A child was bitten by a hamster: is it dangerous and what to do?

Causes of aggression in hamsters

If a hamster bites, it did it for a reason. External factors provoked the animal’s aggression. Therefore, the Dzhungarik or representatives of other breeds instinctively defend themselves.

The causes of aggression and biting in a hamster are:

1. The instinct of self-preservation. Pregnant or already given birth females are prone to aggression. They protect their offspring. It is not recommended to handle them or the cubs.
2. The smell of food from human hands. The hamster smells a new smell and wants to know the taste. Such bites are usually shallow and isolated.
3. Fright. Hamsters get scared if you suddenly grab them from above by the back. They may be in pain or scared, it is unclear what is happening. In such a case, they can bite a person repeatedly.
4. Sudden movements, loud shouts or too active actions during play can frighten the rodent.

Another cause of hamster bites is tooth grinding .
Their incisors and front teeth are sharp and long. Teeth grow throughout the pet's life. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the rodent has the opportunity to grind them down. For this purpose, stones and branches of some fruit trees are used. Root parts of plants, hard pieces of bread, and crackers are suitable for this.

What is the danger of a hamster bite?

The likelihood of developing the disease is much greater when meeting a wild rodent. If he bites a person, the following may occur:

• rabies;
• tuberculosis of the lungs;
• listeriosis is a dangerous bacterial infection;
• toxoplasmosis is an infection of parasitic origin;
• ringworm;
• tularemia is an infection that affects the skin and lymphatic system.

The list of consequences of a hamster bite may include other diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase pets from trusted places. After all, the bite of an ordinary rodent purchased at a pet store does not lead to similar consequences.

What to do if your hamster bites?

A hamster bite is not dangerous, but is not pleasant for humans. It's all about the rodent's teeth - they are sharp and thin, and at the moment of a bite they diverge in different directions, causing sharp pain. A laceration appears at the site of the lesion.

A hamster's bite should not cause a violent reaction, it is contraindicated to hit your pet and shout at it, it will not understand what is going on, but will harbor a grudge

It’s difficult to say whether it’s dangerous; what matters is how you behaved after the bite. To prevent the consequences of a hamster bite, place the rodent in a cage, wash the wound with antibacterial or laundry soap, treat with peroxide and brilliant green.

The disinfection process is very important, because bacteria can cause inflammation. There is no need to press anything from the wound. You can stick an adhesive plaster on so you can continue doing household chores - put on a finger guard.

If a child is bitten and has not been vaccinated against tetanus, get a preventive vaccination.

Symptoms of a hamster bite

Since hamsters have long and sharp teeth, the bitten area will be very painful. Depending on the depth of the puncture, a significant amount of blood may appear. Pain in the bite area for 48 hours is normal. In the future, they must pass on their own.

After a bite, you may experience an increase in temperature and mild headaches.

If blood continues to be released even after 10-12 hours, pain and dizziness do not disappear, it is recommended to consult a specialist. This indicates the development of an infection. Only doctors can cope with it.

You need to know the signs that indicate your pet has rabies. The great danger of a hamster bite is the possibility of infection with this disease. The symptoms are:

• the animal becomes aggressive and loses fear;
• when keeping several pets, the likelihood of fights and collisions increases; in other individuals, traces of deep bites, blood, and wounds are noticeable;
• the appearance of white saliva, discharge in the form of flakes from the mouth;
• refusal to drink water;
• probably eating litter, garbage and other inedible objects - this occurs on the third day from the moment of infection.

This last change in behavior is critical. It may be accompanied by intestinal perforation. At the final stage of rabies, paralysis develops. It leads to death due to suffocation or damage to the cardiovascular system and brain. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the symptoms of rabies in hamsters.

First aid and treatment after a hamster bite

In case of a strong bite (to the point of bleeding), the wound is washed and treated. At home, antiseptic agents are used: hydrogen peroxide, pale pink solution of potassium permanganate, chlorhexidine, etc. You can replace them with laundry soap. After treatment, the bitten area is covered with a plaster or bandaged.

Next, the pet is examined. This will help determine his condition and whether he has any symptoms of infection. Special attention is paid to the muzzle and belly. If they don't have them:

• swelling, partial baldness;
• purulent discharge from the eye or ear area;
• visible bite marks -

You can release the hamster into the cage, but subject to constant monitoring of it.
Symptoms of rabies after a bite may not appear for 48-72 hours .
If you are prone to allergic reactions, take antihistamines. This will avoid swelling and inflammation of the bitten area. Effective drugs: Suprastin or Tavegil.

Cases where a hamster has bitten a child until a child bleeds require special attention. Especially if it was a wild animal. It is necessary to go to the emergency room and get your child vaccinated against tetanus. This is a mandatory preventative measure. This is done in the first 12-24 hours after the hamster bite, when the incubation period has not yet ended.

Pay attention to the healing process of the damaged area. The critical ones are:

• increase in body temperature;
• changes in size and inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• pain and visual change in the bite area.

If any of these symptoms appear, you should consult a specialist. He will vaccinate and treat the bite area with antiseptics and additional compounds.

First aid for a child if a hamster bites him until he bleeds

Some tips on what to do if a hamster bites a child:

1. Wash the bitten area with warm water and antibacterial soap.
2. Treat the wound with an antiseptic. It is best to use Chlorhexidine or iodine, but if you don’t have them on hand, you can moisten the wound with hydrogen peroxide or brilliant green.
3. After treatment, seal the wound with adhesive tape. If your hamster bites your finger, you can put on a special rubber finger guard. If necessary, you should give a painkiller tablet.

Do you need to go to the hospital if a rodent bites your baby until he bleeds? If this was done by a pet who perceived playing with him as aggression and decided to defend himself, then there is no need to worry. Suspicion of an animal's illness is a serious cause for concern. If your hamster has been overly aggressive lately or, conversely, lethargic and eating poorly, this may be a sign of illness.

You need to take the bites of hamsters sold in markets or pet stores very seriously. What should you do if an animal bites a child while you are buying it? You need to go to the hospital immediately. You should take the rodent with you so that the laboratory can check whether it is a carrier of the infection.

How to prevent hamster aggression?

To prevent a hamster from biting a child or adult, it is recommended to take the following precautions:

1. It is unacceptable to touch your pet while sleeping or eating. This can provoke instinctive aggression in him. The animal will begin to defend itself and bite the owner.
2. It is not allowed to attempt to take food from a pet when it is eating or stocking up in its home.
3. You should not quickly or abruptly pick up a newly acquired pet. He does not yet know that he has a new owner, and therefore with a high degree of probability he will show signs of aggression.
4. The female is not disturbed during pregnancy, childbirth, or caring for babies. Intervention in these processes will provoke aggression.

To avoid unpleasant injury, games or communication are not forced on the pet.

We need to give him time to acclimatize. Then he will get used to the new conditions, owners, and surroundings. To prevent your child from getting bitten by a hamster, you need to explain to him the rules for caring for and maintaining the animal. This will prevent injury and help avoid complications.

What provokes

Hamsters often start biting when they are handled. At the very beginning, they do not trust the new owners, and thus defend themselves. After purchasing, you should not pick it up or bring it particularly close to your face. Whatever the rodent is afraid of and does not use its teeth, it must be tamed.

Hamsters show aggression in several cases:

• The female is pregnant or with children. Thus, she wants to protect her family. Sees danger in a person.
• If you harm him. Often the child does not calculate his strength, and this causes harm to the animal. Children must understand that a pet is not a toy.
• A sudden change of scenery. The hamster gets comfortable and does not trust its owners. He needs time to get used to his new home and the people around him.
• There is no chalk or other dental device. You should definitely buy this accessory at a pet store.
• You should not hit a rodent, especially in his house. This is a fortress where he should feel protected.
• The pet may become restless and cause harm to its owners.

A common reason is the wrong location of his house. Do not leave in a draft. It is also worth monitoring the temperature in the apartment. The norm is 20-22 degrees. Hamsters are afraid of cold and heat.

It is advisable to quickly tame the hamster. You need to put your hand into the cage with his favorite treat. Pets often prefer fruits, vegetables and chicken. Food should be without salt and spices. There is no need to remove your hand, let the animal sniff it

After the meal, you need to show attention and pet the animal. Thus, he will begin to trust his owners. If after such manipulations your pet still bites, it is better to consult a veterinarian

The most popular breeds are the Dzhungarik and the Syrian hamster. They need to be tamed from childhood, since this will be difficult to do in adulthood. The friendliest of all the jungars. This breed is great for children

If after such manipulations your pet still bites, it is better to contact a veterinarian. The most popular breeds are the Dzhungarik and the Syrian hamster. They need to be tamed from childhood, since this will be difficult to do in adulthood. The friendliest of all the jungars. This breed is perfect for children.

The bites of these pets do not harm human health, but cause discomfort. If the animal does not want to eat, is in a good mood and has had a good night's sleep, it will not bite a person just like that.

These animals can bite when defending themselves from danger, when they mistrust the owner, or in case of improper handling. To avoid being bitten, the rodent must be tamed. The main reasons why hamsters bite may be the following:

• If the pet is female, she may bite when pregnant or with offspring. In such cases, bites are caused by the instinct of self-preservation and concern for the life of the cubs.
• If the rodent was hurt. Usually, small children, playing with a fluffy, can unintentionally squeeze it or crush it. The response will not be long in coming and the child will be bitten by the hamster.
• You should not pick up a Djungarian or other hamster immediately after purchasing. He needs to get used to the new environment, otherwise he will bite.
• The animal's teeth are not ground down. To do this, he needs to be given crackers or chalk specially designed for grinding teeth.
• If the pet was purchased for a child, first of all, adults should tell the rules of behavior with the animal, explain that it is not a toy and how to give yourself first aid for a bite if the hamster has bitten until it bleeds.

If for some reason an animal bites an adult or child, under no circumstances should he be beaten for this.

For the first few days after purchase, the rodent is in a stressful state, both from the new place of residence and from other people whom the animal does not yet trust. Therefore, you should not touch your pet.

The animal gnaws in the following situations:

• if the female is pregnant, in anticipation of the offspring the rodent is aggressive due to the instinct of self-preservation. The big threat comes from a female with hamsters;
• the animal feels pain when picked up incorrectly, this often happens when a pet falls into the hands of a child, when too much force is applied to the animal;
• A rodent will also bite when it gets into a new home, because it is embarrassed and stressed. It is recommended not to touch the pet; it will need to adapt to the new place;
• you need to prepare in advance so that the animal has a place to grind its teeth. These are crackers, special chalk. If you don’t provide your pet with what it needs, it will start gnawing on everything, including the owner’s hands;
• When buying an animal, children should understand that the animal is not a toy, it requires care and proper handling. It is also better to inform the child what needs to be done when bitten by a hamster, because children often panic and cry, frightened;

hamster bite