My hamster is losing her fur!! HELP!

Question
Hi my name is bianca and im 14
i have a winter white dwraf she is under a year old and she is losing a lot of fur aroud her bottom
my dad thinks taking her to the vet is way to expansive but if i had the money i would pay for her to go anyways i buy her Kaytee total comfort bedding and ive NEVER used wood shaving with her my dog had fleas about 2 weeks ago so idk if she has fleas she is losing a lot of weight but she eats like a pig her skin is red and flacky i see her scarching a lot too
please help me i love her soo much and dont know what to do if she dies
please write back asap

thank you soo much!

Answer
Hi Bianca

I'm afraid your hamster needs to see a vet or someone who can diagnose what is happening.  It sounds as though she may have some sort of infestation that is causing her to scratch and for her skin to look red and flaky.  Hamsters can get mites or fleas, and they do need treating with a special medicine which I believe you can only get from a vet.

It would be worth checking with your local pet store to see if they have anything you could try.  Otherwise, I suggest you phone one or two local vets and explain the situation and see if they will offer you a fixed fee that you can agree in advance.  Their primary concern will be the health of your hamster and therefore they may be open to negotiation regarding their fees.

Regards