im scared about my hamster!!!

Question
hi, i have 2 male dwarf hamsters, both of them are itching ALOT!
5 times a day, one of them, when its sleeping, it moves around
and squeaks as if something hurt him, do you kno if if its
mites?
if it is waht can i do to get rid of em without going to the vet or
pet store?

PLEASE ITS URGENT!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Susie,

There could be a couple of reasons why your hamsters are scratching so much.  First, make sure you are using Aspen or Carefresh bedding, which are safe, with no irritants.  Don't use Pine or Cedar, which have strong aromatic oils that irritate your hamster's skin.

If you're using Pine or Cedar, clean the cage and fill it back up with Aspen or Carefresh.

Also, make sure the cage isn't in a drafty area, such as underneath an air conditioning vent, or beside a window.

Your hamsters may have mites.  Look at the skin, and you may see small black specks running on the skin.  You'll need to go to the pet store to buy anti-mite spray for small animals.  It doesn't cost much.  Spray the hamster's bodies, and shield their heads while you're spraying.  Then, clean the cage and spray the anti-mite spray in the cage as well.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly