is my hamsterer reaching old age

Question
my syrian hamster is about 1yr 9months old, i have noticed a change in her in the last few weeks, she is making squeaking noises, at first it was when she was in her bed but now its all the time even when shes running through her tubes in the cage, i have also noticed hair loss in her throat area and also her hair is thinning on her body. she is still eating and drinking and goes on her wheel and in her ball, do you think this could be old age or should i take her to the vets to get her checked out, its more of the squeaking noises that worry me as she never usually makes noises

Answer
hi nicky,
i don't think her problem is due to old age, as most hamsters generally live to be 21/2 to 3 years old.
it is concerning that she is squeaking though, as hamsters are generally quiet little fellows.
the thinning fur may be a mild case of mites, especially if you say there is a balding patch around her throat area. you might notice her scratching more than usual and this is an indication of a mite infestation.
unfortunately, mites are quite common in hamsters.they pick them up from their bedding or sawdust so there's not much we can do to prevent them.you can purchase mite repellant lotions from the petshop but this is a preventative measure and home treatments don't work too well once a hamster has mites.
they burrow into the hair folicles and cause itching. the hamster then scratches and pulls out chunks of fur, which makes the area sore and uncomfortable. this is probably why she is squeaking.
it sounds like you've caught this in the early stages so you need to get her to a vet as soon as you can as home treatments don't generally work.
the vet will put mite repellent drops on the back of her neck that kill the mites and repel others. it may take a few applications over a few weeks to get rid of the infestation completely, but this is the only way.
mites are so tiny, you cannot see them with the naked eye, and don't worry humans cannot catch them.
you can help her by cleaning her bedding out more frequently (2-3 times a week) while she is having her treatment. use disinfectant spray especially formulated for cleaning hamster homes (from your pet shop) to ensure her home is as clean as possible.
it sounds like you're a good parent. you've spotted this early, therefore it can be treated quickly.
hope this helps and hope your little furry friend is feeling better soon.
thanks for your question, jewel.