An unprovoked bloody bite from a hamster can be startling especially if you’re raising one of these cute furballs for the first time. We adopt or buy hamsters with the intention of caring for and giving them a good life.
Seeing drops of blood from the bitten hand after innocently touching your hamster can be deflating for many of us.
What should I do after my hamster bit me and drew blood? Bloody bites from hamsters usually occur when they feel bored, stressed, or threatened. Put paper towels on the wound to stop the bleeding and investigate the reason for the bite in order to take the necessary action.
A bloody hamster bite can leave you wondering whether your financial and emotional investment in these lovely creatures is worth it after all. If you’ve been bitten by a hamster for the first time, it is only right that you understand the underlying reasons behind the attack before losing the motivation to raise them.
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Why Does My Hamster Bite Me When I Put My Hands In His Cage?
A hamster bite may feel sudden and out of nowhere for many of us. Sure, these little creatures can be difficult to understand sometimes but these bites do not happen randomly.
Like most pocket rodents, hamsters have served as prey to larger creatures in the wild for centuries. The mere sight of physically endowed predators can leave them living on the edge. Remember, humans look like giants in the eyes of hamsters and it can take some time for them to appreciate that you mean no harm.
Here are a couple of reasons why hamsters may go on the offensive against their human parents through biting.
Fear
As stated above, fear is often the main driving force behind hamster bites. If your hammy has bitten and drawn blood from any part of the body, there’s a good chance that he did that as a response to fear. Once you put yourself in their shoes, it is easy to understand why these pocket-sized rodents may feel that “gigantic” humans are out to hurt them.
Any physical approach or attempt to get closer can leave them panicking and this may translate to biting as a defense mechanism. This is especially true when you first bring a hamster home or visit a friend’s house and try to play with his hamster.
Whether you’re raising a Dwarf, Syrian, Roborovski, and Chinese hamster, do not be surprised to get bitten when your pet is scared for his life.
Temperamental Problems
Well-behaved hamsters are a joy to raise especially for many of us with busy lives. However, it often takes a lot of training to get a baby hamster to that point. When this training fails, hamsters can exhibit several behavioral problems including biting their owners or other humans at will.
It is not uncommon for over-indulged hamsters to also bite their owners especially when they’re not allowed to have their way. Some of these spoiled brats may even bite and draw blood from you for fun.
Confusion
A good chunk of hamster bites may be deliberate to register their displeasure over something. But that is not always the case, especially among well-trained breeds familiar with their owners.
Sadly, there are times when your beloved hamster may bite due to confusion. Hamsters are not exactly known for their superb vision. They usually rely on scents to recognize you from strangers. When your scent throws them off for one reason or another, mistaking you for an intruder becomes inevitable.
Also, biting when you pick him up can be a reflex action as a defense mechanism because he genuinely believes you’re a stranger who may pose some threat to his existence.
Anxiety
Many situations can trigger anxiety in even the calmest hamsters. This may result in physical signs of aggression such as biting when you hold or attempt to stroke them. While these creatures love to be picked up and petted from time to time, extensive physical contact can make them agitated.
Hamsters suffering from anxiety typically attempt to break free by biting your hand when they get the chance. These bites may sometimes result in bleeding and severe discomfort. If your little hammy seems anxious, chances are they may not be happy with the current conditions in their cages or tanks.
Stress and Restlessness
Hamsters do not handle stress very well and often lash out in several ways. Physical signs such as restlessness, fur loss, and self-mutilation are common in stressed hamsters, especially in aggressive breeds such as Syrians.
The chances of getting nibbled or bitten by a stressed hamster are high regardless of how familiar they may be with you.
Sudden Disturbance When Asleep
Hamsters are nocturnal meaning they sleep during the day and are more active at night when the majority of us retire to bed. The temptation to hold or pick up a sleeping hamster can be high especially when you’ve been away from home all day due to work or other commitments.
However, even the most well-behaved hamsters can respond with a bite if you pick up or wake them up suddenly. Like humans and other animals, hamsters may be disoriented and require some time to settle into their environments after being awake.
An unexpected human touch, while they’re in Dreamland, can be easily misinterpreted as some form of attack or aggression. Your hamster may respond to this by biting your hand to free itself and run for cover.
