My hamster is acting weird help?

Question

She is itching alot but i do not see fleas on her. She also has been shaking. she cleans herself alot, in almost like she is itching herself, and she also does this random burst of energy. The itching thing is whats making me alittle worried. I dont see flees, but she is shaking after she itchs rubs up against parts in her cage either her tubing, her wooden house, or goes in the corner of her cage and rolls around scratching. She also goes up and down both of her tubing alot, before the last week she would hardly go down to the second level of her cage. could she still have fleas? what do i do about that?

Answer 1

What type of litter do you use? Is her hair falling out? Using any type of wood shavings litter can cause allergies in these little ones. If you do use a wood shaving litter change it to a paper litter such as Care Fresh. Here's some information I found on a sales description for the Care Fresh.

Care Fresh is the ideal bedding for all small animals, made from high quality virgin wood pulp. It is specially designed to eliminate urine odours, and lasts twice as long as traditional bedding. Care Fresh keeps your small animal and their environment fresh and clean. That's why Carefresh is the best selling premium bedding in the USA.SUPER ABSORBENT
Care Fresh absorbs over three times its weight in liquids.
The super absorbency of Care Fresh keeps pets and their living area dry and clean. What's more, it doesn't fall apart when wet.
Care Fresh is non toxic. It is sanitized to F to kill bacteria, mold and fungi. It's been tested for dioxins, 380 pesticides and heavy metals to protect you and your pet. Care fresh is clean, safe and natural.
Care Fresh is independently certified to be environmentally friendly. It's made from wood pulp that can't be made into paper, and so would normally be buried in a landfill. Care Fresh recycles this resource and saves valuable landfill space.Science Care Fresh is suitable for all types of pet animals.
Care Fresh lasts longer than other kinds of traditional bedding, so you don't spend lots of time cleaning up. You save money because Care Fresh lasts longer between bedding changes.
Care Fresh is virtually dust free. It won't irritate you or your pet's respiratory system and makes cleaning out cages less of a chore.
Carefresh is ideal for post-operative care because it is so soft and absorbent. It won't irritate or contaminate wounds. All pets are more playful and comfortable in clean, hypo-allergenic Care Fresh.

Need any more be said about it. It has helped greatly when I've gotten in small animals housed with wood shaving litters, some sneezing, wheezing, and hair loss. All but one have returned to normal, one still is sick with a respiratory infection from the pine it was in. Care Fresh or brands like it are the only litters I will ever buy and use will our pets and our "pets" in my small animal rescue.

Now another cause could be from a mite that has caused mange in your hamster. I just started treatment with a dwarf hamster I found in his cage with mange to day. Stress or illness can bring out the mange and mine is older and weaker. You need to take her to the vet and get a skin scraping done to test for the presence of the mites, then if it is they will give you a treatment plan to follow (very important you follow), there are ointments that can be applied to the affected area to soften the skin and it helps aid in regrowth of the hair. The ointment is Neomycin based and it works. Left untreated death can result.

One more cause of itchy skin is a diet definency. Even though you may feed the right foods doesn't mean they eat all the right foods. Look at the food waste next time you change the litter for what gets thrown out. To prevent some of the food waste, feed the hamster every other day with about the same amount you feed daily. This forces them to eat their stored food and reduces food waste. We fed all our small animals except the rabbits this way, even the rats and mice where they hoard their food for later just like all hamsters and gerbils do. We have seen a 60%-70% reduction in food waste verses when we fed daily. (wish this could work on a husband)

Since only a vet is qualified to properly diagnose any problems with your hamster have her seen very soon for her health and safety.

Answer 2

it could have an allergy to its bedding , if you are using something new. Another possibility is mites. You should be able to get a mite powder from the petstore.

Treat your pet with it , and clean and wash the cage.

Shredded paper is good bedding for most rodents. Be careful with newspaper because the ink can cause allergies with some animals.

Answer 3

Take the hamster to the vet

Answer 4

it could be mites. These little nasties may be too small for the eye to see. Poor thing ,she sounds like its driving her crazy! pop her down to your local vet and they should be able to give you something get rid of them.

Answer 5

Try a different brand of bedding for her cage. Try something that don't have a dusty residue when you dump it.

Answer 6

grooming is normal, could she be allergic to bedding or somthing in her cage? make sure you are feeding her food ment for hamsters.

Answer 7

poison ivy, or chemicals , or food that is bad. You might not see her skin because of the fur. She is allergic to something new in hercage.

Answer 8

sounds like it has some incurable disease.

take it out back and shoot it. I'm sorry but its the only way.

Answer 9

I would definately take it to the vet !

Answer 10

AWW MY HAMSTER DOES THAT RANDOMLY TO...SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FROM A BREEZE..DO YOU HAVE A FAN OR AIR CONDITIONING ON? ITS TICKELING HER....LOL..ALSO THEY DO THAT WHEN THEY ARE GROOMING.....