hamster going bald!!!!

Question
QUESTION: hi Sheila my sis's hamster Cream is going bald!!I think that she has a disease
of some sort!!please tell me if she does!!!

ANSWER: Hi Aaron

Hamsters do tend to lose their fur a bit when they get old - it naturally thins out.  Before then sometimes they can go bald - they can suffer from alopecia which is hormonal and can make the hamster completely bald.  They can also rub bald patches from rubbing against their wheel, toys etc, or they can suffer from mites.  As this makes them itch they can scratch and their fur will come out.

Is Cream scratching at all?  Is her skin OK - or is it red/scabby/dry/flaky/weeping etc?  Is there one area of baldness or is it all over?  How old is she?

It is difficult to say what is happening with the information you've given me.  If, however, her skin looks sore and she is scratching she needs to go to the vet as this is probably mites/mange - the vet can treat this quite easily.  If it is alopecia, this is difficult to treat but is not life threatening - the hamster just looks a bit odd!

Regards

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh and her skin is red!!!

Answer
Hi

It sounds as though Cream has got either some type of allergic reaction, or mites.  Have you changed her bedding at all, or anything changed in her environment?

If she is scratching and her skin is red, then she needs treatment - otherwise she could make the area bleed and get an infection.

I would strongly suggest you get her to a vet - they will be able to examine her and prescribe medication - it could well be mites, in which case they can give her some medication that should clear it fairly quickly.

Regards