Do I need a shot if bitten by a hamster?
Sep 19, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, if bitten by a hamster, it is recommended to promptly go to the hospital for medical treatment to prevent potential infection and harm to health. Hamsters are rodents, and it is difficult to determine whether they carry the rabies virus. Therefore, there remains a risk of infection after being bitten. If the bite causes an obvious wound or bleeding on the skin, it may be necessary to receive injections at a hospital.
Generally, if bitten by a hamster, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly for necessary injections to prevent potential infections and protect your health. The reasoning is as follows:
Hamsters are rodents, and it is difficult to determine whether they carry the rabies virus. Therefore, there remains a risk of infection after a bite. If a bite results in an obvious wound or bleeding on the skin, medical treatment including possible injections may be required. If the biting hamster has an unknown origin, is wild, or exhibits abnormal behavior, in addition to immediate wound cleaning and disinfection, one should quickly go to the hospital and receive appropriate vaccinations as advised by a healthcare professional.
In rare cases, if a person is bitten but there is no visible wound and the hamster is a well-cared-for, healthy pet kept at home, observation may be sufficient initially. However, if any symptoms or discomfort develop, medical treatment and injections are typically still necessary.
In daily life, caution should be taken when interacting with pets to prevent such incidents from occurring.
