Do hamsters get rabies?
Cases of rabies in hamsters are rare, but, nevertheless, it is necessary to carefully monitor the health of the rodent. It is difficult for a hamster to become infected with rabies at home, so the disease is most often discovered after purchasing a new animal. In this case, it is likely that the rodent was bitten by a rabies carrier. Therefore, you should approach the purchase of an animal with all responsibility. Since hamsters themselves tend to bite, it is important to pay attention to the animal’s health when choosing a pet.
Rabies is incurable; the virus multiplies in the nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain, which leads to severe impairment, paralysis and death.
Important . Rabies infection occurs only through direct contact, if the saliva of a sick animal penetrates wounds or mucous membranes.
How often are hamsters exposed to the virus?
It is very difficult for a domestic animal to become infected with the rabies virus, since this will require a bite from one of the pet’s fellow animals. If the hamster lives alone, then the owner does not have to worry about his health. If you plan to create a pair for a hamster and place it in a neighbor’s cage, for example, for mating, then you need to make sure that the new one is in absolute health.
Veterinarians are quick to reassure those who have already become the proud owner of a hamster or are just planning to do so: no cases of the disease in domestic rodents, especially decorative breeds, have been recorded. Therefore, feel free to have little pets, but do not forget to take care of their health and monitor the animals’ contacts. In this case, rabies will bypass them.
Symptoms of rabies in hamsters, visible to the eye
There are symptoms by which an attentive owner can determine that a pet is sick.
- When infected with rabies, an animal can be either overly aggressive or uncharacteristically affectionate. It is important to know your pet's temperament in order to determine deviations from the norm ;
- There may be a loss of coordination, aimless walking around the cage;
- the appetite is perverted, the animal eats inedible objects;
- shortly before death, paralysis of the pharynx may occur, resulting in the release of a large amount of saliva;
- Before death, convulsions may occur and a coma may occur.
Important. Rabies can occur in a hidden (latent) form, so in this case sudden death of the animal is possible.
The owner must know the peculiarities of the anatomical and physiological norms of hamsters, so as not to confuse behavior that is normal for rodents with a pathological condition.
Is your hamster acting strange? The bite site must be washed
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Symptoms
If your region of residence is unfavorable for this terrible disease, it is better to find out in advance what the signs of rabies are in hamsters.
Rabies is always characterized by unusual animal behavior, and this is not always aggression. Mad foxes can be affectionate, lose their fear of humans, and lick their hands. The hamster simply loses orientation in space, constantly wandering around the cage without a clear goal. Appetite is absent or distorted (eating inedible objects). The rodent is worried, squeaks, and sometimes shows aggression.
At the final stage of the disease, paralysis of the pharynx causes the inability to take food and water, as well as profuse salivation. Before death, the animal falls into a coma and convulsions are observed.
Symptoms of rabies in hamsters can be vague, in such cases the owners say that the rodent died suddenly. Usually the animal dies no later than a week from the moment of brain damage.
Actions when bitten
Since rodents bite quite often for various reasons, you should not run for a rabies vaccination every time. For example, Djungarian hamsters, not accustomed to handling, can bite new owners for the purpose of self-defense. A hamster bite is a serious and painful wound in itself . Therefore, the bite site must be immediately washed with clean water and soap, treated with hydrogen peroxide or other antiseptic agents.
Important. More often, hamsters bite children, so it is worth explaining to the child the rules of communication with a pet, and gradually accustoming the animal to your hands.
Bite danger
Even if we put aside the threat of contracting rabies from a hamster, its bite is an unpleasant incident. The rodent has a unique structure of teeth, so the wounds are deep and serious. Various microbes and bacteria can get into them, which poses some danger to humans. In any case, careful treatment of the wound is necessary.
Important. If a hamster bites a child, you should consult a doctor in any case.
But if a rodent shows alarming signs or has been in contact with a suspicious animal, you should immediately consult a doctor.
First aid for a rabid hamster bite
If you are bitten by a hamster with obvious signs of rabies, you must take immediate action. A sick animal should be isolated and a veterinarian should be called. The veterinarian will examine the pet, and in most cases it will be placed in a ten-day quarantine, during which it will be monitored for clinical signs of rabies. The injured person should immediately go to the hospital for help. In a medical facility, the doctor will determine the degree of danger from the bite, provide first aid, and prescribe treatment.
If a person is bitten by a suspicious animal, repeated administration of rabies vaccine is indicated. If the hamster does not die within 10 days, treatment can be stopped, since the incubation period for rabies is 10 days.
Important . Vaccination is carried out no later than 14 days after the bite.
Since the course of treatment is not entirely safe, during vaccination it is imperative to adhere to the doctor’s instructions - for example, not to drink alcohol.
The hamster should not be allowed outside the house
Statistics
The virus is more common among wolves, foxes and other wild animals. In domestic animals, it manifests itself in dogs and cats. Rare cases of the disease occur in rodents, namely squirrels, rats and hamsters. There are certain areas where rabies is widespread, which can be found out at the nearest veterinary clinic.
The virus is widespread in America and Canada, where raccoons, foxes, and skunks are carriers. Bats are also susceptible to rabies in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
There are two types of rabies: urban and natural habitats. The above animals are natural. In the city, the virus is common in cats, dogs, and farm animals.
It's safe to say that a rabid hamster is a rare occurrence. There have been cases where hamsters have bitten owners, infecting them. But these are isolated precedents.
In 2003, there was an incident in Russia in the city of Novosibirsk. A pet store bought a hamster for a boy in the middle of summer. Two months later, he bit his 8-year-old owner and died. The examination diagnosed rabies.
Three years later, an infection was discovered, but in Belarus. A hamster bit a 12-year-old girl. Then he died 2 days later. The laboratory confirmed the diagnosis of rabies. The girl was saved after undergoing a course of vaccinations.
It happened that, having bought three hamsters, they all bit the young owners. This happened in Ukraine in 2012. They died a week after the purchase. The children were admitted to the hospital to undergo a vaccination course.
The last time rabies in hamsters was noticed was a year ago, in 2021. Again, Belarus and a hamster dies after infecting a 19-year-old girl. The diagnosis was confirmed.
The cases are isolated, but they will serve as a pretext to begin developing a vaccine against rabies in rodents. Now there is no cure, but for prevention they give vaccines to cats, dogs and ferrets.
Prevention
It is important to know that there is no rabies vaccine for rodents. But a rabid hamster is an extremely rare occurrence, which is reassuring.
To prevent rabies in domestic rodents, the owner must observe the following measures:
- do not let your pet outside the house
- Avoid contact with outside cats, dogs and other animals
- buy hamsters in specialized pet stores, but in no case at the market or from hand
- keep your pet in a cage or terrarium
- letting the rodent out for a walk around the house in a special plastic ball
- daily examine and evaluate the condition of hair, eyes, teeth
If you suspect that the animal’s health is unsatisfactory, it is advisable to show it to a specialist.
If a hamster dies suddenly, under strange circumstances, you need to take it to a veterinary clinic with a laboratory, where they will conduct a pathological examination to determine the cause of death of the rodent.
Owners of hamsters should take the usual precautions - do not come into contact with stray, suspicious animals to avoid accidental infection with rabies. If there are other pets (cats, dogs) in the house, they must be regularly vaccinated for preventive purposes.
How can a hamster become infected?
Rabies rarely occurs in hamsters. Another exceptional case is when the disease is transmitted to people from him. It is known for sure that this is incurable and there is no chance of recovery. We must not forget about the tiny percentage of chances of getting infected.
You need to make sure that the hamster does not come into contact with unknown animals, because there is always a risk. If the owner likes to walk his pet animal, then he should not be distracted, since someone is constantly hunting the small animal.
If the owner wants to get another rodent or mate his own with another hamster, then he needs to make sure that the new one is completely healthy.
Rabid hamster: how to recognize the symptoms, the danger of the disease and preventive measures
Many parents buy a pet such as a hamster for their children. At the same time, some concerns arise about the diseases of the small animal.
For example, do hamsters suffer from rabies? You need to know, since a rodent can bite a child. In fact, small animals are rarely affected by this disease.
But the disease cannot be completely excluded, so it is important to know the symptoms of its manifestation in order to protect your loved ones.
