AboutSheila Adby Expertise Syrian hamsters are my specialty, however, I have kept Campbells,Winter Whites and gerbils in the past. I can advise on most subjects associated with hamsters, including housing, bedding, feeding, handling, new borns and catching escapees. I have had some experience of various health problems with hamsters and can offer my opinion and advice on basic health issues, however I am not a qualified vet and therefore cannot recommend drugs etc. My website is www.thehamstersite.com
Experience I have been keeping hamsters and other small animals for more than 12 years. My favourites are Syrian hamsters and I foster litters and 'difficult' hamsters for a rescue centre. My job is to tame hamsters ready for re-homing, which is extremely rewarding. I also enjoy looking after new litters and raising the pups. I have co-written a book on hamsters with my local vet and have a website: www.thehamstersite.com
Publications Hamsters in Sickness and in Health - Sheila Adby and Dan O'Neill ISBN186163218-5 (Capall Bann Publishing)
Education/Credentials Educated to A Level standard in the UK.
my daughter's syrian hamster has recently started to lose hair on his back. he seems fine and is not worried about his bald patch. it started 3-4 weeks ago and i have looked for mites and cant see anything. he is under a year old, so its not age related. he is albino, if that makes any difference. as he is happy and still very playful, how worried should we be?
the skin underneath doesn't appear red or inflamed and he doesnt mind it being touched.
thanks,
bob
Answer Hi Bob
You haven't said how old your daughter's hamster is. When they start to reach old age - around 2 years their fur can thin out a bit, which is normal.
Also you mention mites - this is a classic reason for the fur thinning/disappearing. Although you can't see any obvious signs of mites it probably wouldn't do any harm to give him an anti parasite treatment. You can buy this in petshops - make sure it contains Ivermec. A link to a site that sells this is: http://www.petstuffonline.co.uk/product/2997/ANTI_PARASITE_SPOT_ON_HAMSTER
Fur loss can also be hormonal. I had a hamster once who lost all his fur - he looked very odd but didn't seem to mind. I just had to give him extra bedding to keep him warm. If this is hormonal related then this is difficult to treat. You could try putting evening primrose oil on his food every day as this can help.
Hamsters can suffer from skin conditions, and irritation but there is usually some other sign - the skin is dry, flaky, red etc. In these cases it is a case of trying to identify the cause and remove it - i.e. if anything has been sprayed near the cage, if a new pet disinfectant is being used, a different type of bedding etc.
Plastic houses/cages can cause problems with insufficient ventilation where condensation builds up. It is therefore recommended that any tubular tanks are always dried thoroughly before replacing bedding, and if the hamster stores fresh food in any of the tubes then this is removed daily. Any plastic sleeping houses should be replaced with natural ones, such as wooden, coconut, or the Snak Shak (edible houses that you can get from Pets at Home).
The one condition that is more of a worry is ring worm. This isn't actually a worm but a fungus. It can cause the fur to thin out and bald patches to appear. Some vets can check for this as the skin will sometimes fluoresce brightly under ultra violet light. The best way of knowing for sure is for a few plucked hairs to be analysed - the problem with this is that it can take a while for the results to come back and if ringworm is suspected treatment should start immediately. The treatment is an oral anti fungal medication, and a shampoo - you get both of these from a vet. The reason for concern over this illness is that it can be transferred to humans, therefore for the time being I would suggest that anyone who touches this hamster washes their hands thoroughly afterwards.
I've had several hamsters with bald patches, skin complaints but none have ever had ring worm, therefore I don't think it is that common but it cannot be ruled out. If you are concerned I would suggest you see if you have a local vet who specialises in small animals who could have a look. If you aren't too worried right now, then it would probably be worth treating with the anti parasite drop and seeing if there is any improvement. If there is any change for the worse or no improvement then it would be advisable to get a vet to have a look just to be on the safeside.
