Bite marks are often a reminder not to mess with hamsters especially when they’re stressed or asleep. Even your beloved hamster could bite as a defense mechanism when he feels threatened.
Knowing when to leave your pocket rodent alone can save you from bites and the resultant bleeding and discomfort. Aggressive breeds such as Syrians are also known for leaving bite marks on cage or tank mates as they fight for territorial dominance.
This is why it’s critical to know what hamster bite marks look like so the right measures can be taken immediately those in your care turn aggressive.
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What Do Hamster Bite Marks Look Like?
Hamster bite marks may appear in the form of a single small to medium-sized cut typically on the finger. The size and depth of the wound often depends on the age and breed of the hamster. For instance, an average adult Syrian hamster’s bite may be larger and deeper than one from a baby Dwarf.
Hamster bites may be bloody and can swell causing agonizing pain. When left untreated, these bites can become infected, resulting in the buildup of some pus.
Hamster bites may also cut deeper on the hands of a child compared to adults since children’s skins tend to be much tender.
Are Hamster Bites Painful?
Bites from hamsters can result in varying degrees of pain. The depth of the bite coupled with how developed the hamster’s incisors may have been usually determines how much pain to expect.
Often, bloody bites from adult hamsters with sharper teeth are more painful compared to getting nibbled by a baby pet rodent with undeveloped teeth. The discomfort can be debilitating and you may have to resort to pain killers to be able to undergo normal daily activities.
Can a Hamster Bite Break Skin?
Bites from adult hamsters with well-developed teeth can break the skin resulting in bleeding and the risk of infections. If you’re lucky enough to suffer a minor bite from a baby hamster with underdeveloped teeth, it might feel nothing more than a small sting.
Baby hamster bite marks effects may be minimal and the pain usually dwindles after a couple of minutes. You can often get away with going about your daily activities without the need for treatment and by the morning, no traces of the bite will exist.
However, skin-breaking bites from adults may require cleaning and treatment by a vet to minimize the risk of further infections.
Which Hamster Bites The Most?
Syrian hamsters are the most aggressive and are known for biting more than “gentlemen” such as Teddy Bear and Dwarf Hamsters. Syrians do not only show aggression against humans and weaker breeds, but often fight against their fellow Syrians when caged together.
Aggression also pops up when Syrian hamsters are paired with weaker cage mates such as Dwarfs. It is not uncommon to find bite marks on the body of hamsters sharing a cage with a Syrian.
Infections & Diseases That Can be Transmitted from Hamster Bites
Getting bitten by a hamster can be a genuine source of pain and discomfort. However, there are several diseases and infections that may be transmitted to humans via skin-breaking hamster bites.
While hamster-to-human disease transmission isn’t common, it is still possible and a few common infections include.
Rabies
Rabies can be transmitted from an infected hamster to humans via bites when the hamster’s saliva makes contact with the wound. Rabid hamsters are quite rare since these little guys usually die from the trauma of getting bitten by a dog or another animal infected with rabies.
In rare instances, wild hamsters may survive bites from rabid bats, increasing the risk of transmission to humans through bites. There have been a few instances of rabid hamsters biting and transferring the infection to kids in various cities in North America.
Rabies is a viral infection of the affected animal’s nervous system. Unfortunately, signs can stay hidden until it is fatal before they become clinically detectable. Jabbing hamsters against rabies is not a common practice but taking this precautionary measure can come in handy in the future.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM)
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) is a potentially fatal viral disease with minor flu-like symptoms that can be transmitted from hamsters to humans via bites. Hamsters often get infected from physical contact with mice and may pass on the infection to humans in rare cases.
LCM can lead to serious consequences, especially in pregnant women, and may result in birth defects and stillbirths. It can even culminate in death among those with compromised immune systems.
Tapeworms
Tapeworms can be transmitted to humans bitten by infected hamsters. These worms often make their way into the little rodent’s bodies via ingestion of infected insects such as fleas.
The mode of transmission of the worms from hamsters to humans is through contact with the infected mucuous during bites. But the worms often live up to 6 weeks before dying in the human body.
Ringworms
Ringworm is probably the most common hamster-to-human infection available. It is a conspicuous fungal skin disease caused by species of Microsporum or Trichophyton. The affected area often appears in a ring-like manner with a reddish, raised, and itchy feeling.
Even mere physical contact with the skin of an infected pocket rodent can result in the transmission of ringworm. Hamsters suffering from the fungal infection typically have dry, scaly lesions on several areas including the ears, head, limbs, and other body parts.
Salmonellosis
Salmonella is another condition that can be easily transmitted from humans to hamsters. Contact with the feces of an infected hamster is the most common mode of transmission.
Diarrhea is the major symptom of salmonella in hamsters but look out for the following signs as well.
- Lethargy
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal Pain
Tularemia
This is a highly-infectious bacterial disease rarely transmitted from hamsters to humans. Derived from Francisella Tularensis bacteria, Tularemia is often associated with severe diarrhea and pneumonia-like symptoms.
There have been a few instances of tularemia being transmitted to humans via bites from hamsters. The infected pocket rodent often shows signs of illness just before or immediately after the bite and may not survive much longer.
How to Treat Hamster Bite Marks
Hamster bite marks can be painful but the thought of getting attacked by your beloved little rodent can be even more upsetting. How do you treat bite marks from your hamster after the unfortunate incident?
