olive oil, so first clean the infected ear with cotton soaked in warm water.
The next step is to put a few drops of olive oil in the hamster’s ear, but be careful when you do that, you don’t need to put too much, two to three drops are quite enough.
You can also give a drop of baby aspirin to ease your pet’s pain.
Can a hamster ear infection go away on its own without treatment?
Depending on the hamster’s ear infection itself, some infections go away on their own, it just takes more time.
But if the infection is from bacteria that are more resistant then it may happen that the infection does not go away by itself.
Some infections are very difficult to get rid of even with the use of antibiotics, so it is still best to take your pet to the vet, especially if the infection lasts for a long time.
If the infection does not go away on its own, it can cause serious problems with the hamster’s health.
What antibiotics are used for hamster ear infections?
There are several antibiotics that are used to treat ear infections in hamsters, of course after consulting a veterinarian first.
The following are most commonly used:
- amoxicillin
- clindamycin
- erythromycin
Be careful when using antibiotics that they are always used as prescribed by the veterinarian, regardless of whether the hamster’s ear infection will go away quickly.
In addition to antibiotics for an ear infection, you can also use medications to reduce pain, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
What consequences can an ear infection cause in hamsters?
When hamsters have an ear infection, it can go away on its own or with the use of medication, but it can also cause problems if left untreated.
If left untreated, the following problems may occur:
- permanent damage to the ear canal
- deafness
- death
Obviously, a hamster’s ear infection is no joke, and therefore you must not let it go untreated, if it does not go away in a few days, take the hamster to the vet immediately.
Is it dangerous to treat a hamster ear infection at home?
If you decide to treat your hamster’s ear infection, you must be very careful, because it can be very dangerous and cause permanent damage to their ears.
Therefore, if you do not have enough experience, it is best not to try to treat your hamster’s ear yourself.
However, you need an expert vet who has experience and knows how to help your pet. If you still decide to treat the infection yourself, first seek the advice of a veterinarian.
Many owners, even though they have no experience with ear infections in hamsters due to the cost of treatment at a veterinarian, decided to treat their hamsters themselves.
If you go to the vet, he will prescribe antibiotics to ease the hamster’s pain.
An alternative to antibiotics is the use of ZYMOX ear solution, which does not contain harmful ingredients and is particularly safe to use without side effects.
What are the signs of an ear infection in hamsters?
Ear infections in hamsters usually occur due to bacteria that have entered their ear channel or due to a respiratory infection.
When hamsters have an ear infection it causes them pain and great discomfort. That’s why it’s important to detect early when your hamster has an ear infection.
There are some signs and symptoms by which you will know that your pet has an ear infection, so let’s take a closer look at them.
Read more: Why Are My Hamsters Ears Black? Let’s Discover
A change in the appearance of the ear
When hamsters have an ear infection it can be noticed through the following signs and symptoms:
- they will have discharge from the ears
- they will constantly scratch their ears
- they will make noises of displeasure such as hissing
- the hamster’s ears will turn red
- swelling of the ears will appear
- they can tilt their head to the side
- they will have higher temperatures in their ears
If you notice all these signs and symptoms, you should react immediately and take your pet to a veterinarian, or call to consult with him.
You must react immediately because an ear infection is painful for hamsters.
Read more: How Much Does It Cost To Remove A Tumor In Hamsters?
Movement problems
When hamsters have an ear infection they have great pain and trouble moving.
They also may begin to fall or walk unevenly with poor balance.
Hamsters may hold their head to the side because of an ear infection.
What to do to prevent ear infections in hamsters?
In order not to get an ear infection in hamsters, you should pay attention to some things when keeping your hamster.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Thorough cleaning of the cage at least once a week, and regular normal cleaning of the cage every day.
- The poop and other waste of the hamsters in the cage should be cleaned every day.
- The hamster’s ears should be clean and you should not allow them to get wet, or if they get wet, wipe them quickly to dry them.
- Regular cleaning of the hamster’s ears with ZYMOX, more precisely whenever you see a little dirt in their ears.
Maintaining hygiene is extremely important to reduce the chances of hamster ear infections.
Read more: How Much Does Hamster Abscess Treatment Cost?
Do hamsters clean their ears?
Hamsters are known for maintaining their hygiene, including their ears.
Hamsters can clean their own ears, but sometimes they get ear infections when they have to be treated by a veterinarian.
Ears are important organs for hamsters because their sense of hearing makes it easier for them to survive in the wild because they have poor eyesight.
Conclusion
To treat ear infections in hamsters at home, you need salt water, canaural drops, or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and witch hazel.
However, if you do not have experience with treating an ear infection, it is best not to try to treat your pet yourself, consult a veterinarian.
When treating an ear infection in hamsters yourself, you must strictly adhere to the treatment method to avoid permanent damage to their ears.
Finally, it is best to prevent frequent occurrences of ear infections in hamsters by maintaining the hygiene of the hamster itself and the cage.
Read more: What Are The Signs of A Urinary Tract Infection in Hamsters?
