Hamster health problems: wet tail, overgrown teeth, cheek pouches and torpor

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Hamsters are small, and they hide illness well. Problems can become serious quickly, so it helps to know the common ones and when to see a vet. This guide is general information, not a diagnosis; if you are worried about your hamster, contact a vet who treats small mammals.

Daily health checks

Watch your hamster during its active hours in the evening. Look for:

normal appetite, drinking and activity
clear, bright eyes and a clean nose
a tidy coat and a clean, dry rear end
normal droppings
no lumps, wounds or bald patches

A gentle weekly weigh on a kitchen scale helps you spot weight loss early.

Wet tail

Wet tail is a serious bacterial gut infection that causes severe diarrhoea. It is most often seen in young Syrian hamsters around weaning age, and stress, such as weaning, being moved to a new home, sudden diet changes or crowding, is thought to make it more likely. Signs include:

a wet, dirty, smelly tail area
watery diarrhoea
a hunched posture, as the condition is painful
lethargy, a scruffy coat and not eating

Wet tail can kill a hamster quickly through dehydration. Take the hamster to a vet the same day. Keep it warm and quiet, and keep any other hamsters away from it and from its bedding.

Overgrown teeth

A hamster's front teeth grow throughout its life and are worn down by gnawing. If they are misaligned or not worn enough, they can overgrow and stop the hamster from eating, or even injure the mouth. Signs include:

teeth that look long, curled or uneven
dropping food, eating less, or weight loss
drooling or a wet chin

Provide safe chews and hard foods to help. If the teeth are overgrown, a vet can trim them safely. Do not try to clip them at home.

Cheek pouch problems

Hamsters carry food and bedding in their cheek pouches. Problems include:

Impaction: sticky foods or fluffy cotton-style bedding getting stuck.
Abscesses or infections: often from an impaction or a scratch from sharp food.
Pouch prolapse: the pouch turning out of the mouth, which needs urgent treatment.

Signs include a cheek that stays swollen when the hamster is not carrying food, a bad smell, or something pink hanging from the mouth. Do not try to empty the pouches yourself; a vet may need to flush them under sedation.

Torpor in cold weather

Pet hamsters do not hibernate the way some animals do, but when they get too cold they can enter torpor, a short-term state of reduced activity and body temperature that can look frighteningly like death. A cold room, often in winter or during a heating failure, is the usual trigger. To prevent it, keep the hamster in a room with a steady, comfortable temperature, away from draughts and windows, and give it plenty of bedding to nest in. If you find a cold, still hamster:

Move it to a warmer room and warm it slowly, for example by holding it in your hands or wrapping it in a towel.
Do not use direct heat from a radiator or hairdryer.
If it does not rouse fairly soon, contact a vet straight away.

Other signs that need a vet

breathing noisily or with effort
discharge from the eyes or nose
lumps or swellings
hair loss or constant scratching
not eating or drinking for a day
injuries from falls or fights
blood in the urine or droppings

Hamsters age quickly, so a change you see in a two-year-old is worth taking seriously. Find a vet who sees small mammals before you need one. Share your hamster health questions or experiences in the comments.