Something to worry about?

Question
I've had a male Campbell's Russian dwarf hamster for about six months now and
recently noticed a bald, red patch of skin below his neck on the underside. I
haven't changed bedding, food, or anything else recently, so I don't know what
this could be. I was just wondering if this is something I should be worrying
about.

Answer
Hi Kelly

Is your hamster scratching this area at all?  Does it look sore/scabby/dry/flaky?  Is the area raised at all - like a spot?

I would advise you monitoring this and if it doesn't clear up in the next week or if it gets worse see if you can get him to a vet.

It could be that he has scratched it and this has caused the baldness, or some hamsters do tend to dribble - I've got a few who have bald areas under their chin, but I think this is caused by the fact that the area is always wet.

If the area is raised, like a bump then it could be a cyst or an abscess, in which case a vet should check it out as your hamster would need antibiotics.

You could try applying Aloe Vera to it as this is good for skin conditions and scratches etc - but make sure it is OK if ingested - just double check the tube before you apply.  Also, some pet shops sell Tea Tree cream specially designed for pets which is a natural antiseptic - you could apply this for a few days and see if there is any improvement.

If it changes appearance (gets worse) and/or you are worried, then it would be advisable to get a vet to check this out.

Good luck with this.
Regards