Boredom from Confinement
Hamsters love the freedom to move up and down their cages or breeder tanks. Even young ones often show significant signs of excessive energy by constantly running on their wheels and staying physically active in their balls.
Failure to create the right environment for your hamster to stay physically active can lead to boredom. From choosing the right cage or tank size to providing suitable toys, it is your responsibility as a hamster parent to stimulate your beloved pet’s mind at all times.
A bored hamster that has been confined for too long may bite when held in order to make a run for his life. It is not uncommon for the little guys in those situations to try to escape when they get the chance leading to accidental falls.
How to Prevent Your Hamster From Biting
Hamster bites are preventable even if this is your first crack at raising these cute little rodents. Here are a few ways to prevent or at least minimize the chances of getting bitten or nibbled by your pet hamster.
Allow Them to Warm Up to You
Regardless of how noble your intentions may be, it can take some time for pet hamsters to warm up to you. Sure, every hamster parent dreams of being able to pick up and play with their beloved little pets whenever they feel like it.
However, the reality can be different because patience is required to build such a bond. Over time, your hamster may get comfortable with your presence. Picking up or petting him will be interpreted as a sign of affection instead of aggression.
Hamsters rely on scent much more than sight to get used to people and situations. Giving them time to recognize your smell can help them grow to trust you. This can prevent those painful nips, nibbles, and bites.
Clean Your Hands
Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your hamster. If you’ve just enjoyed your favorite snack, you wouldn’t want you hammy smelling and nibbling your finger by accident, would you?
Also, any foreign scent on your hands can confuse your hamster into thinking you may be a stranger. This can make you susceptible to bites, nibbles, and nips. Aggressive hammies may also get jealous after smelling the scent of another hamster on you.
Ensuring that your hands are clean prior to playing with your hamster can save you a lot of trouble.
Proper Training
The value of training your hamster properly cannot be overemphasized. These creatures should be trained if you want them to exhibit good behavior. This does not mean you should shout or physically assault your hamster for misbehaving.
However, avoid rewarding bad behavior, especially if it is unprovoked. First-time hamster parents can seek training tips from vets and experienced family and friends to raise well-mannered hammies.
Provide Treats and Toys
Happy hamsters show minimal signs of aggression and often, providing exercise wheels and other toys can keep them content. Hamsters of all breeds love the freedom to engage in physical activity such as running around in their cages.
No wonder providing running tubes, playpens, and hideouts in a hamster cage makes such a huge difference in their moods.
Also, offering their favorite foods can be valuable in many ways. Occasional treats like rose petals can also help strengthen the bond with your hamster, minimizing the chances of suffering bloody bites and nips.
Handle Your Hamster Properly
Hamsters interpret your touch as aggressive or friendly based on how you handle them. Picking them up from the top is a big no if you want to avoid getting bitten. If he’s in the mood, your hamster will likely climb into your hands anyway so why not stretch them out in front of him and wait for his reaction?
This can also build trust with your pretty little hamster in the long run. Over time, he could be the one yearning for your touch whenever you come home and not the other way around.
Allow Them To Nap Peacefully
Just returned home to see a napping hamster? Allow the poor thing to sleep. Loud noises that may wake him up can be upsetting and unsettling so try to avoid that. Additionally, no matter how high the temptation may be to pick him up, always let your hamster sleep in peace.
My Hamster Bit Me and Drew Blood, Do I Need Tetanus?
If your hamster is healthy with no underlying medical conditions such as wet tail disease, you should be perfectly fine without getting a tetanus shot after a bite. However, squeeze out the blood immediately after the bite and wash the affected area with soap and running water.
The bleeding should stop in most cases but if that fails, pressing paper towels against the site of the bite for a couple of minutes should do the trick.
My Hamster Bit Me and Died, Should I Be Worried?
If your hamster dies a few hours after biting you, it is only normal to be scared. However, this may not always be a sign that there’s any cause for alarm. There are several instances of hamsters biting humans when in severe discomfort during their last moments and dying shortly after.
Conclusion: What Should I Do After My Hamster Bit Me and Drew Blood?
Hamsters bite humans when they’re in fear, anxious, or stressed. Keeping your hammy happy and physically engaged can stop a lot of aggressive behaviors including bites and nibbles. If your hamster is always biting, finding the root cause of the problem can help you eradicate it.
Hopefully, this guide can help stamp out this uncultured hamster behavior permanently.