Bit by hamster at pet store. Should I be worried?

[Anonymous]

I used hand sanitizer after but should I be worried about disease?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used hand sanitizer after but should I be worried about disease?

Yes. You should have asked if the hamsters were vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

There is a risk of infection, but hamsters in pet stores will not be carrying diseases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a risk of infection, but hamsters in pet stores will not be carrying diseases.

?????

huh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a risk of infection, but hamsters in pet stores will not be carrying diseases.

?????

huh

Any time you break the skin, there is a risk of infection. But a Hamster will in a store will not be carrying any diseases we worry about in rodents. Rather, the risk is similar to stepping on a nail.

[Anonymous]

Risk only if hamster was previously owned as a bedroom toy rather than as a pet.

[Anonymous]

Is the hamster OK?

[Anonymous]

Tetanus shot time. When was your last booster?

--former lab rodent researcher...sop for bites was tetanus booster unless you have proof of one in last 10 years.

[Anonymous]

You should be worried! It's already ruined the part of your brain that controls grammar usage

[Anonymous]

LOL Sorry, I can't help laughing! No advice, just thought it was a hilarious thread!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tetanus shot time. When was your last booster?

--former lab rodent researcher...sop for bites was tetanus booster unless you have proof of one in last 10 years.

Tetanus is your biggest risk and that is an infection you do not want. Even if you've had a booster, get another one anyway. Depending on the depth of the bite, a doctor might want you to take antibiotics for a few days. FWIW, I was bitten pretty deeply by a hamster when I was 12. The doctor gave me a tetanus shot and just told me to watch out for signs of infection. Everything healed just fine.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I had the tdap shot 6 months ago when I had my son. I'm breastfeeding and paranoid that I will or did catch something and will pass it to my baby. I'm a freak I know.

Of all the ways it happened - I was at a pet store getting dog food and an employee left it on top of the display while he cleaned the cage and it was about to fall off when I walked by. I was going to just move it. How dumb of me but I felt bad for the little guy!

The bite bled a bit but isn't deep at all, looks like a tiny surface scratch on the side of my thumb.

[Anonymous]

Call your doctor.

[Anonymous]

I would go down to the CDC in Atlanta. They will have the latest info on what the risks are. Off the top of my head, Weil's disease, rabies, and myxomatosis would be my main concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I had the tdap shot 6 months ago when I had my son. I'm breastfeeding and paranoid that I will or did catch something and will pass it to my baby. I'm a freak I know.

Of all the ways it happened - I was at a pet store getting dog food and an employee left it on top of the display while he cleaned the cage and it was about to fall off when I walked by. I was going to just move it. How dumb of me but I felt bad for the little guy!

The bite bled a bit but isn't deep at all, looks like a tiny surface scratch on the side of my thumb.

I think you're in good shape. There is no reason to stop breastfeeding. Obviously, if you develop a fever in the next couple of weeks, you should mention the bite to your doctor. Otherwise, this is nothing to worry about.