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My hamsters losing fur2007-11-24 22:13:28

I have recently bought a dwarf hamster a few weeks ago and everything seemed fine. Now he has been acting a little strange, been getting up often during day, and just seems different to me like he's not himself. I noticed under his chin (before his belly) he is losing some fur, what does this mean? Can he be sick? I thought that losing fur was something that happened when they were older (like 3 years old). Someone please help me?

Answers:

There are a few things that can cause hair/fur loss in hamsters. The one that first comes to my mind when you described the loss in patches is mange.

Mange is caused by mites (there are two kinds of mites responsible for mange). With sarcoptic mange, fur loss is seen all over the body but particularily on the face. It is itchy and infected areas are scruffy with small scabs. With acariasis, caused by demodex mites, fur loss is combined with dry, scaly skin and some spots. This form of mange is not itchy. Both forms of mange are treated with Ivermectin and you will need to visit a vet for a prescription.

Fur loss can be caused by ringworm. With ringworm, there will be hair loss with dry, flaky, often yellow-tinged skin. It may be itchy, but not always. There are several forms of ringworm and some are contagious to other animals, including humans. The only way to confirm ringworm is with hair samples. To treat ringworm in hamsters, you will need to get specific instructions from a vet.

Unfortunately, hair loss can also be a symptom of several diseases: Cushing's Disease, Hypothyroidism and Kidney Disease.