red sores?

Question
HI I have a short haired teddy bear hamster that has a big lump on her left hip/ back, has red sores between her front legs and under neck and is losing some hair on top of her neck and shes only 1 1/2 yrs what does she have?

Answer
Hi Vanessa

I'm honestly not sure what is wrong with your hamster - but I think you need to get her to a vet.

Hamsters' life expectancy is anything between 18 months and 2 1/2 years  - and around the 18 month time they can start getting 'old age' problems - this includes fur loss, tumors and various other problems.  

How is she behaving?  Is she still eating/drinking/playing? Is she drinking more than usual?  Is she sitting hunched up and dull, or is she her usual self?  When hamsters get tumors, these are usually red/purple/pink in colour and can grow quite rapidly if they are aggressive.  Sometimes they can be removed, depending on whether or not they are superficial. If a hamster is in pain they sit hunched up or in the corner, not wanting to come out for food.  

These sores between her front legs - is this just a sore area or are there lumps? Is she scratching this area?

There is another type of tumor, known as polyomavirus - this is contageous to other hamsters, and these tumors are more wart like and can appear almost over night. They can be removed - I had a hamster who had 5 of these and ended up having 3 lots of surgery in a 6 month period - he was OK, and went on to live until he was at least 2.  

Sorry I'm not being much help - but it is very difficult to know what is happening without seeing your hamster.  I would however strongly advise you to get her checked out - conditions like this are better investigated quickly.

I wish you all the best with this. Please let me know how you get on.

Regards