Comments | hamsters: Missing Ear

beneficentbeast in hamsters

Missing Ear

Sep 26, 2008 00:49

And here I was hoping to do a nice 'check out my new hams' post this week, alas. My new dwarf hamster Lucy is missing an ear, I suspect it to have been bitten off by her cagemate Prudence. They're both 3 weeks to a month old, female as far as I can tell, and halfway tame. I was cleaning their cage today so I put them in a smaller travel cage ( Read more... )

cagemates and multiple hamsters, fighting, injuries and sores

Comments 11

my_dear_brena September 26 2008, 05:15:28 UTC

dwarf hamsters are extremely territorial. i would keep them in a big cage and have separate shelters for them, like one have a house on one side of the cage and one on the other. i am sorry! this is sad! poor lil hamster!

lightfromlight September 26 2008, 05:40:33 UTC

Dwarf hamsters CAN live together--they aren't as territorial as Syrians. But some animals just can't live with each other. Or with anyone else. I've noticed in my life that a lot of humans are the same way. :)

beneficentbeast September 26 2008, 05:59:37 UTC

That makes sense. I'll just get a new cage and only let them play under my supervision. Thanks :)

lightfromlight September 26 2008, 05:39:29 UTC

Some hamsters, like some humans, simply can't live together. Their personalities don't mesh, or they don't like each other's scent, or one is so dominant that he or she is a danger to the other's life. I'm afraid that might be the case with your girls. The only other situation in which an ear might come off that I can think of is getting it tangled up in the cage door, or some kind of hinge, but that's so unlikely that it doesn't seem possible.

Hams are resilient. My Nibbler had a huge chunk taken out of her ear by a cagemate before I got her when she was 4 weeks or so.

beneficentbeast September 26 2008, 06:01:57 UTC

Yeah, I wish there was another explanation but this seems the most likely.

Looking closer, there's actually no blood. I think she was bitten in an exterior part of the ear that doesn't even get blood-flow. Should I still take her to the vet? I only worry about getting billed for just being told she doesn't need treatment. Guess I should err on the safe side though. Thanks.

(The comment has been removed)

beneficentbeast September 26 2008, 20:31:53 UTC

Ok, I'll keep them separated permanently. I got another cage. Thanks.

hockeyheretic35 September 26 2008, 15:30:22 UTC

Aww, that's awful. I would definitely get her checked out by a vet...she could have other injuries, too.

And get another cage.

bone_dust September 26 2008, 15:35:38 UTC

once they draw blood it's pretty much over. you need another cage.
that is bizarre though about the ear.