My hamsters losing fur?

Question

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?

Answer 1

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.

Diets with less than 16% protein or excess cereals can also cause hair loss.

Finally, old age can cause hair loss. Usually the fur will begin to thin but it can also begin to fall out beginning with two bald patches on either side of the backbone.

Without knowing the exact cause of the hair loss, there is no way to know what treatment needs to be given. You will probably need the help of a vet to determine the exact cause.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

These are the possible causes of the Dwarf Hamster losing fur.
Allergic to the bedding being used. Cedar is not good to use.
Poor Diet. Purchase a fortified or better quality diet. Serve a little piece of fresh fruit or veggie every other day.
The hamster is older than you were told. Adult Dwarf Hamsters average about the size of a chicken egg. Young ones are 1/2 of that or less at about 4-6 weeks of age.
Dwarf Hamsters appear more active in the daytime than Teddy Hamsters, have a higher metabolism and eat more.

Answer 4

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When I had a hamster he started losing his fur when he was getting old and sorry to say he passed away. You say he is almost 2 years old but how old was he when you got him was he a baby? or did you buy him from a pet store because you never know the real age then. Also most hamsters have a maximum of 3 years lifespan sadly most die at 2 years. They have very short lifespans. I say make youe hamster comfy and bidem farewell. Sorry about the bad news.

Answer 5

I have dealt with fur loss on my dwarf hamsters not too long ago. Three had mange and 2 had Cushing's disease. All had a skin scraping done to determine the cause of the hair loss. The ones with mange were treated with oral medication and all were given an ointment to soften the skin and help regrow the hair. 2 with the mange survived, the other a much older dwarf died a few days later from it. This was in January. Is the belly hair loss areas scabby or scaley to the touch or is it soft and smooth? With mange the skin has scabs and the hamster will scratch very often. Mange is very serious and contagious. Be sure to wash your hands and don't let any child hold them until after they are seen by the vet and have been treated for safety. Other causes of hair loss are poor diet, ring worm, and the litter you use. Ring worn is highly contagious to human and other animals!! It will have circular patches of hair loss and must be treated by a vet. Since you have a dwarf they shouldn't be fed any corn, carrots, peas, fruit, or commercial treats. All are too high in sugar and can contribute to them getting diabetes later in life. Also restrict the nuts nad sunflower seed and give them on rare occassions, they are high in fat, which leads to obesity and possible diabetes. Using wood shaving litters like pine and cedar are toxic to them by mixing with the urine and creating toxic fumes in the cages. Aspen has been associated with allergies and all wood shaving have been linked with respiratory infections. I recommend using only a paper product litter like the ones by Critter Care and care Fresh. We use both brands in my small animal rescue. We recently were talking with a rabbit owner whose rabbit had lost all the belly hair and some on it's side. I asked what litter they used and it was pine. I explained about the pine and they switched to one of the paper product litters, now the hair has begun to grow back and it's only been a couple weeks.

Also dwarf hamsters don't usually live to be 3 years old, their life span is 1 1/2-2 years old. It's Syrians that live from 2 1/2-3 years old. We have one that turned 3 years in Jan of this year and acts like a 1 year old.

Below is a web site that can help explain about the different causes of hair loss in hamsters. Just go down the page to Hair Loss and click on the 3 causes.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Hamster Skin Diseases

Answer 8

First of all hun ,not a good sign ,,i had a drawf hamster too and he lost his fur from his ribs down and had scrabs on his body, i talked to the pet store and didnt no what to tell me ..by the time i found a rodent specilist..nipper (his name pass away),,it could be something simple but please be prepared for the worst too ..

Answer 9

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Answer 10

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