poorley hamster

Question
hi i have a 4 and a half year old hamster and he has gone really skinny and his fur seems to be falling out .He eats and drinks and still has a go on his wheel at night ,its just that he looks awful .Do you think it may just be old age as i have been told that hamsters dont usually live that long .Thanks nicola

Answer
Hi Nicola

4 1/2 years is incredibly old for a hamster. I've only ever got mine to just over 2 1/2 years so his current condition is very definitely related to his age.

The main thing is to make sure his cage is hamster friendly - it is important that food and water are close by so that he doesn't have to climb for them.  If there are any tubes/platforms you might want to remove them if he is struggling to get up them.  I usually make all my elderly hamsters' homes into a single level around this time.

Keep a close watch on his teeth - they can break or overgrow. It might be a good idea to give him some baby food - if you buy a packet of the powdered variety (creamy porridge oats is a favorite with hamsters) and mix a little with water - he could have about a teaspoonful daily along with his usual food.  Hamsters find it easy to eat and it gives them a lot of extra nutrients.  

If his skin is looking flaky or itchy then you might want to consider giving him an antiparasite treatment.  You can buy this on-line or from pet shops - Beaphar make a small animal anit parasite medication - the important thing is that it is for hamsters and must contain Ivermectin.  You apply it externally to the back of the neck and the dose is repeated a few weeks later.  This will get rid of any mites as elderly hamsters can get a bit over-run with them as their immune system becomes compromised.

If you notice that he is struggling to walk, has blood or pus coming from his rear then you really ought to get him to a vet who would probably advise euthanasia.  However, if he seems to be fine in himself then it really is a case of making sure he is comfortable for his remaining days/weeks and letting him move on in his own time.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila