macy!

Question
hey! I was looking at the spot on macy recently.. and when i looked close, the spot is hair! The hair must have been shorter before, because it looked like a raised dot.. but the hair must have grown out, because the spots are just made of dark brown hair. Is that normal? Could she be getting cold or something so she's growing more hair? I also noticed, though, that her skin is light purple under the hair spots. And everywhere else her skin is pink.  I'm hoping I don't have to worry about her spot anymore,
but please let me know for sure! Thank you, again.

Answer
Hi Morgan

I'm honestly not sure what this is - it is probably nothing to worry about but without seeing her it is difficult for me.  Hamsters can have pigmentation on their skin and it could just be this that you are seeing.  They don't usually grow another coat if they are cold.  They do molt during the year and their fur can change in thickness and quality depending on their age, health etc.

I'm assuming that this 'dot' isn't bleeding or weeping?  How is she in herself - is she still energetic and behaving normally?  Does she seem at all bothered by this area of her skin - is she scratching it at all?

If the skin is dry, and she is scratching or there is flaky skin then it might be worth giving her a dose of ivermectin - this is an anti-parasite drug.  Beaphar make it and you can buy it on line or get it in pet shops - make sure it contains Ivermectin and is the one specially designed for hamsters and other small animals.  You apply it to the back of the neck of a hamster - then if there are any parasites this will kill them - you usually have to repeat the dose a couple of weeks later.

Regards