Features of the disease in hamsters
Rabies in a hamster is a very rare case. But the disease is incurable and in any case will end in death. The virus develops in the tissues of the nervous system and provokes inflammatory processes in the brain. Infection occurs through direct contact, when the saliva of a sick individual touches the mucous membrane or wound.
The virus travels along nerves from the wound to the brain. In this case, neurological disorders occur, and death occurs from suffocation and paralysis. It is worth considering that any warm-blooded animals and even birds are susceptible to the virus.
Rabies can develop in hamsters through contact with other animals. In this case, you should consult a veterinarian. In rare cases, a pet may become infected at the seller's place. When buying a hamster, it is important to pay attention to its appearance and behavior.
Even if the hamster showed aggression and bit, this is not a sign of a terrible disease. It’s just that a domestic rodent may not be accustomed to being handled and thus shows distrust. In addition, a rodent can defend itself due to the instinct of self-preservation.
For example, a female may bite while expecting her offspring. If the hamster is handled incorrectly, it may feel pain and bite the offender.
If the hamster is not tamed, then when it gets into a new home, it experiences stress and may become aggressive. It is necessary to carefully feed the hamster from your hands and gradually accustom it to you. Rodents are also afraid of loud sounds and may become defensive.
There are some nuances you need to be aware of:
- There are no rabies vaccinations for hamsters.
- It is necessary to protect your pet from contact with other animals, since bites from infected animals are deadly for a hamster.
- An animal infected with rabies is an extremely rare occurrence.
Signs of rabies in hamsters
To find out if your pet is dangerous, you need to know the signs of infection. Here are the first symptoms:
- The pet's legs twitch, as if having convulsions.
- There is strong salivation and the muzzle becomes wet.
- A rabid infected hamster becomes paralyzed.
If such signs appear, you should immediately contact the clinic where an immunological test will be carried out. Since there is a danger that the rodent will bite the child. The rabies virus enters the brain and, if detected, must be euthanized. However, the lifespan of a hamster is only a few days.
If the animal has not been in contact with other animals, then it is unlikely to be sick. To prevent a dangerous disease, you can take the following measures:
- Keep the rodent in a cage.
- Do not let him go for a walk without a walking ball.
- When kept in an enclosure, strong walls should be installed to prevent other animals from entering the rodent.
It is worth consulting with a specialist if the rodent died unexpectedly. In this case, you need to take the animal to a veterinary laboratory for a pathological examination.
What to do if you are bitten
In case of any hamster bite, certain measures should be taken. The wound should be thoroughly treated with hydrogen peroxide, and anointed with brilliant green and iodine on top. The bite site must first be washed with running water.
After treating the wound, it must be covered with a bactericidal adhesive plaster. You can use a rubber fingertip for your finger. If a dangerous diagnosis is confirmed, then a special course of treatment is prescribed. It is best to go to the hospital immediately, especially if a child has been bitten.
For pain, medications with an analgesic effect are required.
If an inflammatory process occurs after a bite, this means that an infection has entered the wound. This creates a toxic effect. It is important to seek medical help.
If the animal remains alive within two weeks from the moment of the bite, then treatment will be canceled. It is important to explain to the child how to handle the animal so as not to frighten him and the bites do not recur. The animal needs to be given more attention and taught to handle. The best prevention is to protect your pet from contact with other rodents.
After a bite, vaccination is carried out no later than two weeks from the moment of the bite. When prescribing a course of treatment, you must strictly follow all medical instructions.
It is worth considering that rabies has a long incubation period. The virus can appear in saliva 10-12 days before the onset of the disease.
Treatment and prevention
There is no treatment for hamsters from this terrible disease. It is important to take certain precautions. You should not let your pet go for a walk outside to minimize contact with other pets. You should not purchase an animal at the poultry market; the purchase should be made in a professional nursery.
To prevent the animal from biting, you do not need to pick it up when it eats or sleeps. You cannot take food when the animal is stocking up. You should not pick up a hamster immediately after purchasing it. After all, he has not yet gotten used to the new position and can show aggression at the level of instincts.
If you follow safety rules, your pets will not become infected with rabies and will not become dangerous to your household.
Source: https://tvoihomiak.ru/bolezni-pitomtsev/beshenyj-homyak.html
