First, I noticed her eye watering. Not both, just one. Now, today, the side of her mouth and nose is swelling. I’ve been wiping her eye with a warm washcloth each night and it doesn’t water anymore, it just looks…painful. I’m providing photos:

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/cephair/Picture1.png

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/cephair/Picture2.png

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/cephair/Picture3.png

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt197/cephair/Picture4.png

I’ve checked her teeth, they’re normal, not overgrown. I thought at first that she was having an allergic reaction to her new bedding, but I replaced that with the old one (which is hypoallergenic). I don’t think she has anything stuck in her cheek pouch, because they are a little further back than where the swelling is. At the same time, I don’t think it’s anything really serious because she’s been like this for a week and if it were bad I don’t think she really would have lasted this long. She’s a really nice hamster, she hasn’t shown more aggression since the problem.

She is:
-clicking her teeth
-snuffling around her cage (little sneezes)
-not using her wheel anymore
-doesn’t seem interested in food but isn’t appearing to get skinny
-still likes to eat the apple pieces i give her
-still drinking water

Any ideas as to what might be wrong?
Thank you Alan. I have been leaving her alone for the most part. I started to wipe her eye when I thought she might be suffering from allergies, and a hamster website I read said that it would be good for the eye. I’ll stop now, though.

I have a question: is it okay to place a towel over the cage? My parents crank the air conditioner all day and I’m not sure there’s anywhere where she’d be safe from the draft.

Also, should I give her something extra like torn up towel bits, or is her bedding enough to keep dry and warm? It’s the eco-friendly "hypoallergenic" stuff (brown and zig-zaggy).

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