my teddy bear hamster worries me :c

Question
hello. i been searching all throughout the web to see what might be the problem with my hamster. hes about half a year or less old. ever since i got him he always scratched. i returned him to the store and they had the vet do all sorts of exams on him but they cleared him eventually (i dont think they said there was anything wrong with him). i use aspen bedding, the same bedding they have in the store where he was from. so he is probably not allergic to the bedding. and the food i give him is the same. recently i saw that he has dark brownish scabs/patches on his genital areas. these were never there before it used to be all pink. aside from always scratching he also has brown pigments on his skin. im really clueless and right now i cant see a vet. do u think u might happen to know whats wrong? is the scratching just how he really is and the dark spots just scent glands? pls get back at me and thank u.

Answer
Hi Misa

Thanks for your question.

Teddy bear hamsters have scent glands on their hips.  They are symmetrical and often they are slightly bald in that area or you can see a brownish spot.  These are perfectly normal and often you notice the hamster rubbing this part of their body along the cage or inside any toys they have to put their scent down.  They tend to do this a lot especially when you have just cleaned them out.

Regarding the scabs/patches on his genital areas - some hamsters can have moles/skin blemishes/freckles which is usually normal.  Also a male hamster's genitals can appear different at different times of the day, when they first wake up they often appear to be lopsided.  These are all normal.

The fact that he scratches a lot is more of a concern.  Have you tried Ivermec on him?  If not it would be worth doing this.  You can either get it from the vet (but can be a bit expensive as they will charge a consultation fee as well), or you can buy a small pet anti parasite medicine.  There is one made by Beaphar and is available in pet shops or on-line.  It is vital any make you buy is safe for hamsters and must contain Ivermec.  You apply it to the back of the hamster's neck, then repeat the dose a few weeks later (check the directions for use).  This kills any mites, and then if you repeat the dose it will kill any newly hatched ones.  Usually this sorts the problem out.  You could also get a anti parasite spray that you could use on bedding - again make sure it is safe for hamsters.

Hamsters can suffer from allergies, but usually these cause respiratory problems - wheezing, sneezing etc. or skin problems in that their skin is dry and flakey or red.  It is always worth checking the location on the cage as outside smells etc. such as air freshners etc. can affect a hamster.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila