What are some tips on taking care of a hamster?

Taking care of an adopted (and wounded) hamster?

• Being a hamster fan, I decided to adopt an abandoned male baby (5 weeks, so not really a baby intrinsically). I got him from a shelter, and the people there thought that he had been abused by other hamsters (e.g. his parents or siblings, under the care of neglectful owners). He has a wound the size of a penny on his right side, close to his right rear leg. Fur has begun to grow through the crust and it is not oozing any puss, so I'm assuming it's not infected. He has had the top of his tail bit off also. It is also a dry wound, and the rest of the tail feels warm, so I'm assuming here that there is blood circulation and that there is no need to take any further actions. I was told he had been looked at by a vet prior to me adopting him, and the vet had deemed him "fit to live under the right care." My only concerns are how to care for him properly. Of course I house him in his own sterilized cage (very thoroughly cleaned). I change his bedding every three days, and I change the water and food every day. I put Neosporin with the pain relief substance on the tip of his tail and the wound on his side two times a day. As for his behavior, he is extremely scared and spends no time in either of his two running wheels. He burrows himself in his little house and only comes out to eat and drink. I've been trying to leave him as undisturbed as possible, but I was told to put the neosporin on twice a day. So to summarize, I have two fears: 1) The hamster will eventually die of his injuries, even though they seem to heal fine and there is no sign of any infection 2) The hamster will survive, but grow up to hate me for smearing nasty antibiotic ointment on him twice a day. Also, for how long should I be putting neosporin on him? I've had him for five days total now. Advice, suggestions, comments, questions? All input is appreciated!!!

• Answer:

  You gladden my heart with your intelligent concern. You'll do the right thing, because you have the sense of it. I don't think you will traumatize him by medicating him. I don't say he'll understand and appreciate that you're helping, but he'll get over the not-so-bad distress. Does he lick it off? If he doesn't, he isn't hating it much, Remember, his cousins will chew off their own leg to escape and he'd remove it even if it did taste nasty (Neosporin doesn't).