Balding Young Hamster

KeenTeen17 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-12-2008, 09:14 PM

my sister has got a hamster that is about 2 months old. He is a syrian hamster. She took out his wheel because it squeaked in the night. He gets vitamins, water, varied diets of fruit and veg and dried stuff. He is regularly cleaned out once / twice a week. He gets attention so isn't lonely and is allowed into a small hamster play area made by my sis. For some reason he is going bald around the eyes and a bit on his face. and some on his back.

is he just moulting for the winter or is it an illness?

natureguy · #2 (**permalink**) 17-12-2008, 09:33 PM

hi kt, do you have any other hamsters? is it possibe hes been fighting if not then this doesnt seem normal, they can lose some hair at times of stress but it sounds as though hes quite happy, so it seems like sign of illness. maybe you should get him checked out.
Natureguy

Wild-Woman · #3 (**permalink**) 17-12-2008, 09:33 PM

He may have skin mites of some description. The vet would take a small scrape from the area and check under a microscope. It's very treatable and clears fairly quickly.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 17-12-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

my sister has got a hamster that is about 2 months old. He is a syrian hamster. She took out his wheel because it squeaked in the night. He gets vitamins, water, varied diets of fruit and veg and dried stuff. He is regularly cleaned out once / twice a week. He gets attention so isn't lonely and is allowed into a small hamster play area made by my sis. For some reason he is going bald around the eyes and a bit on his face. and some on his back.

is he just moulting for the winter or is it an illness?

Don't know anything about hamsters but I know guinea pigs get mange a parasite that burrows into the skin easy treated with a solution from the vets.

Dogghound · #5 (**permalink**) 18-12-2008, 09:59 AM

I dont know about hamsters per say but ive alot of experience with wild rodents. As has been suggested demodex mites are a possibility, most rodents are host to these but unless old, weak etc they are unnoticed, they can take a while to appear and if conditions are good they will multiply, such as if the hamster is under the weather. These mites can be spread by humans, other animals or be from the pet shop.
Another factor is ventilation how well ventilated is the cage? this can lead to skin problems such as this. Do you give it a balanced diet? perhaps alittle protein would help the hair. Acouple of others which I can expand on if you want are hormone problems (Usually older animals) or it may have an allergy to something? have you changed cleaning products, air freshner etc?

demicav · #6 (**permalink**) 18-12-2008, 04:00 PM

Ringworm is another possibility which is a fungal infection, nothing to do with worms. It needs to see a vet as it can be treated easily enough although it takes some time to clear up.

ron1863 · #7 (**permalink**) 21-12-2008, 11:06 PM

He is going bald through stress cruelly induced by the removal of his wheel

Oil the wheel and give it back to him - a happy hamster is a hairy one

2dogs2000 · #8 (**permalink**) 29-12-2008, 10:20 PM

My daughter had a hamster that went bald from the waist down. It was caused by mites burrowing under the skin. The poor thing had to have weekly injections for four weeks and then its fur grew back.

Kayleigh · #9 (**permalink**) 29-12-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

My daughter had a hamster that went bald from the waist down. It was caused by mites burrowing under the skin. The poor thing had to have weekly injections for four weeks and then its fur grew back.

Mange...