II. Cannibalism
III. Cheek Pouch Impaction
Fight wounds in hamsters are common. Animals will attack each other, often for no apparent cause. Many times attacks occur when food and water are in short supply. Also females will attack males during mating. Males will fight briefly when first placed in new environments as a means of establishing social dominance. Subcutaneous abscesses are a frequent sequelae.
Cannibalism of litters by the mother is common if she is disturbed after parturition. To avoid cannibalism, nest material should be placed in the cage prior to parturition and the hamster should not be disturbed for 9 to 10 days after parturition.
Hamsters have huge lateral pouches in the oral cavity which are used
for food storage. These pouches occasionally become impacted with
food and require manual evaluation.
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