Calm Down
Overcoming the shock of getting bitten by your beloved hamster is often the most difficult task for many of us. However, remaining calm is the only way forward after suffering such a setback.
The temptation to scream or even shake the poor little guy to register your displeasure can be high. But that can only make your hamster even more agitated, increasing the risk of suffering another bite.
Slowly let the hamster out of your grip if you’re holding him at the time of the bite. If he refuses to lose the grip on your hand, gently open the jaws to get your skin out.
Wash The Affected Area
Hamster bites from Syrians or another breed with well-developed incisors may lead to bleeding and the first step is to wash the affected area with running water and soap. If the bleeding does not stop, pressing a couple of paper towels on the wound could do the trick.
If the blood loss continues due to the depth of the cut, you may need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Apply Antibiotics to the Wound
The risk of infections can be high from hamster bite wounds. This is why you should apply antibiotic cream after cleaning the wound and putting the bleeding under control.
A clean bandage on the affected hand can also come in handy. Just make sure it covers the entire affected area and is properly secured for at least a couple of days.
Monitor The Wound For Signs of Infections
There’s always a risk of the hamster bite marks getting infected even after washing, applying antibiotic cream, and bandaging it. This is why you need to watch out for signs of infections such as Rabies, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis, and Tularemia.
If you’re experiencing sudden signs of illness a few days after the bite, this could be evidence of an infection. A few of the symptoms that should trigger a visit to your doctor include:
- Fever
- Slow wound healing
- Pain
- Pus
What to do If Your Hamster Gets Bitten
Hamsters do not only bite humans because their cage mates can be targets too. If you’ve noticed bite marks on the body of a pet rodent in a shared cage or tank, it is time to act. The first step is to put each hamster in a separate tank.
Regardless of the breed, these pocket rodents are better off in separate cages or tanks once they reach 3-4 weeks old. The separation eliminates the risk of bites and other forms of physical injuries from aggressive cage mates.
Syrian hamsters, in particular, should never share a cage with others under any circumstances.
Do not hesitate to offer proper care for the bitten hamster after placement in the safety of an independent cage. Monitor the whole body to identify the location of bite marks and make sure to clean the affected areas with soap and running water.
Take the hamster to your vet immediately for treatment to minimize the risk of further infections such as LCM, Salmonella, and Rabies.
What Does it Mean When a Hamster Gently Bites You?
Hamster love bites are usually slow and gentle in nature. This often happens when you’re spending time together and can be your little guy’s way of trying to get your attention.
Hamsters only show affection via love bites when they enjoy your company and wish to spend more time together.
Sometimes, young hamsters may also bite after mistaking your hand for food due to their poor vision. This is especially common when they first arrive at your home. Over time they get used to your scent and the accidental bites will happen less.
How Do You Stop A Hamster From Biting You?
Hamsters may bite as a spontaneous reaction to human touch. Obviously, staying away from any form of physical contact is the surest way to guarantee never getting your hand bitten. But, what’s the point of raising a hamster if you cannot touch or pet him.
Here are the best ways to prevent pet rodents from biting your hand.
Get Your Hamster Used to Your Presence
Hamsters take time to get used to your presence when you first bring them home. Avoid dipping your hands into their cages right off the bat and instead, let them get used to the idea first.
After a couple of days of being left alone, they’ll probably get more familiar with the new surroundings. You may slowly acquaint yourself with them by placing your hand at a spot in the cage, away from their position.
Offering treats such as Italian cheese can ensure the hamster warms up to your hand much quicker. Over time, the little rodent will rather approach whenever you get close to the cage. Petting the hamster should become easy at this point.
Eventually, the idea of picking up the hamster will become natural and he’ll come to love it.
Wash Your Hands
Hamsters may sometimes bite after mistaking your hand for food. Always wash your hands thoroughly after consuming any type of food, especially hamster favorites such as fruits and vegetables. This can minimize accidental bites.
Avoid Waking Sleeping Hamsters
Hamsters hate to be woken up from deep slumber by human touch or loud noises. Since they’re more active from dusk to dawn, a significant portion of their sleep occurs during the daytime. The probability of getting bitten by a sleeping hamster can be extremely high.
Picking up a sleeping hammy abruptly can create the illusion of an attack and he may respond with a bite as a defense mechanism.
Allow Physical Exercise
Biting is more common in bored and stressed hamsters. They may seek some sort of release for the built-up stress and biting could be the chosen outlet.
Providing exercise wheels, plastic tubes, and hideouts can be a smart way for pet rodents to enjoy some workouts. A more physically active hamster is less likely to bite your hand during physical contact.
Wear Gloves
Sometimes, hamsters bite even after all attempts to discourage the behavior. This sign of aggression can be a nightmare but it doesn’t need to be. You can always wear thick gardening gloves to ward off the incisors of these aggressive pet rodents.
The hamster may still attempt to bite but the glove’s thickness should be able to withstand the little guy’s incisors to keep your hand safe.
Conclusion
Hamster bite marks can be painful and should be treated immediately they occur to prevent the risk of further infections. Wash the wound with clean water and soap and apply antibiotic cream to minimize the risk of infections.
The wound should then be bandaged and monitored for the next few days for signs of infections. If you’re unsure of what to do, speak to your doctor or book an appointment for treatment as soon as you suffer a hamster bite.