Help, my hamster is loosing his fur!

jhsnake999 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 08:29 PM

For the last month or two my 1 year old hamster has started losing his fur. I know this normally happens in old age but i've been researching and this could be due to stress, Mites and old age. He had lost his fur before he was 1 and it grew back and now he has lost all of his fur around his back half of his body and the genital area. As i said i've researched and they read the symptoms of old age including drinking alot, less active etc. He even sleeps in his ball after a couple of minutes of running round.
Thanks...

Antw23uk · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 09:40 PM

I would get him to the vets for a check up. I know they dont live long but if he is curling up and sleeping after such a short time plus the balding then i would want him checked out. Perhaps a skin scrape?

jhsnake999 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 10:26 PM

Thanks, I thought that but theres no marks or any scrapes on his skin, but theres spots?

corny girl · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2009, 11:30 PM

Sounds like Mites. You need to get him to a vet so they can diagnose this & then give appropriate treatment.

jhsnake999 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 09:51 PM

There are more of the spots when i looked at him today. And the fur loss has spread down to the back of his hind legs, could be mites or it could be mange?

LiamRatSnake · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhsnake999

There are more of the spots when i looked at him today. And the fur loss has spread down to the back of his hind legs, could be mites or it could be mange?

Could be anything. As above I'd probably get him to the vets. Can you get medicated shampoo for hamsters?

corny girl · #7 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 12:08 AM

One of my Hamsters many years ago once had hair loss. Took it to the Vet & was given what i now know was Hibiscrub to wash it in. You could try washing it in some Hibiscrub & making sure it is throughly dry b4 putting back in it's cage. Mange is caused by mites & yes it would show as hair loss & maybe spots which is how it shows up in Dogs.

jhsnake999 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 07:30 PM

Ok, i will try that!

jhsnake999 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antw23uk

I would get him to the vets for a check up. I know they dont live long but if he is curling up and sleeping after such a short time plus the balding then i would want him checked out. Perhaps a skin scrape?

I've looked at my hamster today and he has what looks like red spots. Do you think it could be "bite" marks? I've booked an appointment at the vets, thanks...

Alex · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corny girl

One of my Hamsters many years ago once had hair loss. Took it to the Vet & was given what i now know was Hibiscrub to wash it in. You could try washing it in some Hibiscrub & making sure it is throughly dry b4 putting back in it's cage. Mange is caused by mites & yes it would show as hair loss & maybe spots which is how it shows up in Dogs.

Hibiscrub will clear the mites up,if that is what your hamster is suffering from, its a very effective remedy.
About 2 years ago some of my mice had mites and started to loose fur on the scruff of their necks where they were scratching, the vet perscribed Hibiscrub and it cleared all the mice of mites within a week.

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