| Question about Hamster Hair Loss - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Matthew |
I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's back. I
see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I am doing
wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage enough? Does
anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
--
Matthew Surber
matthew_surber@earthlink.net
Have A Great Day!
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| Kris |
Brians got the same problem, she doesn't seem ill or anything, however, the
bold spot on her rear thigh, seems to have black spots, only small ones in a
cluster, like you've dotted them on with a pen, it seems to be under the
skin, and no lumps.
The dots may be the colour of her skin (Golden), she is about 8 months old!
Thanks
Kris
"Matthew" <matthew_surber@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:BGNUc.26436$nx2.3072@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
: I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's back. I
: see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I am
doing
: wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage enough?
Does
: anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
:
: --
: Matthew Surber
: matthew_surber@earthlink.net
: Have A Great Day!
:
:
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| Joann Taylor |
"Matthew" <matthew_surber@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<BGNUc.26436$nx2.3072@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
> I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's back. I
> see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I am doing
> wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage enough? Does
> anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
Matthew,
If the hair that is gone is missing from closer to the "thigh" area,
what you could be observing is a hip spot, which is where the male's
scent glands are. Those are perfectly normal. If there is localized
swelling or badly scaled skin in that region, then there could be a
problem with the gland and a vet could advise.
How extensive is the hair loss? Is it thinning or a bald patch? Hams
scratch themselves normally to some extent. If the scratching is
excessive and the hair loss is accompanied by patchy, scaly skin, then
you could be looking at a couple things. First, would be a potential
allergy to the bedding or something else in the cage environment.
What kind of bedding are you using? Cedar has oils that are harmful
and should not be used. Many hams have problems with pine. You could
try switching bedding to see if that alleviates the problem. If the
skin is patchy and crusty, our vet has recommended a little (human)
topical cortisone creme which is available at any drug store. Another
thing that also might help is a sand bath. Hams love them. I always
use chinchilla sand that I get at the pet store but I understand that
you can sterilize other types of commercial sand for the same purpose.
(Don't use "chinchilla dust." It is too fine and harmful to the hams
lungs.) Allergy related skin problems and hair loss can take a long
time to go away - I had a ham whose problem took close to 6 months.
Another potential but probably less likely problem is mites.
Hope that helps a little. Keep us posted.
Joann
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| Lorna |
Bam has stumped 3 vets, all who have specialised in small animals. She has
completely asymmetric hair loss, no over-itching and the skin where the hair
is gone is in perfect condition. They have left it to neurological or
hormonal disorders, both of which have too many side effects to warrant
treating her. She is the same old Bam with or without the hair!! We've
just been told to take her back if her skin becomes irritated in anyway or
if the pattern of hair loss changes.
Lorna
"Kris" <spam@f9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:412647e4$0$64752$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Brians got the same problem, she doesn't seem ill or anything, however,
the
> bold spot on her rear thigh, seems to have black spots, only small ones in
a
> cluster, like you've dotted them on with a pen, it seems to be under the
> skin, and no lumps.
> The dots may be the colour of her skin (Golden), she is about 8 months
old!
>
> Thanks
>
> Kris
>
>
>
> "Matthew" <matthew_surber@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:BGNUc.26436$nx2.3072@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> : I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's back.
I
> : see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I am
> doing
> : wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage enough?
> Does
> : anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
> :
> : --
> : Matthew Surber
> : matthew_surber@earthlink.net
> : Have A Great Day!
> :
> :
>
>
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| Lorna |
Here's a pic of her hair loss at:
http://community.webshots.com/photo...178723872mpkylu
It's bizarre.
Lorna
PS if that doesnt work it's the last one on:
http://community.webshots.com/album/116098454JNhulL/1
"Lorna" <lorna@webforums.org.uk> wrote in message
news:QCBVc.53$tc5.1@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
> Bam has stumped 3 vets, all who have specialised in small animals. She
has
> completely asymmetric hair loss, no over-itching and the skin where the
hair
> is gone is in perfect condition. They have left it to neurological or
> hormonal disorders, both of which have too many side effects to warrant
> treating her. She is the same old Bam with or without the hair!! We've
> just been told to take her back if her skin becomes irritated in anyway or
> if the pattern of hair loss changes.
>
> Lorna
>
> "Kris" <spam@f9.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:412647e4$0$64752$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> > Brians got the same problem, she doesn't seem ill or anything, however,
> the
> > bold spot on her rear thigh, seems to have black spots, only small ones
in
> a
> > cluster, like you've dotted them on with a pen, it seems to be under the
> > skin, and no lumps.
> > The dots may be the colour of her skin (Golden), she is about 8 months
> old!
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Kris
> >
> >
> >
> > "Matthew" <matthew_surber@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:BGNUc.26436$nx2.3072@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> > : I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's
back.
> I
> > : see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I am
> > doing
> > : wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage enough?
> > Does
> > : anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
> > :
> > : --
> > : Matthew Surber
> > : matthew_surber@earthlink.net
> > : Have A Great Day!
> > :
> > :
> >
> >
>
>
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| Kris |
Mmmmmmmmmm!! Looks just likes Brians problem.
Strange, eh?
"Lorna" <lorna@webforums.org.uk> wrote in message
news:M8sWc.349$jj1.153@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
: Here's a pic of her hair loss at:
:
: http://community.webshots.com/photo...178723872mpkylu
:
: It's bizarre.
:
: Lorna
:
: PS if that doesnt work it's the last one on:
: http://community.webshots.com/album/116098454JNhulL/1
:
: "Lorna" <lorna@webforums.org.uk> wrote in message
: news:QCBVc.53$tc5.1@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
: > Bam has stumped 3 vets, all who have specialised in small animals. She
: has
: > completely asymmetric hair loss, no over-itching and the skin where the
: hair
: > is gone is in perfect condition. They have left it to neurological or
: > hormonal disorders, both of which have too many side effects to warrant
: > treating her. She is the same old Bam with or without the hair!! We've
: > just been told to take her back if her skin becomes irritated in anyway
or
: > if the pattern of hair loss changes.
: >
: > Lorna
: >
: > "Kris" <spam@f9.co.uk> wrote in message
: > news:412647e4$0$64752$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
: > > Brians got the same problem, she doesn't seem ill or anything,
however,
: > the
: > > bold spot on her rear thigh, seems to have black spots, only small
ones
: in
: > a
: > > cluster, like you've dotted them on with a pen, it seems to be under
the
: > > skin, and no lumps.
: > > The dots may be the colour of her skin (Golden), she is about 8 months
: > old!
: > >
: > > Thanks
: > >
: > > Kris
: > >
: > >
: > >
: > > "Matthew" <matthew_surber@earthlink.net> wrote in message
: > > news:BGNUc.26436$nx2.3072@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
: > > : I have been noticing that my hamster has some hair gone from it's
: back.
: > I
: > > : see it scratching it sometimes and wonder if it's something that I
am
: > > doing
: > > : wrong. Could it be that I am not changing bedding in it's cage
enough?
: > > Does
: > > : anyone have any ideas? The hamster is about 6 months old.
: > > :
: > > : --
: > > : Matthew Surber
: > > : matthew_surber@earthlink.net
: > > : Have A Great Day!
: > > :
: > > :
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:
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